Former Super Eagles captain and ex-national team coach, Sunday Oliseh, has made explosive allegations against the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), accusing the football body of diverting a $1 million FIFA qualification bonus meant to be shared with players after Nigeria secured a place at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, Oliseh claimed that FIFA had paid the sum as a qualification incentive, with $500,000 reportedly earmarked for the players.
However, according to him, the funds never reached the intended beneficiaries.
“FIFA paid $1 million for Nigeria’s qualification — half for the federation and half for the players,” Oliseh said. “But that $500,000 never came to us. Till today, I haven’t been paid for qualifying Nigeria for that World Cup.”
“They Removed Me to Access the Money”
Oliseh, a key figure during the qualification campaign, was controversially dropped from the final squad that traveled to the tournament in Korea and Japan.
He now claims his exclusion was not due to sporting reasons but a strategic move to facilitate the alleged financial misconduct.
“They knew that if I was in the team, I’d demand transparency. So they removed me. I wasn’t just dropped — I was pushed aside so that the players’ share could be pocketed without resistance,” he alleged.
He also pointed to the omission of other veterans, including Finidi George and Taribo West, suggesting a broader effort to sideline senior players and stifle potential opposition.
Longstanding Financial Disputes with NFF
The former midfielder also stated that he has unresolved financial issues with the NFF, including $26,000 in unpaid salary from his time as Super Eagles coach between 2015 and 2016.
“That money is still pending. Some people tell me to go to FIFA or court, but they’ll twist it to say ‘Oliseh took Nigeria to court’ instead of the NFF.”
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He further revealed that during his playing days in the 1990s, match bonuses ranged from $1,000 to $3,000, often delayed or partially paid.
A Pattern of Neglect?
Oliseh’s claims reignite concerns over transparency and accountability within the NFF. He linked administrative failures to a broader decline in Nigerian football, arguing that the treatment of players in 2002 had a domino effect that contributed to the team’s failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.
“What happened in 2002 destroyed the foundation of that team. It led to disillusionment among committed players,” he said.
No Official Response Yet from NFF
As of press time, the Nigeria Football Federation has not issued an official response to the allegations.
This is not the first time Oliseh has criticized the NFF, but the fresh claims about the 2002 bonus add a new layer of controversy to the federation’s historical financial practices.
With the accusations gaining public attention, calls for an investigation or audit into the handling of FIFA funds may intensify.
