Ivory Coast Bonus Dispute: FIF Denies Responsibility for Unpaid 2015 AFCON Prizes
The Ivorian national team’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations victory remains a proud moment — but nearly three months later, the promised player and staff bonuses remain unpaid, sparking public frustration and institutional finger-pointing.
The situation gained national attention after midfielder Serey Dié publicly revealed that players and coaches had not received bonuses for the semi-final and final, nor had 17 players who contributed during qualifiers. In response, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) issued a press release on April 30 clarifying its stance.
“Significant bonuses remain due to the players and coaches present at the 2015 CAN, mostly for the semi-finals and final, as well as to 17 players who took part in the qualifying phase,” the FIF confirmed.
However, the Federation distanced itself from the financial management:
“The Federation was not involved in the management of these funds in any capacity whatsoever,” the statement emphasized. “This task was carried out by the International Competitions Authority (ICA), according to a procedure established by the Minister of Youth, Sports and Leisure, as the sole authorizing officer for expenses.“
This clarification comes amid public accusations from the Ministry of Sports, who appeared to blame the FIF for the delay in payments.
To calm tensions ahead of Ivory Coast’s next international matches in June, the FIF reassured that efforts are being made to resolve the issue quickly.
The dispute highlights ongoing administrative dysfunction between the Ivorian government and football authorities — a recurring problem in African football, especially when it comes to rewarding players for continental success.
