The Nigerian team is still awaiting payment from the National Football Federation (NFF) and the Ministry of Sports for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) and other training camps that took place last month.
Due to unpaid bonuses and allowances, the Super Falcons skipped practice before their third-place match against Zambia on July 22. In addition to victory bonuses for their three victories en route to the Moroccan semifinals, each player is owed nearly $10,000.
One team member claimed the players had been “told different lies, “Despite the NFF’s assurances that the money would be delivered soon.
Why this matters
Before the match against Zambia, “they stated the money had been sanctioned and will arrive to us in a few days,” the player told BBC Sport Africa.
“From there, it moved on to ludicrous explanations like incorrect account numbers and network problems. They plainly love to treat the women’s squad like an unwanted kid, as seen by the lies and contempt.
“The Sports Ministry was typically eager to acknowledge our accomplishments with sweeping proclamations, but ever since the money issue arose, they’ve been very silent.
Money for the team’s pre-tournament camp in Abuja as well as $2,800 in daily allowances while they were in Morocco have been given. Super Falcons players have not yet received money for trips to Austria and Canada, as well as a bonus for defeating Ivory Coast over two legs to qualify for the Wafcon finals, in addition to their win bonuses from North Africa.
According to an NFF representative who spoke with BBC, “the players should receive the money this week because it’s been processed.”
Nigeria, the nine-time defending champions of Africa, advanced to the final four of this year’s Wafcon before falling to the hosts Morocco on penalties to earn a spot in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.