Skip to main content

Nigeria says player bonus issue is sorted out

By WTOP Staff

GERALD IMRAY
AP Sports Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Nigeria’s World Cup players were each offered a $102,500 incentive to win the World Cup, with the national federation saying it had reached an agreement with the squad over their traditionally troublesome bonus payments.

Nigeria arrived days late for the Confederations Cup in Brazil last year and nearly threw the World Cup warm-up tournament into chaos after the squad, protesting against the slashing of their payments, refused to leave a hotel and travel.

The Nigeria Football Federation said that the latest World Cup bonuses had been sorted out, but only announced it on the eve of Monday’s opening game against Iran.

Squad members, including Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Liverpool’s Victor Moses, will get $10,000 each for every group stage win at the World Cup, $12,500 for winning in the round of 16, another $15,000 for winning a quarterfinal, $20,000 for the semifinals and $25,000 for lifting the trophy.

Nigeria hasn’t reached the second round of a World Cup since 1998 and hasn’t won a game in its last two tournaments.

There had been signs of discontent among the African champion’s squad this week and politician David Mark, the president of Nigeria’s senate, visited the squad at its base in the city of Campinas, north of Sao Paulo to mediate.

“The players may have issues but I think they have been settled amicably so let them allow us to play,” coach Stephen Keshi said.

Nigeria opens against Iran in Curitiba and also faces Bosnia and Argentina in Group F.

“We are ready for Iran and that is what is on our minds at the moment,” goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama said in a statement through the NFF. “Every other thing will be settled after this competition.”

Last weekend, Cameroon’s squad refused to board a plane for the World Cup over a bonus dispute, forcing their federation to take out a loan to ensure players got more money.

FIFA gave each country that qualified for the World Cup $1.5 million to help with preparations. Each team is guaranteed at least $8 million in prize money.

___

Follow Gerald Imray on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote