Some players have been asked to pay bribe for a spot at the different levels of the national teams of Nigerian football, it is something that has eaten deep into the system NPFLUpdates reports.
Most recently, a Flying Eagles’ player who was with the Ladan Bosso’s U-20 team to the AFCON U-20 tournament in Egypt revealed that he was asked to pay N2,000,000(Two Million Naira) for a spot in the team.
Read also: AFCON U-20:Most Of The Flying Eagles Players Paid At Least N2,000,000 For A Spot – Source Reveals
Sometime in 2020, former Super Eagles international Chinedu Obasi, said he was asked to pay a bribe for a spot. A Nigeria team that will travel to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup tournament.
Obasi revealed to his interviewer, Mr. Kelechi Bernard, that he was omitted because he refused to pay a bribe.
So, according to the former AIK forward, his form at Schalke 04 was enough to earn him a spot in the squad.
Almost around the time Chinedu Obasi’s revelation was raising a lot of dusts and gathering media attention, a former Flying Eagles winger, Emmanuel Sarki, revealed he was also faced with such a disturbing incident.
According to Sarki, some Nigerian coaches asked him to pay €10,000 for a spot in the national team.
But he refused the offer of bribe-for-spot. And instead of having his allegiance to Nigeria, he switched to Haiti where he enjoys professionalism.
I was asked to pay bribe:
“While I was in Poland with Wisla Krakow, my club President spoke with the national team coaches. Inviting them to come and watch me.
“He was asked to pay for the air ticket and other expenses, which he accepted,” the 35-year-old told Kaduna-based radio station, Liberty Radio three years ago and was quoted by OwngoalNigeria.
“I was now called by same people my club contacted. And was told I should pay €10,000 if I want to be invited, that coming to watch me isn’t enough.
“At that point, my club President Mr. Bernard felt really bad just as me.
“My choice to play for Haiti is one that I have no regrets about it. Because, I have found peace and also professionalism where I am right now.
“This issue of bribe for a spot is not something that people will say they don’t know.”
“So Obasi was right,” he concluded.
