Nigeria's
football federation (NFF) has signed an agreement with its players which it
says will avoid the bonus and pay rows that have blighted the team's past World
Cup campaigns.
In a statement, the NFF
described it as an "historic and binding agreement that will eliminate all
manner of rancour and distractions around Nigeria's preparation and
participation" at the World Cup in Russia next year.
Nigeria, who have qualified for
their sixth World Cup, have reached the round of sixteen three times and been
eliminated in the group stage twice.
The Super Eagles were involved
in a protracted dispute ahead of the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil and a
bonus row also disrupted their World Cup campaign the following year, prompting
the players to boycott a training session.
Similar problems have affected
other African teams.
Ghana's players refused to
train over a pay dispute at one point during the last World Cup and around $3
million in cash eventually arrived in Brasilia with a convoy of cars bringing
the money to the team's headquarters.
NFF director Shehu Dikko said
no stone had been unturned this time.
"Every detail has been
agreed on, match bonus for each match and each round up to the Final as well as
share of income from Fifa money for each round until the stage we are able to
get to at the finals," he said.
"We also agreed on
preparation, such as how much players will be paid for the friendly matches,
including how and when the monies would be paid.
"We even delved into how
the NFF would apply the funds due to it from Fifa after paying the players
their share."
He said the agreement would be
"a catalyst for the Super Eagles' best performance ever at the Fifa World
Cup."