Super Falcons players were stunned on Tuesday when the Nigeria Football Federation paid them a paltry N10,000 each as bonuses after their 2-0 victory against the Terenga Lioness of Senegal,.
According to some of the players who craved anonymity, they were surprised that despite being in camp for about 45 days, and also qualifying for the African Women Cup of Nations, with a 3-1 aggregate victory over the Senegalese, they would be treated like that.
“So for all our efforts in the last two months, all we can get is N10, 000?” one of them queried. “The money is not even enough for my transport back home if I have to add the money I spent coming to camp.
“This is not good for our morale because this has been happening for long and it is time they stop treating us like shit.” One of the foreign-based players who also spoke on condition of anonymity accused the NFF of insensitivity.
According to her, despite the failure of the men’s team to qualify for AFCON, they were still paid $2,500 for the 1-1 draw against Egypt. She said: “I was given my return ticket without any other thing despite all what we put in to win the game. “Can they do this to the men?
They pay the Super Eagles $5,000 for the wins and $2,500 for draws but nothing for us because we are women. This is most unfortunate and something must be done about it.”
In her own words, another player urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister for Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to intervene. It will be recalled that the Golden Eaglets were also paid the sum of N20, 000 after winning the 2015 U-17 World Cup in UAE.
