Players of the Super Falcon, Nigeria’s national women’s football team, reportedly skipped practice in anticipation of their #WAFCON2022 third-place match against the Copper Queens of Zambia in Morocco because of unpaid bonuses.
In the second semi-final of the African Women’s Cup of Nations, Nigeria’s Super Falcons played Moroccan women’s national football team, and President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday praised their “resilience and professionalism.”
This was said in a press statement headed “Thanks for the gallant display, President Buhari to Super Falcons” by Femi Adesina, the Special Advisor to the President on Media and Publicity.
Adesina claims that despite playing with two less players than usual in front of a home audience, the girls’ tenacity, professionalism, and resiliency inspired President Buhari.
The female national team players did not show up for training on Wednesday, according to SaharaReporters, in an effort to protest the non-payment of some of their entitlements.
Some of the players also acknowledged that since the African Women’s Cup of Nations qualification games, they had not been given any match bonuses.
“We’ve not been paid for the last WAFCON qualifiers.” One of the players said to sports journalist, Ojora Babatunde, on Tuesday.
As of the time this story was filed, every attempt had been made to contact Amaju Pinnick, head of the Nigerian Football Federation, for comment on this assertion.
As of the time of publication, he has not returned calls or messages.
