Golden Eaglets left stranded after unpleasant Suwon outing

Several Nigeria U19 players were stranded in Abuja on return from the Suwon International Tournament in South Korea after they were each paid five thousand Naira as transport fare back to their bases.

“Some of the players were stranded and had to send home for more money to add to the 5,000 Naira paid each of them before they could return home,” a source informed.

“At a point it even looked like nothing would be paid to the team after they returned from Korea.”

Team officials received 10,000 Naira with head coach Manu Garba paid double that amount.

The tournament organisers paid the NFF an appearance fee besides paying for their flight tickets and boarding in Korea.

The Nigeria U19s, made up by the core of the U17s who failed to qualify for next year’s U17 AFCON in Madagascar, posted a dismal outing at the invitational Suwon tourney.

They lost all three matches – 8-1 to England, 1-0 to Iran and 3-0 to hosts Korea – to finish rock bottom of the competition.