x

New Nigeria Cash Row - Ipswich Town News

Finidi George's Nigerians are emboiled in yet another cash row which now threatens to stop their African Nations' Cup semi-final appearance against Senegal tomorrow.

As seems to be usual, the row is over cash the players claim they are owed by the Nigerian Football Association. This time $2,500 the players say the NFA agreed to pay them for their return flights back to their clubs.

The NFA and the Nigerian Sports Ministry are determined to pay just the value of the tickets and not a flat-rate all round. The most expensive of the tickets is reportedly $1,800.

There were a series of meetings yesterday, but these ended in deadlock and the players are threatening to pull out of tomorrow's game.

Before the tournament began there was a row about unpaid bonuses from World Cup qualification and then a row about the team's new kit. These were eventually resolved as we suspect will be the case this time around.

Definitely out of tomorrow's match with Senegal at the Modibo Keita Stadium in Bamako is keeper Ike Shorounmu who collided with teammate Isaac Okoronkwo during the 1-0 win against Ghana on Sunday.

The extent of his head injury worried the entire Nigerian squad, team physician Doctor Muazu: "He is OK but is still in shock. We were scared stiff on our way to the hospital. He was still and his state frightened us the more. Even when he regained consciousness, he was muttering words that were strange to the ears. But once at the hospital and he regained consciousness, he was asking where he was. At a later stage, he was asking the outcome of the match. It was a near fatal accident."

He will be replaced by Murphy Akanji in tomorrow's game (KO 4pm Eurosport).

What to read next:

[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town Women Lose in League Cup at Palace
Ipswich Town Women levelled twice but fell to a 3-2 defeat away to Crystal Palace at Sutton United’s Green Gander Lane in the Subway Women’s League Cup, the Eagles netting the winner six minutes from time.
U18s Lose at Norwich
Town’s U18s fell to a last-gasp defeat to local rivals Norwich City at their Avant Training Centre on Saturday.
Town Women at Palace in League Cup
Town Women are in Subway Women’s League Cup action away against Crystal Palace at Sutton United’s Gander Green Lane on Sunday afternoon (KO 2pm).
Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich Town - Highlights
Highlights of last night’s 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Edwards: A Great Tear-Up
Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards was proud of his team following their 2-1 victory over the Blues in a game he described as “a great tear-up”.
O'Shea: That's Not Our DNA
Town captain Dara O’Shea expressed his frustration at an uncharacteristic performance as the Blues were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough at the Riverside.
McKenna: Few Complaints About the Result, We Made Too Many Mistakes
Town boss Kieran McKenna had few complaints following his side’s 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, admitting his team made too many mistakes.
Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Town fell to their second defeat of the season as they were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough at the Riverside to send the home side back to the top of the Championship. Cedric Kipre’s own goal in first-half injury time gave Boro the lead, George Hirst having seen a penalty saved moments earlier, before Morgan Whittaker added a second 10 minutes into the second half, prior to Dara O’Shea pulling one back for the Blues on 76, but Town were unable to find a second goal.
Middlesbrough 2-1 Ipswich Town - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.