🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Enyimba and Remo Stars to benefit from FIFA's $355 million Club Benefits Programme for 2026 World Cup
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Nigerian clubs Enyimba and Remo Stars are among those set to receive funds from FIFA's $355 million Club Benefits Programme. This program rewards clubs for releasing players for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and the final tournament. For the first time, the program includes payments for players released during qualifiers, with $100 million allocated for this phase. Clubs will receive at least $2,360 per player for each qualifying match for which the player was released. An additional $250 million will be distributed to clubs whose players participate in the final tournament, calculated on a per-player, per-day basis. Remo Stars, having released four players for a total of 15 matches, are expected to receive approximately $35,400. Enyimba, who released one player for two matches, is set to receive about $4,720. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the increase in funding, a 70% rise from the 2022 edition, is due to the expanded 2026 World Cup, aiming to provide more financial support to clubs globally.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadAlex Iwobi is poised to earn his 100th cap for the Super Eagles against Portugal, becoming only the fourth Nigerian player to reach this milestone. He will join Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, and Ahmed Musa in this exclusive group. Joseph Yobo, a defender, was the first to achieve 100 caps between 2001 and 2014, representing Nigeria at three FIFA World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and captaining the team to victory in the 2013 AFCON. Vincent Enyeama, a goalkeeper, reached 101 caps from 2002 to 2015, participating in three World Cups and six AFCONs, and was named the best goalkeeper at the 2013 AFCON. Ahmed Musa holds the record for most appearances with 111 caps from 2010 to 2025, featuring in two World Cups and winning the 2013 AFCON. Iwobi, a midfielder for Fulham, chose to represent Nigeria after playing for England at youth level, making his senior debut in 2015. He has scored 10 goals and provided eight assists in 99 appearances, including a crucial goal that sent Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He has also participated in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, securing silver in 2023 and bronze in 2019 and 2025.
BreakingPresident Bola Tinubu has approved an immediate release of N10bn in emergency intervention funding and established a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness. This action follows a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which has resulted in at least 349 deaths and been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation. The N10bn funding aims to bolster the operational readiness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support critical national public health emergency response activities. The task force, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, includes members from relevant ministries, departments, agencies, and state representatives. President Tinubu has directed intensified passenger screening at all international airports, including enhanced temperature checks and crowd-control protocols, and increased monitoring of passengers from high-risk airline routes such as Air Uganda, RwandAir, and Ethiopian Airlines. He also ordered the activation of referral and isolation centers at Lagos and Abuja international airports, with plans for other airports to follow, and the mandatory activation of QR code-based pre-arrival health declaration systems for passengers from or transiting through designated high-risk countries. Additionally, the President mandated the disinfection of airport facilities and directed the task force to designat
Must ReadThe first group of at least 270 Nigerians is scheduled to arrive in Lagos on Thursday morning, following recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the evacuees will depart Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday night aboard an Air Peace aircraft, landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, around 5 a.m. The Federal Government is funding the evacuation and reception of the returnees, who will undergo documentation and profiling before being reunited with their families. The repatriation was initially delayed due to logistical considerations, with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, explaining that more time was needed for documentation and screening in collaboration with South African authorities. Over 1,000 Nigerians have participated in the screening, and the number seeking repatriation is increasing. The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria also secured concessions for Nigerians with immigration-related issues, allowing them to depart through the repatriation program instead of facing detention. The National Emergency Management Agency and other government agencies are coordinating the operation, which aims to assist Nigerian citizens wishing to leave South Africa due to concerns over attacks on foreign nationals.