Bayelsa United is refusing to hand over the AITEO FA Cup trophy it won last year.
This is because almost one year after beating Nasarawa United in the final Bayelsa United, the surprised team of the 2021 tournament, are yet to collect the N25m top prize and there’s no sign they would be receiving any cheque from the Nigeria Football Federation soon.
Consequently the team’s management has found a permanent place in their cabinet for the trophy until the NFF does the needful.
“They requested for the trophy, but we are keeping it till they pay the money,” Bayelsa State commissioner for sports Hon Daniel Igali told Mainlandmetronews.com.ng while confirming the development.
It won’t be the first time the NFF is stalling on the payment of the prize money. In 2020 Kano Pillars and the other prize winning clubs waited for months.
It was gathered that the Sponsor of the FA Cup has not been forthcoming with the funds as stipulated in the deal it signed with the often cash strapped NFF.
There are already dark clouds hanging over this year’s competition as the NFF may not be able to run the FA Cup without funding.