Bayelsa United refuse to return Aiteo Cup trophy over unpaid prize money

By Amaechi Agbo

The drama that has continued to envolve in the 2022 Federation Cup sponsored by Aiteo Group has taking another twist on Sunday as Champions Bayelsa United have allegedly refused to return the trophy they won last year. 

The Yenagoa-based Nigeria National League, NNL side won the 2021 Aiteo Cup on August 8, after defeating NPFL side Nasarawa United via penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 draw at the end of extra-time.

Played at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, Edo State, Bayelsa United won the penalty shootout 4-3 to win the trophy for the first time ever in their history.

However, more than a year after, with controversy surrounding the continuation of the current competition, Bayelsa United have reportedly refused to return the trophy claiming that it had not received the ₦25, 000, 000 (twenty-five million naira) prize meant for the cup.

According to Osasu Obayiuwaana, the 2021 champions refused to return the trophy to the NFF over the latter’s failure to pay the prize money. 

“Is Bayelsa United, winner of last year’s Nigeria Federation Cup sponsored by Aiteo Group, refusing to return the trophy to the NFF because it is yet to be paid the prize money io ₦25 million?

“Really? What an absolute disgrace. Football governance in Nigeria is a total joke,” he twitted on Sunday.

Is @bayelsautd1, winner of last year’s @AiteoCupNgr Federation Cup, sponsored by @Aiteo_Group, refusing to return the  🏆 to @thenff, because it is yet to be paid the prize money of N25m? Really? 😳 What an absolute disgrace. #Football governance in #Nigeria is a total joke.

Findings by Best Choice Sports indicate that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has not paid the champions their prize money. 

A competent source in Bayelsa United told our correspondent that the club have not been paid their prize money for winning the 2021 Aiteo/Federation Cup. 

The source who spoke in confidence denied knowledge of the “refusal to return the cup” however stated that the NFF three weeks ago requested for the club’s bank account details adding that till date they have not heard from them. 

“Am not aware of the refusal to return the trophy but what I can tell you is that they requested for our account about three weeks now. I believe that this money has been paid but someone held on to it,” the source said. 

The 2022 Aiteo/FA Cup has been engulfed in controversies as clubs recently boycotted the quarter-final matches. However, following a truce brokered between the affected clubs and the NFF, the competition is expected to continue on Saturday this week.