Nigeria have turned up both the volume and the stakes. Ahead of tonight’s AFCON 2025 Round of 16 clash, the Super Eagles have been handed a sharp new incentive: $10,000 (about ₦14 million) per goal against Mozambique. It’s a clear message from the team’s partners and the authorities: keep winning, keep scoring, and bring the trophy home.

After a perfect group stage that delivered three wins and eight goals, Nigeria return to action in Fez at 8 pm, facing a Mozambique side that sneaked through as one of the best third-placed teams from Group F. The momentum is with the Super Eagles. So too is the money — and the motivation.

Nigeria vs Mozambique: AFCON Round of 16, the setup

The venue is the Complexe Sportif de Fes in Morocco. The stakes are simple: win and move on, lose and go home. Nigeria, Group C winners, arrive as favorites after a clean sweep and an attack that spread goals across the team. Mozambique are gritty and organized, and they’ll try to slow the game down and snatch moments in transition.

On form and depth, the Super Eagles should have enough. But knockout football has its own pace and pressure, especially with so much attention on bonuses and rewards. The challenge is to keep the focus tight for 90 minutes.

“If it’s ₦14m per goal, then finish your chances and end it early.”

₦14m per goal: why the goal bonus matters now

The per-goal offer has been doubled from $5,000 to $10,000 for the Round of 16. National Sports Commission chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko confirmed the boost, noting that partners and sponsors were behind the increase during the group stage and are now stepping it up again.

“We have fully mobilised the Super Eagles to succeed in this tournament… our partners and sponsors paid $5,000 per goal in the group stage and have now committed $10,000 per goal for the Round of 16. The incentives will continue to improve as the tournament progresses,” Dikko said.

It’s more than a number. The Super Eagles put up eight goals in three matches — a fast, fluid standard that turns the new bonus into a real, tangible target. Over 90 minutes, every shot on target doesn’t just lift the crowd; it nudges the squad closer to a bigger payday and deeper belief.

$30k per player for R16 reached, and rising incentives

Beyond the goal reward, the Nigeria Football Federation has agreed $30,000 per player for reaching the Round of 16, up from an initial $15,000 proposal. That compromise shows how both sides — players and administrators — are trying to align ahead of the title push.

The Federal Government’s wider support is also now in play. President Bola Tinubu approved a ₦3 billion intervention fund on November 14 to back the AFCON campaign. Estimates suggest this could translate to around ₦43 million per player if the funds were evenly spread across the squad and staff needs, though allocations can vary by role and stage.

While the coach’s payments have reportedly been settled, players had awaited some bonuses. The new offers, and the clarity around them, aim to remove noise and let the football lead.

“Money talks, but clean sheets win knockout games.”

What’s at stake: CAF prize money and internal targets

CAF’s Round of 16 payout is $800,000. That’s the baseline. The bigger prizes wait deeper in the tournament, which is why Dikko’s promise that incentives will rise with progress is interesting. The message from the top is clear: get to the later rounds, and the rewards will follow.

For coach Eric Chelle, the brief is even sharper. After Nigeria’s runners-up finish in 2023, the NFF’s expectation this time is a final — and, by implication, one more step to the title. Chelle’s own package reflects that pressure: $60,000 in bonuses for three group wins ($20,000 per win), plus a $55,000 monthly salary and $400 daily allowance. He knows the noise around money can be distracting.

“I have to take care of my players, I have to work. This is not targeted against you. I want my team to stay focused,” Chelle said, underlining the need to keep attention on the pitch and the game plan.

Mozambique’s motivation and the other side of the story

Mozambique are not coming empty-handed. Reports suggest their players also have motivation, with bonuses around 500,000 meticais per player. They reached this stage as one of the best third-placed teams and will treat this match like a final. Disrupt, defend, and look for a moment to strike — that’s their blueprint.

For Nigeria, that means patience and control. Win midfield, pin the full-backs, and keep the back line switched on. The one thing you cannot do in a knockout is give hope to an underdog late in the game.

“All this cash means nothing if we don’t reach the final.”

The bigger picture: funding, belief, and a hungry fan base

Incentives don’t score goals on their own, but they send a signal of belief and backing. The ₦3bn Federal Government fund and the $10,000 per goal pledge show that Nigeria’s institutions and private partners are investing in success right now. It’s up to the Super Eagles to turn that into calm decision-making in the box, sharp pressing off the ball, and game management when it matters most.

Tonight in Fez, the task is straightforward: beat Mozambique, keep the run alive, and make those incentives a footnote to a bigger story. The team has the form. The money is aligned. The goal is clear.

Kickoff is at 8 pm at the Complexe Sportif de Fes. A nation is watching. And with ₦14 million per goal on the line, every chance will feel a little bigger.