From Harry Awurumibe, in Casablanca
The euphoria of Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over South Africa in the semi-final match of the ongoing CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco may dovetail into a national embarrassment as paucity of funds to pay the Super Falcons’ accumulated tournament match entitlements may force the players to boycott the final match on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Prompt News reports.
Our correspondent covering the competition in Morocco exclusively gathered that the Nigerian team may not leave their Ibis Hotel Abdelmoumen in Casablanca for Rabat as scheduled ahead of Saturday’s final match because they have not been paid a dime as regards to their winning bonuses after five games which they won four and drew one, all in Casablanca.
A very reliable camp source revealed that the Super Falcons have only received 10 days of camp allowance due to the players, while other match entitlements, including winning bonuses, have remained unpaid to the players, coaching crew and backroom staff.
“We have only received 10 days camp allowance but have not received a dime in match bonuses. We are still waiting to know when we will receive our money. As it stands, everyone is grumbling in the camp, and we believe that the Nigerian authorities will do the needful, “a member of the team disclosed.
Recall that three days ago, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, directed the NFF not to access any part of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) prize money until players and officials of the Super Falcons are fully paid their entitlements.
Dikko emphasized that 30% of Nigeria’s total tournament earnings must be set aside and disbursed to the players and technical crew as their official share, regardless of the team’s final standing in the competition.
“The girls have worked hard and deserve every kobo of their share. The NFF must ensure they receive their rightful earnings before any other expenditure is considered,” Dikko said.
But the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is calling on the federal government to release the federation’s allocation or budgeted funds for WAFCON, which it said has not been received few days to the end of the competition in Morocco.
According to NFF sources who pleaded anonymity, the inability of the federation to meet its obligations to the players and officials flying the flag of the country high in Morocco is because of paucity of funds.
“It’s unfortunate that we have not received the budgeted funds to execute this WAFCON in Morocco. We planned to disburse the funds to the team right from the tournament preparations, but we are frustrated that the federal government is yet to give the funds,” the source said.
All efforts made to get the reactions of both the NSC and NFF top officials in Abuja on the looming national embarrassment proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
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