NFF working to clear Super Eagles, Rohr’s debts – Pinnick

The Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has said the federation is working to clear out the debts owed Super Eagles players and coach Gernot Rohr. He says it has been a huge challenge because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Rohr is being owed five months salary; goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu is awaiting 22-months unpaid wages while the Super Eagles are yet to receive their bonuses and allowances for 19 months. The salaries and allowances of national coaches were slashed at the onset of Covid-19.

Pinnick faulted Covid-19 for its negative impact on businesses, including the NFF premium sponsors Aiteo Group. He added however, that the NFF was committed to paying off the debts as soon as possible.

“With the pandemic and challenges facing oil companies, things have been tough for our sponsors Aiteo, who are responsible for the payment of coaches,” Pinnick told BBC Sport.

“But we’ve moved to pay Alloy (Agu) nine months of his wages from what we have left and coach Gernot too will be sorted. We don’t want to owe and that is the mentality in which I came into the NFF.

“There are circumstances beyond our control. It is not a good thing to owe and we don’t like the image it creates.

“We are looking at every means not to owe. The toxic atmosphere has really affected our sponsorship drive but we can’t give excuses.

“We are working religiously and assiduously to resolve this as soon as possible. It’s a kind of government responsibility to pay the players and the [Nigerian] president is very keen on helping to sort it.

“I was in Abuja and I found out it’s only a matter of the modalities delaying paying the allowances and bonuses, any moment from now it will be sorted out.”