The revelation comes amidst a disappointing run of form for the Super Eagles in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, where they recently drew 1-1 with South Africa. Okeleji's report suggests that the financial backlog has weighed on the players' morale and could be a contributing factor to the team's struggles.
While the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has previously received significant funds from the federal government to settle outstanding payments, the journalist's claim indicates that a substantial amount of the backlog has yet to be fully cleared. The issue of unpaid bonuses has been a recurring problem for Nigerian national teams, with both the men's and women's squads having had disputes with the NFF over payments in the past.