Defending champions Nigeria were knocked out by hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-finals at this year’s Wafcon
Nigeria’s players feud with the country’s football association (NFF) ahead of their third-place match at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (Wafcon).
None of the Super Falcons players received their allocated allowances or bonuses in excess of $10,000 for victories over Botswana, Burundi and Cameroon.
The players boycotted training on Wednesday night, prompting the NFF to act quickly to prevent another strike ahead of Friday’s game against Zambia.
“The players have refused to leave their hotel in Casablanca because of unpaid bonuses,” a senior NFF official told ` Sport Africa.
“There’s also an issue with the unpaid first five days of camp, which players were expecting in their bank accounts but didn’t show up.”
The financially troubled NFF, funded by the Nigerian government, has made a $1,000 payment to each player of the nine-time African champions to cover their 10-day daily allowance.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick told ` Sport Africa on Wednesday that his organization is “looking into the issue” – but funds must come from the country’s sport ministry before any payment can be made.
A special adviser to Sport Minister Sunday Dare said the “issues are being resolved” and the team have received verbal assurances they will be paid.
“The problems will be solved and the NFF has assured the team that they will get everything that is due to them,” said Toyin Ibitoye.
“The Ministry of Sport has presented the NFF’s request for financial intervention to the relevant authorities and is receiving urgent attention.
“The processes for receiving funds from the government take time and the team now understands that. Both the Ministry and NFF are working to ensure things move faster.”
Deja vu for Super Falcons
It is not the first time that players from Africa’s most successful women’s team have protested unpaid bonuses.
Beaten by hosts Morocco in a dramatic semi-final on Monday, The Super Falcons – champions last time out – are worried they won’t be paid after the tournament.
Nigeria’s women’s team – the Super Falcons – have twice been involved in hotel sit-ins at previous Wafcons.
The first came to South Africa in 2004 after the West Africans won the title, with another 2016 in Abuja after winning their eighth continental crown in Cameroon.
At the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, the players staged another sit-in protest over unpaid salaries and bonuses after the knockout round against Germany.
Each Super Falcons player in Morocco is entitled to a daily allowance of $100, $3,000 for each group stage win and $1,500 for a tie.
According to a recent payment review, players can also expect $5,000 for their Quarterfinals win, but they will miss out on the proposed payments of $7,000 and $10,000 for Semifinals and Finals wins, respectively.
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