By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
There are indications that Nigeria’s senior women’s football side, Super Falcons may join the “equal pay” bandwagon which South Africa’s Banyana Banyana are embroiled in at the moment just as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has adviced the players to put national interest above financial considerations.
Prompt News can confirm that there is uneasy calm in the Falcons’ camp at Mercure Resorts, Gold Coast City, Brisbane, three days after the team landed in Australia to start 15-day training ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup July 20 kick off date in Australia and New Zealand.
Reliable camp sources revealed that Falcons players are being brainwashed to embark on “equal pay” dispute with the federation like their South African counterparts who have refused to travel to the World Cup until the South African Football Association (SAFA) give the players an improved pay like the Bafana Bafana.
According to our sources, key players of the team especially those doing well in their overseas’ clubs are being recruited to spearhead the demand of a jumbo pay from the federation during the World Cup and even planning to boycott further training sessions in Brisbane to embarrass the NFF.
It was also gathered that Falcons players and officials are of the view that FIFA has released the World Cup participation fee to the federation hence they are demanding for an improved welfare package if they cannot get equal pay with the Super Eagles.
However, accusing fingers are being pointed to the Falcons Head Coach Randy Waldrum who was alleged to have been clandestinely speaking to key players of the team with the intention to convince them to lead a rebellion against the federation.
“We have it on good authority that Coach Waldrum is making clandestine moves to set up the players against the NFF by telling them that he has a link with someone working in FIFA in Zurich who allegedly confirmed to him that the federation has been paid World Cup participation fees.
“The truth is that we have only received World Cup preparation grants which we have judiciously used to prepare the team”, a top NFF official who pleaded anonymity said.
It was not clear if the federation will confront the coach with the evidence they have gathered, hold crises- management meeting to resolve whatever disagreement that has arisen.
Meanwhile, the federation has adviced the players to put national interest above financial considerations, promising to make available to the team everything it needs to excel in the World Cup.
General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi gave this advice in a telephone chat on Wednesday, saying that the team does not need distractions at the moment but full concentration to be able to put up a good performance during the World Cup.
Sanusi who will neither confirm nor dispel the “mutiny” rumour said: “what is important now is for the players to focuss on the task ahead and be patriotic for the sake of fatherland than starting agitation, no matter what the issues are, it must be Nigeria first”.
