Super Falcons training in Turkey
Nigeria’s senior women’s national team the Super Falcons, have cried over the unfair treatment by Nigeria’s football governing body the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, npflupdates.com reports.
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The Super Falcons has let the cat out of the bag after a choking treatment by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). According to the players, the NFF is treating them like slaves, without care or empathy.
Recall, before the World Cup, an agreement was reached between the players and the NFF stipulating players would receive a $100 (£81) daily camp allowance. Also a $3,000 win bonus, and $1,500 draw bonus.
However, FIFA before the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, later announced each player at the World Cup would receive a minimum of $30,000 for participating (with amounts increasing after progressing from the group stage).
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So, after the FIFA announcement, players report that NFF officials reneged on their agreement with the team. According to the NFF, the match and winning bonuses previously agreed upon were now included in the FIFA money. Meaning that the federation will no longer pay match bonuses.
Speaking anonymously due to the NFF’s history of blacklisting players who speak out on issues of pay, a member of the Nigerian World Cup squad described her frustration to The Athletic saying;
Super Falcons cry foul over NFF unfair treatment
“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.”
More sadly, players have also reported receiving as little as 50,000 naira ($64) for a two or three-week training camp while still in Nigeria. According to the report by the Athletics, players also alleged they often do not receive their bonuses after competing in international tournaments.
“The federation will just decide on what they are going to pay players… it could be anything,” another Super Falcons said.
“If you don’t fight them, if you don’t ask for it, they are never going to pay you.”
Recall, striker Ifeoma Onumonu shortly after the world cup called out the NFF for treating the ladies poorly. According to the American-based forward, players used to share beds while in camp in Nigeria.
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In a related development, British journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, had queried why the NFF under the leadership of Ibrahim Musa Gusau, would not pay complete camping allowance to the ladies.
According to Osasu, NFF paid half $1000 to the ladies, and would later balance $1,300 to the players through their bank accounts.
However, NFF boss Ibrahim Gusau, assured in a statement after the world cup, that the Super Falcon made Nigeria proud and will receive in full their entitlements. And that announcement was made, shortly after FIFA announced that Super Falcons FIFA prize money has been “ring-fenced”, and distribution monitored.
In a related development, the FIFPRO in a statement, said it will partner will the women’s team, and other international bodies to ensure no Nigerian lady is disenfranchised of her entitlements.
