Sports

How Eagles Lost N4.5bn World Cup Money

Published

2 years ago

October 6, 2022

Editor

The Qatar 2022 World Cup is already building, with just 45 days to the biggest global football festival draws near.

In search of its seventh World Cup appearance ticket, the Super Eagles were knocked out by bitter rivals Black Stars of Ghana in the final African qualifiers for the Mundial.

An early goal from Thomas Partey in Abuja was enough to secure the Ghanaians’ place in Qatar, as they beat Nigeria 1-1 on aggregate on the away goal rule.

William Troost-Ekong’s penalty was not enough to stop the Black Stars from recording a famous result on enemy territory, with aggrieved going berserk and wreaking havoc on facilities at the newly renovated Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The failure is still very fresh in the hearts of millions of football-loving Nigerian fans who follow the Eagles passionately.

And while Nigerians continue to lament their non-qualification, there will be plenty of money on the line at the World Cup in Qatar.

While the focus for a lot of teams will be on lifting the iconic trophy and representing their nations well, there is definitely a tangible benefit for success on the pitch.

FIFA haven’t held back when it comes to prize money for World Cups in recent years, and 2022 is no different — with huge sums up for grabs.

The football body has allocated $440m in prize money for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

This is an increase of $40m compared to the 2018 tournament, while just $358m in prize money was on offer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

While a very significant sum, FIFA have a revenue budget of $4.6bn in 2022, with broadcasting rights set to contribute $2.6bn alone in income.

With so much prize money on offer, every side will walk away from Qatar significantly richer.

With the country’s failure to qualify for the World Cup, the players and the Nigeria Football Federation will, sadly, be missing out on FIFA’s largesse, which runs into billions of naira.

As the key part of any successful team, players also benefit financially from featuring at a World Cup.

While base salaries differ between national teams and for different players, they do get a share of whatever prize money their team walks away with.

FIFA allows each team to decide what share players receive. For instance, Germany promised to give each of their players a near $400,000 bonus had they lifted the title on home soil in 2006.

In 2022, Australia has reportedly pledged to pay each of its players AU$226,000 with an extra $290,000 to be paid if they reach the knockout stages.

Other nations are likely to offer a bit more or less than this amount to their players, depending on each federation’s financial situation.

PUNCH Sports Extra takes a look at the cost implication of Nigeria missing out on the biggest and money-spinning football event.

According to The PUNCH, Simply qualifying for the World Cup sees each team paid a $1.5m (N648m) participation fee. But once at the tournament, sides will make much larger sums by progressing through the knockout stages.

Teams who get knocked out from the group stage are entitled to $9m while those who reach the round of 16 get $13m.

So, if the Eagles were to exit the stage in Qatar in the group stage, they would have received an extra $9m (N3.8bn), meaning qualification and group stage ouster would have fetched the three-time African champions a total of $10.5m (N4.5bn).

For a football sector that runs cap in hand to government for funding, this isn’t cheery news at all, as the World Cup money would have gone a long way in settling debts, owed players allowances and the unending financial crisis that has forever rocked the NFF.

An economist, Abiola Rasaq, said the opportunity cost for Nigeria not playing in Qatar went beyond the cash reward.

“It includes both the implicit and explicit cost,” Rasaq stated. “There are social and economic benefits of participating in such a global event, including opportunities for Nigerian brands to showcase their products to the global audience, as well as an opportunity for us to showcase our local talents, some of whom may be lucky to sign transformational deals for their careers.

“There are also social engagement benefits at the local level and opportunities for strengthening diplomatic relations at the international level.

“So, it’s really sad that Nigeria missed the 2022 World Cup, but we have to remain optimistic about our team and look forward to strong prospects in the continental African Cup of Nations and future World Cups.”

Mutiu Adepoju, a member of the Super Eagles squads at the 1994, 1998 and 2022 World Cups lamented the Eagles’ failure to make their seventh World Cup appearance following the financial losses.

“Any cash inflow of that amount is supposed to be a good thing for Nigerian football development, but unfortunately, we are not playing at the World Cup and won’t enjoy the financial benefit,” Adepoju said.

Ifeanyi Udeze, who represented Nigeria at the 2022 World Cup, added, “Once you qualify for the World Cup, FIFA gives $9m for the group stage.

“It’s a pity Nigeria did not qualify for the World Cup and we missed such big money, it’s a lot of money. The money would have gone a long way, even if it is to organise grassroots football.

“I’m very sure that the players are not happy because they missed out on the money too, the federation. But our priority, for now, is to get our house to make sure we qualify for the next World Cup.”

Azubuike Egwuekwe, a former Eagles defender and member of the 2014 World Cup side, said over-dependence on overseas-based players cost Nigeria the 2022 World Cup ticket.

“It’s a big disappointment that Nigeria will not be at the World Cup in Qatar and thus miss out on the estimated N4.5bn qualification and group stage prize money, but the truth is that the Eagles did not take their qualifying games against Ghana seriously,” the former Warri Wolves captain said.

“I speak based on my experience. During our time in the national team, we had a couple of home-based players in the team that had not earned that kind of money in their careers with their clubs. We were very hungry to play and get to the World Cup, but today, almost all the players in the Eagles play in Europe, they are relaxed and the hunger for success was not there in our games against Ghana, that was what cost us the World Cup ticket.”

He advised that football authorities to focus more on the local leagues and fish out talented and hungry players willing and committed to wearing the national jersey.

“We should encourage our local league players because the league is going down. If late coach Stephen Keshi did not recognise local league players, perhaps nobody would have known me or the likes of Ruben Gabriel, Godfrey Oboabona, Ejike Uzoenyi and others. We have to encourage the local league players and mix them with the overseas-based players, then the team will be hungry to play.”

“I remember when I returned to play for Rivers United for a year, I saw a lot of talents in the Nigeria Professional Football League, but I was surprised that I did not see them in the qualifiers.”

Sports

WAFU B U17 Championship: CAF Declares Nigeria 100% Clean

Published

4 days ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

The Confederation of African Football today declared that all 20 players presented by Nigeria for the WAFU B U17 Championship starting in Accra, Ghana on Wednesday have passed the examination in flying colours.

The declaration of eligibility of all the 20 players is testimony that the tests conducted on the players by the Nigeria Football Federation before the team’s departure were perfect, and sets the tone for the country to have a full squad to defend the title she won last year, also in Ghana.

An ecstatic Head Coach Manu Garba said: “We are happy about the results. Having the whole squad to prosecute the tournament somewhat puts our minds at rest.

The Eaglets begin their defence of the title when they confront their counterparts from Burkina Faso at the University Stadium on Thursday, 16th May with kickoff set for 3pm Ghana time (4pm Nigeria time), before matches against Niger Republic on Sunday, 19th May (6pm Ghana, 7pm Nigeria) and Togo on Wednesday, 22nd May (4pm Ghana, 5pm Nigeria).

The match against Niger Republic will also hold at the University Stadium while the clash with Togo will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Sports

Crystal Palace Thrash Man Utd 4-0 To Leave Ten Hag’s Future In Doubt

Published

2 weeks ago

May 6, 2024

Editor

Manchester United are at risk of failing to qualify for Europe next season after a dismal 4-0 thrashing at Crystal Palace left the Red Devils eighth in the Premier League.

Michael Olise scored twice, either side of goals from the in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell, as the Eagles’ resurgence since the appointment of Oliver Glasner as manager continues.

The time for a change of boss at Old Trafford could be coming soon as Erik ten Hag fails to arrest a slide in his second season in charge.

United have only been absent from European competition once since the 1989-90 season.

That came after finishing seventh in David Moyes’ sole campaign 10 years ago and the Scot was sacked with four games of the season to go.

United have never come lower than seventh in the Premier League era but are staring that possibility in the face with title-chasing Arsenal to come at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Ten Hag has routinely cited injury problems as mitigation for his side’s struggles.

The Dutchman was forced to cobble together a makeshift backline as Casemiro deputised out of position at centre-back, alongside 36-year-old Jonny Evans.

Captain Bruno Fernandes was also absent as his proud record of never missing a club game in his career due to injury came to an end.

But there was little excuse for the lack of fight or quality on show from a United side, whose sole Premier League win in their last seven games came against relegated Sheffield United.

Palace are unbeaten in their last five as former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Glasner’s project takes shape.

The south London club will have to ward off interest in Olise and Eberechi Eze if they are to kick on to even better things under the Austrian next season.

Olise has attracted interest from United, Manchester City and Chelsea and showed why as he eased through the middle of the visitors’ defence before firing low past Andre Onana.

United failed to muster even a single shot on target in the first half but were unfortunate not to level against the run of play.

Casemiro’s looping header dropped into the net after Rasmus Hojlund clashed with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and was harshly penalised for a push.

But a two-goal half-time lead was the least Palace’s superiority deserved.

Mateta has been a man transformed under Glasner and hammered home his ninth goal in 11 games after skipping past the leaden-footed Evans with ease.

There was no response from United after the break on a night which could be the final straw for the club’s new leadership group when deciding Ten Hag’s future.

Some heroics from Onana briefly kept the scoreline down as he saved from Eze, Will Hughes and Mitchell in quick succession.

But he was powerless to deny Mitchell a rare goal from close range as United were cut open from a set-piece.

Onana was then caught out by the power of Olise’s strike that flew past the Cameroonian.

The margin of the defeat took United’s goal difference to -3 which tells the tale of a sorry season for the 20-time English champions.

The FA Cup final against Manchester City offers Ten Hag one last shot at redemption, should he survive in charge until on May 25.

However, based on this evidence, United fans will fear double-chasing City could run riot at Wembley to inflict the ultimate humiliation.

AFP

Sports

Bayer Leverkusen Extend Unbeaten Run To 48 Games With Win At Frankfurt

Published

2 weeks ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen extended their season-long unbeaten run to 48 games with a 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

With Xabi Alonso forced to watch from the stands due to a yellow card suspension, Leverkusen turned on the style, winning with goals from Granit Xhaka, Patrik Schick, Jeremie Frimpong and penalties from Exequiel Palacios and Victor Boniface.

Alonso left midfield lynchpin Florian Wirtz, who turned 21 on Friday, out of the squad with Thursday’s second Champions League semi-final against Roma in mind, but Leverkusen had no problems in attack.

Xhaka opened the scoring with a long-range effort, before Frankfurt equalised through Hugo Ekitike, who scored for the third game in succession.

Schick headed Bayer Leverkusen back in front just before half-time and World Cup winner Palacios scored a third from the penalty spot on the 58-minute mark.

The floodgates opened in the final stages, with Frimpong scoring just five minutes after coming on and then won a penalty with three minutes remaining.

Boniface converted the spot kick for Leverkusen’s first win in Frankfurt for six years.

Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in 48 across all competitions, need to avoid defeat in two remaining league matches to become the first team to go unbeaten through a Bundesliga season.

Alonso’s side have a 2-0 advantage ahead of Thursday’s second Europa League semi-final leg at home and are through to the final of the German Cup, keeping their dreams of an incredible unbeaten treble alive.

– Union on the edge –

Earlier on Sunday, Bochum won 4-3 at Union Berlin, pushing the hosts closer to the drop just months after they were playing in the Champions League.

In the top division since 2019, Union Berlin finished fourth last season and were playing Champions League football against Real Madrid as recently as December.

Having built their success on home form, a lethargic Union were 3-0 down by half-time thanks to a Maximilian Wittek brace and a goal from former Berliner Keven Schlotterbeck.

Coach Nenad Bjelica made three changes at the break and they had their desired impact immediately.

Yorbe Vertessen and Chris Bedia, both of whom came off the bench, scored in a three-minute period to cut the deficit to one.

With Union on the march and looking for an equaliser, Bochum scored again, Philipp Hofmann heading in from close range.

The home side gave their fans hope again just four minutes later, Benedict Hollerbach again cutting the deficit to just a goal.

Union fought but could not score the equaliser and now sit just two points clear of Mainz in the relegation playoff spot.

Mainz play at promoted Heidenheim later on Sunday and could leapfrog Union into safety.

Leeds loanee Brenden Aaronson, one of three Union players to be subbed on at half-time, criticised his team’s first-half performance.

“It was one of those days when we didn’t show up and that’s all there is to it.

“We need to band together and fight like we did in the second-half. That’s what we need to take away from this game.”

Bochum moved five clear of the drop with two games remaining this season.