Serey Dié Reveals Ivorian National Team Has Not Received Bonuses Despite AFCON Victory
In a shocking revelation on Radio Côte d’Ivoire this Wednesday, Ivorian midfielder Serey Dié shared that the national team has yet to receive the promised bonuses for winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite their historic victory, Dié and his teammates have not been paid the bonuses they were promised, sparking frustration within the squad.
“We haven’t received our bonus, even though we won the Africa Cup of Nations,” said the Stuttgart midfielder. “We don’t talk about it because we don’t want the Ivorians to think that we came to the national team for money. But we played and we won, so we must be given what we were promised. It’s our due. We’re not begging.”
Dié further explained that the Ivorian head of state had already allocated the funds needed to pay the bonuses, yet the players have been left waiting. “The President of the Republic had already disbursed the money, so we need to be paid,” he added. “Since then, we’ve been passed around. Sometimes we’re told the transfers have been made, sometimes we’re told it will be done in a few days. I admit it’s frustrating.”
The issue has created a sense of injustice among the players, with Dié stressing that the situation is unfair given their efforts and achievement in winning the continental title. “We talk about it among ourselves, and it’s not fair that we don’t receive our bonus even though we deserve it. Let whoever is supposed to pay our bonus do it.”
This bonus debacle serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by African footballers, with bonus-related disputes affecting teams across the continent.
