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Nigerian players reject military rulers' World Cup offer
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Members of Nigeria's national soccer squad have rejected the government's offer of 6,000 dollars a player for each match played in the first round of the World Cup.The Nigerian players say they want $8,000 each, the Lagos Punch newspaper said.
Player representatives have met several times with the country's military rulers to resolve this issue, which is expected to be reviewed after Nigeria plays Germany in a planned friendly warm-up match in late April.
Officials are also negotiating how much to pay players if the team advances beyond the first round of the Cup, which is being held in France June 10-July 12.
Nigeria's military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, came to power in 1993 after ousting elected president Moshood Abiola. The Nigerian team faces a bid by German lawmakers to prevent them from entering Germany because of Nigerian government human rights violations.
Nigeria's soccer team is considered a dark horse and one of Africa's best prospects at the World Cup. The Nigerians won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
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GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan