Posted by Samuel on Fri 09th Jan, 2026 - tori.ng
Obi made the remarks in a post on his official Facebook page, expressing concern that Nigeria continues to generate troubling narratives even at moments when citizens need unity and positive distractions.
Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the ongoing non-payment of match allowances to Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, calling it a national embarrassment that damages the country’s reputation and demoralizes its players.
Obi made the remarks in a post on his official Facebook page, expressing concern that Nigeria continues to generate troubling narratives even at moments when citizens need unity and positive distractions.
According to him, the Super Eagles have been a major source of national pride, lifting the spirits of Nigerians at home and abroad through their recent performances, yet are now facing avoidable distractions due to the failure to pay their agreed match bonuses.
“At a time when Nigerians need joy and unity—something the Super Eagles have been providing by winning matches and lifting our spirits worldwide—these same players are being denied their basic match allowances,” Obi wrote.
He questioned the country’s priorities, noting that while huge sums are written off in debts for government agencies and political allies and spent on what he described as grandiose, self-serving projects, authorities appear unable to meet basic obligations to national representatives.
He said the situation damages Nigeria’s international reputation and unfairly places additional pressure on the players ahead of a crucial quarter-final encounter, stressing that the failure to honour pre-tournament agreements is unacceptable.
“The Super Eagles do not deserve this embarrassment or the avoidable distractions ahead of a crucial quarter-final match. Nigeria must learn to fulfil its obligations,” Obi added.