AFCON 2015: Guinea Hit by Bonus Row Ahead of Tournament Opener
Malabo, Equatorial Guinea — Just days before their opening match at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Guinea’s national team has been plunged into crisis over a dispute with the Ministry of Sports regarding the payment of player bonuses.
According to Guinean sports outlet Foot224.com, tensions have erupted between the players and officials despite earlier assurances. While participation bonuses were reportedly paid in advance, disagreements have emerged over how bonuses during the competition itself should be distributed.
The Ministry of Sports has proposed a performance-based system, offering payments depending on how far the team progresses in the tournament. However, players are demanding a match-by-match bonus structure, a more traditional approach used by many national sides.
The disagreement escalated on Monday when the players refused to take part in a scheduled training session in protest. The standoff is believed to have had an immediate impact on the squad’s performance, with Guinea suffering a heavy defeat to Senegal in a warm-up friendly—a result many have linked directly to the off-pitch unrest.
This latest episode mirrors similar issues previously faced by Cameroon’s national team, who have also been embroiled in disputes over bonuses. Such situations are not uncommon in African football, particularly around major tournaments where contractual clarity and financial transparency often become contentious issues.
Guinea, drawn in Group D alongside heavyweights Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Mali, now faces the added challenge of rebuilding morale ahead of a tough campaign. With the tournament set to begin on January 17, resolving the dispute quickly will be crucial if Le Syli National hope to focus on football rather than finance.
