2010 FIFA World Cup – Nigeria’s federal government has approved 1.25 billion naira (US$8 million) as participation budget for the country’s team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup starting 11 June, the local media reported Friday.
The money is less than the US$9 million that the Nigerian team will earn for featuring in the first round of the tournament, to be held in South Africa, and far more than the US$3 million spent on Nigeria’s participation at January’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Angola.
Out of the 1.25 billion naira budgeted, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will get 900 million while its supervisory ministry will take the remainder (US$1=150 Naira).
NFF’s expenditure will cover players allowances and match bonuses as well as augment hotel accommodation during the tournament.
Though world soccer’s governing body FIFA will be responsible for players’ accommodation and feeding to the tune of US$400 a night, Nigeria will pay US$700 per night for each player, meaning it will have to augment the FIFA budget for each player.
Nigeria stands to earn more money from FIFA if it advances beyond the group stage, where it is billed to meet Argentina, Greece and South Korea.