Sport
Nigeria Football Federation withdraws team from Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
A victorious Nigeria team lifts the Africa Cup of Nations Trophy in February this year. PHOTO/European Pressphoto Agency
Nigeria’s soccer governing body, the Nigeria Football Federation has withdrawn its team from the 2014 African Nations Championship qualifiers due to financial constraints.
Nigeria were set to play Ivory Coast in Calabar between 21-23 June, in the tournament for locally-based players.
The Nigeria Football Federation’s Emeka Inyama announced that the withdrawal was taken by the soccer authority to cut costs. “We have a lot of financial commitments and we have to look at the competitions in order of importance,” he explained.
It means that Ivory Coast have qualified for the finals to be held in South Africa next year.
The reigning African champions have failed to qualify for the tournament on two previous occasions.
In another move aimed at slashing costs the Nigeria Football Federation has cut salaries and bonuses for their players and coaches.
The federation’s technical committee has recommended that the Super Eagles’ win bonus of US$10,000 be reviewed downwards along with the salaries and allowances of the various national team coaches, excluding coach Stephen Keshi.
