Ndidi, who plays his football in Turkey for Beşiktaş, took the action to rescue the preparations for Nigeria’s important AFCON quarterfinals showdown against Algeria on Sunday.
According to reports, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are yet to pay the players and staff due camp allowances and winning bonuses. The Super Eagles collected four straight wins over Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Mozambique.
CHAOS IN THE NIGERIA AFCON 2025 CAMP
With the tensions high and a protest looming, Ndidi offered to save the day for Nigeria to honour their AFCON clash against the Fennec Foxes.
“I’ve been pushing the team to train and play the game vs Algeria. I’ve been doing this since the second game,” Ndidi was quoted as saying.
“I’ve now made a commitment to the staff & players that I’ll personally pay the bonuses if the authority fail to before Saturday,” the Nigeria captain added.
REACTIONS TO NDIDI’S GESTURE ON X
Many fans are directing anger at the football federation over the delay in payments, while several voices are applauding Ndidi for stepping up and leading by example.
@ajdc4 said: “This federation has no shame at all. Captain Wilfred Ndidi says he will pay the outstanding bonuses if the NFF fail to pay the players and staff before Saturday.”
@Judecstephen said captain Wilfred Ndidi’s actions are both heroic and instructive.
@deckdesmond: “Don’t do that Ndidi. Some people will embezzle that money if you pay. It is better you guys refuse to play, so that whole world will see us finish patapata from their last see finish.”
@yiboboy said: “NFF should be ashamed of itself. I hope the players focus on the game this Saturday, but this repeated delay shows how incompetent the administration is. It seems they always let the players down while officials look the other way.”
Nigeria has won AFCON three times: in 1980, 1994, and 2013. The Super Eagles are also known for finishing as runners-up five times and holding the record for the most third-place finishes.