Despite Nigeria’s success in the first leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia, there seems to be an ongoing issue with unpaid salaries for the Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi. This problem sheds light on a common and recurring challenge in African football – the delayed payment of bonuses and salaries for coaches.
Expressing his frustration, Keshi revealed that he has not been paid for seven to eight months, marking it as the worst moment of his career in that regard. He emphasized that not receiving payment for an extended period makes him feel undervalued and implies that coaching is seen as a privilege rather than a profession. Keshi, who had previously threatened to resign after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, highlighted that he had not faced such a situation during his coaching stints in Mali and Togo.
In response, Aminu Maigari, the president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), attributed the issue to financial constraints. He clarified that the NFF has been paying Keshi’s bills, but the financial situation is challenging. Maigari mentioned that the victory bonus for the Super Eagles had to be halved from $10,000 to $5,000 due to the financial difficulties faced by the NFF.
Former national team captain Stephen Keshi earns a monthly salary of 5 million naira, equivalent to $32,000. The situation underscores the financial challenges faced by football federations in Africa and the impact it has on coaches and players, despite their successes on the field.
