The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) saved at least N40 million to host last weekend’s U-20 AFCON playoff between the Flying Eagles and their counterparts from Mauritania.
It will be recalled the Nigerian team coached by Paul Aigbogun walloped Mauritania 5-0 at the Agege Stadium, Lagos to qualify for the U-20 AFCON 6-1 on aggregate.
A top secretariat staff of NFF told scorenigeria.com that proper management of scarce funds ensured a staggering N40 million was saved to organise the return leg qualifier.
“The preparation to the match was excellent. This was the result of proper planning and judicious use of funds,” the NFF official said.
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“This will be the first time in so many years NFF have staged an international match without owing any airlines, hotels and even the principal actors, the players, as well as the backroom staff.
“The NFF have promptly paid the players all their bonuses and allowances. They also covered the expenses of Mauritania and the indemnities of the referees.
“We saved as much as N40 million to organise this match. Honestly I felt very proud as a staff of the Nigeria Football Federation who knows how much debts we have accumulated.
“I am not a politician, I am a civil servant, so I have nothing to lose to say the truth.
“Remember Nigeria were in a similar situation last year, when we played the last U-20 qualifier against Sudan in Lagos and there was a downpour like that of last weekend in Lagos, the boys protested before the match because of outstanding match bonuses and allowances and eventually we did not qualify as a result of lack motivation.
“This is truly a new dawn in Nigerian football.”
The U-20 AFCON will be held in Niger Republic from February 24 to March 10, 2019 where the top four teams will advance to the FIFA U-20 World Cup billed to hold in May and June in Poland.