Officials at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have explained that the $2m which the country will get as World Cup advance payment from FIFA was achieved through support from Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, , Ahmad Ahmad.
In contrast with reports that the NFF begged FIFA to release an advance payment for the Super Eagles’ World Cup build-up programme, an official said the money was gained through CAF’s intervention, which also benefitted Africa’s four other representatives, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal.
In effect, Nigeria will receive $2m from Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) towards the Eagles’ preparations for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The payment will be an advance from the total prize money due to the NFF for the Eagles’ participation at the forthcoming Mundial.
The decision comes on the heels of negotiations initiated by the continent’s soccer governing body’s president with the FIFA administration, leading to the exceptional agreement granted on April 12.
It follows a decision by the CAF Emergency Committee on December 1, 2017, and ratified by the Executive Committee on January 10, to provide exceptional financial support to the five African representatives’ preparations for the impending tournament in Russia.
