Forty-three days after the conclusion of the 2023 Women’s
World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the Nigeria Football Federation and the
Super Falcons seem headed for another showdown after the players stated that
they were treated like “slaves” following their unpaid bonuses and allowances
over the years.
Just before the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, there were reports that the Nigerian ladies threatened to boycott their
opening game.
They eventually sealed an agreement with the NFF that they
would receive a $100 daily camp allowance, a $3,000 win bonus and $1,500 bonus
for a draw.
FIFA later announced that each player at the tournament
would receive a minimum of $30,000.
According to The Athletic, the players claimed they had
received less than half of their daily camp wages and no match bonuses from the
NFF.
“They don’t treat us as if we are here to play for our
country — they treat us as if we are slaves,” one of the players said.
“We disagreed, we told them ‘no.’ You can’t come and tell us
you’re not paying us our match bonuses… How can you tell me FIFA included your
match bonus (in its money)? They take us as if we are fools, as if we don’t
know anything, as if we don’t know our rights,” another player stated.
One player, according to the UK tabloid, stated that their
commitment was to the country and not to the federation.
“We’re not playing for the federation; we’re playing for
ourselves, playing for our country, playing for our families.
“We love football, we have a passion for it… and that
passion is what gives us that drive.”
Reacting, NFF Head of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said
FIFA was yet to pay the promised World Cup money to the federation but insisted
that all daily allowances for the World Cup had been paid.
He added that bonuses owed the players before the World Cup
had been paid.
“Their daily allowances for the World Cup have been paid.
All they’ve been owed previously have been paid, bar one qualifying match.
“They will get their World Cup player allocation money when
FIFA sends the monies,” Olajire told said.
However, a member of the squad, who missed the World Cup but
was part of the Falcons side at last year’s friendly tournament in the US, disclosed that she was yet to receive the $1,000 due her.
“NFF has not paid me my money. How can they say they’ve paid
us all the monies we are owed when I haven’t gotten mine? If they’ve paid
others, then they should pay my $1,000 too,” the Europe-based player said.
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