By Dayo Awoniyi
A major crisis has erupted at Abakaliki FC just days before their appearance in the 2025 President’s Federation Cup final, as players protest a sudden 50% cut to their salaries.
Club management reportedly imposed the pay reduction in response to what they described as the team’s poor league performance this season.
The decision has triggered widespread unrest within the squad, casting uncertainty over their preparations for the final clash with Kwara United.
Sources within the club say several players have voiced strong opposition to the pay cut, warning it could affect morale and performance ahead of the high-stakes fixture.
The move has also divided opinion among supporters. While some fans sympathize with the management’s rationale, others have condemned the timing of the decision as counterproductive and potentially damaging to team spirit.
As the countdown to the final continues, all eyes are on Abakaliki FC to see whether the club can restore unity and focus in time for the showpiece event.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
