Yesterday was a very quiet day in the camp of the Super Eagles. That’s exactly what Gernot Rohr wanted – complete rest for the players, both physically and mentally. And that’s what he got. The team trained at 10 am in the morning, followed by an early lunch. Thereafter, Gernot instructed that the players should remain in their rooms and have a long siesta. Thankfully, the usual crowd of fans and Nigerians that don’t have business with the team but always create distractions was totally absent.
Only team Captain Mikel Obi came down to the lobby of the hotel at a point to attend to a scheduled press interview. This set of Super Eagles means business. You know that very easily from the way they have comported themselves here – no public complaints, no unwanted visitors, and going about their business like warriors on a mission. The only issue that could have been an issue has been dealt with by President Buhari’s intervention before the Burundi match when he assured the players that their entitlements have been approved and will be paid soon.
One big question that so many people wonder about that used to create a crisis with almost every national team in the past is what these financial entitlements are. How much are we talking about? Why should it be creating such rancour between officials and players? That is where the players make their money from at national team level. That is what motivates them to play and win. That is the carrot dangled to get the best out of them.
When I was a player in the same national team similar entitlements were hidden from the public out of the embarrassment of their meagerness. These days they are still hidden but for a different reason – out of embarrassment of their humongous-ness. Yesterday, Osasu Obayiuwana, my friend who is on course to get an award for journalistic scoops at these championships, has provided the answer. We now know what the Super Eagles will earn should they win the AFCON 2019 trophy. The Super Eagles get a standard daily allowance of $100 Dollars each. It is not negotiable. All the national teams collect the same amount. This will amount to a tidy sum after 6 weeks in camp. Match bonuses are graduated throughout the championship and for the different personnel in the team. In general, whatever the players collect, the Chief Coach collects double the amount. His assistant(s) collects 75% of what the Chief Coach collects. The other backroom staff, including the media personnel and others, collect 75% of what the players get. For every match the players win during the Group Stage where they play 3 matches, they will earn $10,000 per match.
That means the Chief Coach, Gernot Rohr will receive a sum of $20,000 whilst his assistants will receive $15,000 each per match won. The bonuses increase as the team makes progress in the championship. Winning the match at the round of 16 attracts a bonus of $12,500 for each of the players.
For the quarter-final match, it is $15,000.
For the Semi-final match, it is $17,500.
For winning the final match and the trophy each player earns $20,000.
What this means is that should the team get to the finals and win the championship, each player will take home a tidy sum of $95,000, less their allowances and Gernot Rohr will take home $190,000. You can now do all the math involved.
I am not sure, but CAF may pay a participation fee to every one of the 24 countries as is done during the World Cup. The players will automatically be entitled to 30% of that sum, which they will share equally amongst themselves. By yesterday, the Super Eagles had not received anything yet. They are not complaining.
They are going about the preparation to win their next match on Wednesday against Guinea very confidently.
That’s why they are cool, calm and collected, whilst the camp was so quiet throughout yesterday.
Segun Odegbami
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