Nigerian soccer authorities have agreed to pay each member of the National team, the Super Eagles, 5,000 dollars in match bonus ahead of the crucial 2002 World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana this coming weekend.

Spokesman for the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Austin Mgbolu, told PANA in Lagos Tuesday the association had "bent over backwards" to meet the demand of the players so as not to give any excuse for failure in the high-profile match, which has become the main topic of discussion in Nigerian sports circles.

Confirming the decision to pay the players the money, NFA Chairman Dominic Oneya said: "We agreed to pay them (players)the 5,000 dollars they requested for to avoid any problem. We want good results from them and they have promised to deliver."

Trouble broke out between the association and the players after they rejected the 4,000 dollars match bonus offered to each of them for beating Sudan 3-0 in the qualifiers last month.

Soccer analysts believe possible areas of friction between the Super Eagles and the soccer authorities should be ironed out before the 11 March match, in the African group B qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea.

This is because of the traditional soccer rivalry between the two West African nations, and the fact that history favours Ghana in home matches against Nigeria.

Nigeria's away records with Ghana, dating back to 1951, shows Ghana has emerged victorious 10 times, against Nigeria's two victories. The Black Stars and the Super Eagles have five draws between them.

Though Ghana's chances of clinching the group's sole ticket and playing in its first-ever World Cup are very slim following embarrassing losses to Sudan and Liberia.

However, analysts said that national pride would drive the Stars to tighten the noose on the Nigerians and possibly ruin the country's chances of appearing in its third World Cup finals.

Ghana is currently fourth with three points in group B, behind Sudan with six, Nigeria also with six and group leader Liberia with nine. Sierra Leone is at the bottom without a point.

"As the case may be, Ghana would be taking the match as a do or die affair," said former secretary-general of the Nigeria Football Association, Patrick Okpomo.

"They (Ghanaians) know the game is up, but they won't let go of their prestige. Inwardly, the stars believe they are better than the Super Eagles. The last time the two met in the Nations Cup in Senegal '92, they defeated us. And their last encounter in Kumasi ended 1-0 in favour of the Stars in a World Cup qualifier," Okpomo added.

Also warning the Nigeria against underrating Ghana is ex-international Henry Nwosu, who featured in several matches against the Black Stars.

Nwosu said the Ghanaians' recent loss to Liberia in Accra was not enough reason to under-estimate their capability, adding that the Super Eagles should expect a very tough game since "they (Black Stars) need all the points they can get now to bounce back into reckoning in the qualifiers".

Ahead of the match, the Super Eagles, dominated by foreign- based professionals, have shifted their training camp to Lome to avoid distractions from noisy local fans and the media.

Mgbolu said a planned friendly between the team and the Togolese side had been cancelled to avoid any injuries to the Nigerians.

"(National Technical Adviser Jo) Bonfere said the risk involved in playing the friendly is too much. He wants to parade an injury-free team against Ghana. The NFA agreed with him because it is good to play safe," the NFA Spokesman said.

On the uncertainty surrounding the venue of the Nigeria-Ghana qualifier, Mgbolu said indications from world soccer governing body, FIFA, was that it would be played in Accra, contrary to widely-held belief that it will be in Kumasi.

"We have heard nothing yet from Ghana FA," he said.