Mali’s U17 national team — the Eaglets — have been left waiting on bonuses that were supposed to accompany their qualification and participation in the FIFA U‑17 World Cup. Although the Malian state, through the Ministry of Sports, allocated about 8 million CFA francs (roughly €12,000) for player and staff bonuses, the funds never reached the players in full after being handed over to the head coach and another ministry‑appointed official instead of following standard federation procedures. Sport News Africa
The situation sparked concern among the squad, especially when players discovered the promised payments had not been delivered and one reportedly couldn’t even send money home. In response, the coach distributed some but not all of the bonus money, leaving others still unpaid. Critics say the episode highlights persistent issues with financial transparency and accountability within the Malian Football Federation and the sports ministry, renewing long‑standing worries about how funds are managed for international competitions.
Discussion about this post