Nigeria coach steers clear of Osimhen fallout and unpaid bonus rumours

Nigeria are dealing with reports of unpaid bonuses and Victor Osimhen spat earlier facing Algeria successful AFCON quarterfinal.

Nigeria’s preparations for its Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Algeria person been dogged by speculation astir interior strife involving prima striker Victor Osimhen and reports that the players were not being paid their bonuses.

Nigeria manager Eric Chelle would not remark connected the reports connected Friday, erstwhile helium said specified questions request to beryllium directed to the Nigeria Football Federation.

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“This is my job, to enactment focused – to effort to enactment focused – to enactment focused astir lone the transportation (field), and decidedly my occupation is connected the pitch, not around,” Chelle said successful Marrakesh a time earlier Nigeria plays Algeria successful the city.

The NFF inactive advertises a vacancy for the presumption of caput manager of the men’s team, a twelvemonth and a time aft it appointed Chelle to the position.

Nigerian media outlets reported that the players had threatened not to bid oregon question to Marrakesh for the lucifer unless they were paid agreed bonuses for winning their archetypal 4 Africa Cup games.

The squad arrived successful Marrakesh connected Thursday and had their archetypal grooming league determination the aforesaid day. Chelle said they would bid again aboriginal connected Friday.

Chelle declined to remark astir reports that Osimhen was connected the verge of walking retired of the squad aft an on-field statement with teammate Ademola Lookman during the Super Eagles’ 4-0 triumph implicit Mozambique successful the past 16 connected Monday.

“I similar to talk astir the (upcoming) game. Victor is determination and that’s all,” Chelle said. “Yes, everyone’s speaking astir Osimhen and Lookman, it’s normal, they’re the past 2 champion African players, but we’re present to service them to score, we’re moving for them. We’re a team, and that’s what teamwork is each about.”

Osimhen scored 2 goals successful that lucifer with Lookman progressive successful both, but seemingly helium was furious erstwhile Lookman tried scoring alternatively of mounting him up for another.

Lookman played down the statement erstwhile asked astir it post-game, erstwhile helium said it was “just football” and called Osimhen his “brother”.

Lookman besides subsequently posted photos of himself celebrating with Osimhen connected societal media with the caption “together always”.

Nigeria, which mislaid the last to Ivory Coast successful the past edition, is bidding to triumph the rubric for a 4th time. It would assistance marque up for the disappointment of failing to suffice for the World Cup.

Both of Algeria’s 2 titles included wins implicit Nigeria connected the mode – doubly successful 1990 and again successful the semifinals successful 2019.