The hierarchy of Abakaliki FC has resolved the contentious ‘half-pay’ dispute with the players following their strong performance against Godswill Akpabio United in a Matchday 18 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria National League (NNL) in Uyo which they lost 0-1, Completesports.com reports.
Abakaliki FC have not been impressive in Conference B of the 2024/2025 Nigeria National League, with the club occupying the bottom position in the Conference B standings, having secured just 17 points from 18 games.
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The Rice Boys’ NNL performance is in sharp contrast to their sweeping run in the President Federation Cup campaign, where they have rightly earned the ‘Giant Killers’ sobriquet, having reached the Cup final, where they will face Kwara United.
The players’ salaries were slashed by half following their 2–3 home defeat in a Matchday 17 fixture against Sporting FC, Lagos.
However, after a strong performance in the Matchday 18 away fixture—a 1–0 defeat to Akpabio United—the club’s leadership restored the players’ full pay ahead of the Federation Cup final.
“The players’ half-salary issue was part of an agreement between the players and the management some time ago,” Ogbonna Chukwuma, spokesman for Abakaliki FC, explained to Completesports.com on Thursday.
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“That was to ensure they won their games, especially at home, to avoid relegation. But after the 2–3 loss to Sporting FC—which coincided with our qualification for the President Federation Cup Final—the accounts department implemented the decision, which led to this confusion.
“This is an internal matter, but I don’t know how it was blown open in the media to the point where it started generating public attention.
“But it has now been resolved. The Chairman, Senator Obinna Ogba, has ordered the restoration of the players’ pay after he was impressed by the team’s strong performance in Uyo against Akpabio United, despite our 0–1 loss.”
By Sab Osuji
