The Nigeria Football Federation has dismissed reports claiming the Under-17 national team was rewarded a meager N$20,000 for winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
The Golden Eaglets were crowned champions earlier in November after beating Mali 2-0 in the final, giving Nigerians a huge boost for the future after enduring some tough times recently with the current men's national first team.
Reports have since emerged claiming the NFF gave the U-17s the measly payment, but the organisation's director of communications Demola Olajire has been quick to refute those suggestions, saying the team would be paid their bonuses in due course.
"Where is all this coming from? Why will the NFF give them N20,000? Is it for their transportation back home or to take okada? If you say that we are owing them match allowances and bonuses, that is understandable, but when you say that we just handed them N20,000 and sent them on their way, that is utter rubbish," Olajire toldLeadership Nigeria.
"They were only told to return on November 29 for a dinner with the president, but saying that they were given that amount of money.
"There is nothing like that. We borrowed money here and there to send them to the tournament and we still owe them some match bonuses and all that; we will pay when we receive money for the competition, without question."