The Nigeria Football Federation says they have only received $500,000 from FIFA and are yet to receive the full $1.5m promised member associations as palliative for COVID-19 by the world body.
The NFF made this known on Monday, in a statement signed by its secretary-general, Muhammed Sanusi, in response to reports that the federation had received the full money.
In the statement titled ‘NFF rubbishes story on FIFA COVID19 palliative’, Sanusi described the reports as “total falsehood.”
He said the $500,000 from FIFA was for the development of women’s football in the country.
“FIFA promised to send an initial tranche of $1m ($500,000 for the men’s game and $500,000 for the women’s game) and another payment of $500,0000 in January 2021. Of the first tranche, we have only received the $500,000 for the women’s game, while waiting for the other $500,000,” Sanusi said.
“I want to add that we are also yet to receive the $500,000 palliative promised by the continental governing body, CAF. We a r e waiting for these monies so that we can distribute as we have set out in the template approved by the NFF Executive Committee. We will also inform the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development once the monies come.
“FIFA COVID-19 palliative is totally different from Operational Cost (annual grant) money and is also not the same thing as FIFA Forward money,” he added.
