Nigeria’s youth national team, Flying Eagles coach, Paul Aigbogun has acknowledged that the $1,500 each of players received before playing against South Africa at the African U-20 Cup of Nations was a morale booster for his side.
Aigbogun said he was happy with the bold decision by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay the players before their second match of the U-20 AFCON on Tuesday.
Sports247.ng gathered that the payment was not just an incentive for victory, but fulfillment of the NFF’s promise to play the lads said amount for any victory achieved at Niger Republic 2019.
This comes after the NFF took a change in policy to announce that they will resume payment of match bonuses to the age-group national teams, including the Flying Eagles.
The NFF had initially cited lack of funds for their inability to pay under-age players bonuses during national team assignments, but moguls at The Glasshouse changed their stand late last year, and the Flying Eagles have become first direct beneficiaries of the policy change.
Consequently, in the wake of their opening 2-0 victory against Burundi on Saturday, the Flying Eagles’ players were paid $1,500 each for their efforts.
Aigbogun was all smiles, as he saw the payments as a sure boost for the players’ psyche heading into Tuesday’s clash with South Africa, which was to confirm his side’s qualification for the semi-final and a ticket to the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.
The UK-born former handler of Warri Wolves of Delta State, Enyimba of Aba and Ubuntu Cape Town said he remains upbeat of their chances of qualifying for the Youth Mundial.
Aigbogun stressed: “I can’t say that our team will play in the same style as against Burundi but we know one thing; we are here to qualify for the World Cup.”
