Bonus Row, Unrest Unsettle Super Eagles

A cricketer battling for honour at Indomie Secondary School Championship in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently

It has emerged that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and members of the Super Eagles squd, are yet to reach an agreement on the bonuses the players will be paid at the 2014 World Cup.
According to sources close to the team, “From conversations and exclusive with Joseph Yobo, Eagles are unified as team boards plane to Brazil with bonus issue (hopefully) settled”.
Although the federal government has approved a $12.2m budget for the tournament, the Federation’s officials could not conclude a deal with the Brazil-bound players.
Other African countries seem to have sorted out allowances with their players. The Indomitable lions of Cameroon will get $104,000 each, while the Black Stars of Ghana will receive $75,000 each.
Meanwhile, Stephen Keshi had to come in to settle a feud between the Super Eagles duo of John Mikel Obi and Emmanuel Emenike.
According to reports, the two senior players have been at loggerheards since the goalless draw against Greece last week, but after keshi’s intervention, they both hugged and shook hands.
“Keshi had a family chat with the boys yesterday and in the meeting he made it known to Mikel and Emenike that their rift is unsettling the team”, a source said.
“Äfter a heated exchange both players poured out their minds after which Keshi settled them but not without getting involved in a shouting game with one of them”.
At the end both players shook hands, hugged and even ended up in each other’s room chatting before going to bed, it’s over thanks to Keshi spotting it early”.
It is also understood that other squad players were given the chance to pour out their minds, so that every dispute could be settled ahead of Nigeria’s participation at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Eagles face Iran in their opening Group F match on Monday.
However, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Magari, is confident the Super Eagles will impress at the World Cup despite their recent struggles in friendly games.
Maigari  arrived on Monday  in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the 64th Fifa Congress billed for yesterday  and today. The Congress precedes the 20th Fifa World Cup finals, which kicks-off in the same city tomorrow, with host Brazil clashing with Croatia.
Maigari, who was with the Super Eagles at their final training camp in the United States before flying to Brazil for the important gathering of the world’s football administrators, said in Sao Paulo on arrival that he was satisfied with the Super Eagles’ build-up to the tournament and is confident the African champions will impress at the finals.
“I want to assure Nigerians at home and in the diaspora that the Super Eagles will not disappoint in Brazil,” Maigari said.
“For sure, our people would have wanted the team to win the matches against Italy, Mexico, Scotland, Greece and USA. But we drew the first four and lost the last one.
“I have spoken with the head coach and he is optimistic that his boys will be ready for the finals. The earlier draws, and the loss to Team USA have afforded our boys a lot of lessons, which will be useful against Iran in the first match and subsequently,” he added.