Sport
Super Eagles AFCON Bonuses Approved Ahead of Algeria Clash
Super Eagles AFCON bonuses have been approved by the Federal Government and will reach players’ accounts before Saturday’s Algeria quarter-final
The Federal Government has confirmed that the Super Eagles’ match bonuses for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been approved and will be credited to players’ domiciliary accounts imminently.
Also read: The Taxman: Dr. Zacch Adedeji at 48 — His Revolution for Nigerian Taxes
Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, made the announcement on Thursday, assuring that the delay in payments had been resolved.
Uzoka-Anite explained that the hold-up resulted from the conversion process required to transfer funds into foreign currency, which was the preference of the players.
She added that the process had now been fast-tracked and the “final transfers to domiciliary accounts are currently in flight.”
The announcement followed threats by the Nigerian national team to boycott travel to Marrakesh, Morocco, ahead of their quarter-final match against Algeria on Saturday.
The players had refused to leave their base in Fez until outstanding allowances were cleared.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, stated that all financial entitlements of Super Eagles players and officials had been approved.
Dikko noted that President Bola Tinubu sanctioned the AFCON 2025 budget in November 2025, aligning the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation, and the players on the funding schedule.
Nigeria has won all four matches in the tournament so far, topping Group C with a total of 12 goals scored.
The team’s success has been driven by key performers including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Akor Adams, whose contributions have drawn praise for their skill and teamwork.
Uzoka-Anite said the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria had streamlined the foreign exchange processing to ensure players receive payments promptly.
“Going forward, the process will be fully streamlined to ensure faster and more predictable disbursements aligned with international best practice,” she added.
Also read: The Taxman: Dr. Zacch Adedeji at 48 — His Revolution for Nigerian Taxes
The Super Eagles’ quarter-final match against Algeria will determine whether Nigeria advances to the semi-final, where the winner will face either Morocco or Cameroon.
Cristiano Ronaldo announces his retirement from Portugal international duty after 23 years, ending a career that included 146 goals in 234 games
On 5 November 2026, Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international duty, bringing an end to a 23-year career with the national team just as a rift with manager Jorge Jesus appeared to have been patched up.
Also read: Mourinho Balanced on Vinicius With Soft Approach
The 41-year-old posted a video on social media in which he declared that the time had come to hang up the number 7 jersey.
“Portugal will always be in me,” he said. “The time has come to hang up the number 7 of our national team. I never felt it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it.”
Ronaldo added that the decision was not easy and had been taken with both the head and the heart.
He leaves as Portugal’s most capped player and the highest goalscorer in men’s international football history, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.
His career highlights include the Euro 2016 title and two UEFA Nations League triumphs.
The announcement comes a day before Jorge Jesus was due to name his squad for the November Nations League fixtures, following reports that Ronaldo had been included in the preliminary selection after a September fallout over playing time.
In October, Ronaldo had accused Jesus of breaking his word after being left as an unused substitute against Norway, leading him to leave the national team camp.
He later apologised and stated he remained available after any punishment.
The pair were reported to have cleared the air, yet Ronaldo has now chosen to step away entirely.
The decision closes one of the most remarkable international careers the sport has seen and leaves Portugal without its long-serving captain for the remainder of the Nations League campaign.
Also read: Mourinho Balanced on Vinicius With Soft Approach
Football has been stunned by the sudden end to Ronaldo’s Portugal chapter. While he continues at club level with Al Nassr, the national team must now look to the future without its greatest ever player.
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