Nigeria U-23 team have threatened to boycott the Rio Olympics quarterfinal game against Denmark and have already skipped training in Salvador because they insist on receiving the balance of their allowances in Brazil, africanfootball.com reports.
According to africanfootball.com, a close source said, “The players said that their level of patriotism has already dwindled because of the way they have been treated by the government officials prior to the Olympic Games.
“Now they said they won’t step out to train until the remaining balance of their training and camp allowances are paid.
“Not only that, they have threatened not to play the quarter-final against Denmark on Saturday until all the monies owed them are paid.
“As we speak now, the only money that the players have received was the $150 dollars per day for 11 days, while there are more than that 11 days still to be paid and no extra money was received for the matches played so far.”
The Coach, Samson Siasia has confirmed the news and said he would support the players in a telephone interview with Brilla Fm.
He said the team is being disrespected, stating that they are not street kids.
“We have been disrespected from all angles – the sports ministry, the Nigeria Football Federation. Is that how you will treat your own children? We are not street kids,” former Super Eagles coach Siasia fired away on Brila FM sports radio Friday morning.
“We have only been paid allowances for 11 days. There is no match bonus. What of all the months we have been training in Nigeria and Atlanta? That’s not fair.
“I have not received my salary for the past five months.
“Everything is upside down and the boys don’t want to play anymore. Whatever they want to do, I’m with them. They are right for fighting for their rights.”
Siasia continued: “The country already has a bad image, but through football it has got some good image, but still they won’t let us play.
“I have begged these boys, but I cannot do more than what I have done to get this team up to this point.
“I have done my best and now I am tired.”
Nigeria executives & law makers and every other government agencies gets Constant allowances, constant salaries, yet they can’t pay the allowances of these boys that brought Glory to this country.
of what good or glory this rogues bring to our country, “Nothing” rather to milk this country dry, If we
don’t put our act together now , and set things right for the future i sorry for his jungle call Nigeria ..
I can only weep for the poor masses who are at the receiving end when the beat of the drum sound..
politicians have acquired more than what they needed and they know their way to exile …again i weep
for this country..