The Nigerian delegation to the 8th FIFA Women’s World cup final in France return to the country today after Germany eliminated Nigeria with a 3-0 defeat in Grenoble on Saturday.
Almost all the players except Norway- based Rasheedat Ajibade boarded the Air France flight to Nigeria today.
Strangely, players who had earlier asked FIFA and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to book their return tickets from and back to their bases in France cajoled the NFF to now pay extra cost to effect a change of tickets to travel to Nigeria and then back to Europe and the Americas.
A particular player’s change of ticket cost a whopping $800 dollars even after she had earlier insisted on traveling back to her base from France but lately decided to head back to Nigeria first.
The NFF bent backward to pay for the extra costs which added to its heavy financial burdens in running 11 national football teams on behalf of Nigeria.
Others on board are three Nigerian members of the coaching crew- Justin Madugu, Auwal Makwala and Maureen Mmadu; backroom staff and administrative personnel led by Miss Ruth David, NFF Head of Women’s Football Unit.
Three Executive Board members- Hon. Suleman Yahaya Kwande, ex- National Assembly member; Alhaji Babagana Kalli and Chairperson of NFF Women’s Football Committee, Ms Aisha Falode as wells Barr. Okey Obi, Chief Legal/ Integrity Officer.
