Nigeria's football governing body has thrown down the gauntlet to former coaches, demanding concrete evidence of any unpaid wages following allegations surrounding late legend Christian Chukwu. 

The 1980 AFCON-winning captain's recent passing at 74 revived his dying declaration of being owed $128,000 by the federation.

NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi issued a fiery rebuttal: "Show us the paperwork!" The football chief challenged aggrieved coaches to present documented proof of outstanding payments, while maintaining the federation's books show no debt to the deceased icon.

The Nigeria Football Federation has doubled down on its position regarding unpaid coach salaries, with General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi disclosing that a comprehensive financial review during Amaju Pinnick's initial presidency (2014-2018) uncovered no outstanding payments to the late Christian Chukwu.

“There is no record in the NFF of any outstanding indebtedness to ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu. During the first term of the board headed by Mr Amaju Pinnick, a committee was set up to diligently peruse the papers of coaches who were being owed, even from previous NFF administrations,” according to Sanusi.

“That committee was given the clear mandate to verify all debts and ensure that the coaches being owed were paid immediately. I am aware that the ‘Chairman’ was in the employ of the NFF between 2002 and 2005, before he was relieved of the post following the 1-1 draw with Angola in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Kano in August 2005. There is certainly no record of indebtedness to him in the NFF,” he said.

In a push for transparency, the NFF, through General secretary, is inviting ex-coaches with concrete evidence of unpaid wages from 2004-2024 to officially submit their claims, promising thorough verification of all properly documented cases.

“As a credible organisation that is very much alive to its responsibilities, if we are confronted with any genuine document of indebtedness to any coach, we will offset the debt immediately.”

Other coaches have also accused the NFF of unpaid wages, including late Falcons manager Izilein (owed $12,000 for 2004 WAFCON) and current technical director Eguavoen (2016 salary claims against previous leadership.