$500,000 to victorious U-23 Nigeria players by NFF

The Nigerian Football Federation has paid $500,000 to the victorious Nigeria under 23 players that won the last African u-23 championship in Senegal. On Saturday, Nigeria defeated Algeria 2-1 to become the winners of the second edition of the U23 AFCON. Each player earned $12,000 while Head Coach Samson Siasia took about $24,000.

A further breakdown showed the team were paid the Naira equivalent of $4,000-a-player for the final win, $3,000-a-man for the semi-final win over hosts Senegal, $2,000-a-man for the opening-day win over Mali, and $1,000 for the draws with Egypt and Algeria.

They were also paid $100 per day for the 10 days they trained in The Gambia prior to this championship, which amounted to $1,000. “All what they were owed have been sorted now,” according to an NFF official.

The Dream Team, Algeria and South Africa will represent Africa at next year’s Rio Olympics.

Read More →

African U-23 Dream team champions return to Nigeria | Photos

Photos: African U-23 Dream team

The victorious u-23 players who won gold at the just concluded African Under 23 tournament in Senegal have just arrived Abuja ,with Nigerians happy at the prospect of the Samson Siasia led team partaking in the Rio 2016 Olympics. Head coach Samson Siasia speaking to the media assured Nigerians that they will do their best at the showpiece event next year.


“I’m very happy to have won this trophy, even if it was difficult, but the essential thing was done,” Siasia told cafonline.com. "It was not easy for us taking into considerations the teams we met in the first and second round. Algeria is a good team and they showed that on the pitch, and playing well. My players also did well by scoring the goals we needed to win the match. Now we will continue to work, correct our mistakes and improve our game. I was coach of Nigeria during the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, when we reached the final, and in 2016 we will aim to do more than reaching the final by winning the trophy,” he added. See photos of the team's arrival below...

Read More →

Manchester City Official Twitter Account Trolls Arsenal After Champions League Draw

Arsenal fans had an excuse to hide behind their sofa on Monday morning after they drew Barcelona in the Champions League last-16, having fallen to the Catalans twice in recent years.

Barcelona masterminded the European elimination of the Gunners in both 2010 and 2011, the first of which came in the quarter-finals and the latter in the round of 16 where they will meet in February next year.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, they will head into the tie as serious underdogs, and Premier League rivals Manchester City couldn’t wait to rub their noses in it having lost to the Catalans for the past two seasons.

Taking to Twitter, City announced their own draw – a dream tie against Dynamo Kiev that gives them a fantastic chance to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history – before congratulating Arsenal on their own fixture.

“Your turn to play ‘em @Arsenal!” wrote the official City Twitter account.

Read More →