Players of Nigeria’s U-15 Future Eagles team who represented the country at the 2025 African School Games in Algeria are reportedly beginning to receive a payment of ₦1.6 million from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), bringing relief to some of the young players but also raising fresh questions over the long delay in settling the entitlement.
The players were part of Nigeria’s delegation to the inaugural African School Games in Algeria, where the Future Eagles reached the quarter-finals of the football event before losing to Sudan on penalties following a 3-3 draw.
According to information from sources close to the players, the young footballers had been promised payment upon their return from the competition.
However, after arriving back in Nigeria, the players reportedly waited for months without receiving the money, while communication concerning the payment gradually became difficult.
The situation reportedly changed last Wednesday when some members of the team began receiving ₦1.6 million each from the NFF.
The development has been welcomed by the players who have received the money, particularly after the prolonged wait.
However, six players are reportedly still yet to receive their payment.
The development has therefore raised questions about why the players had to wait for so long before the payment process began and what prompted the release of the money last Wednesday.
For the young players, the issue is not only about the money but also about communication and accountability.
Having represented Nigeria at an international competition, the players and their families are understood to have expected the federation to honour its commitment and provide clear information whenever there was a delay.
The NFF has yet to publicly explain the circumstances surrounding the reported delay or why payments only started reaching some of the players last week.
Questions are now being asked about when the ₦1.6 million entitlement was approved, when funds were made available, whether there were administrative issues responsible for the delay and why six members of the team remain unpaid.
The payment of some of the players is certainly a welcome development, but it does not completely answer the questions surrounding the months-long wait.
The affected players deserve clarity, particularly those who are still waiting.
If there were administrative, financial or documentation issues, the NFF should explain them and provide a clear timeline for the remaining six players.
For a programme designed to identify and develop Nigeria’s next generation of footballers, how the federation handles the welfare and entitlements of these young players is important.
The question now is simple: why was the payment delayed for so long, and what changed last Wednesday that finally saw some of the Future Eagles receive their ₦1.6 million?
