Fresh from an impressive performance that led them to the last 16 of the World Cup, Nigeria’s women’s football team is now taking a stand with the backing of FIFPRO, urging the national federation to fulfill their commitments and settle outstanding bonuses and expenses.
Having concluded their World Cup journey with a valiant effort against European champions England, where they unfortunately lost on penalties, the Super Falcons have reignited their dispute with the federation. Their journey to this year’s tournament was marred by a bonus-related disagreement with their national federation.
Despite the earlier threat of boycotting their opening match, the team set aside their differences to draw against Olympic champions Canada and subsequently defeat co-hosts Australia. Nonetheless, on Tuesday, both the team and FIFPRO, the representative body for professional footballers, issued a joint statement indicating that the matter was far from resolved.
“FIFPRO is actively supporting players in their dispute with the Nigeria Football Federation, centered around bonus payments, camp allowances, and expenses, some of which trace back to 2021,” the statement affirmed.
While at the World Cup, the players chose to prioritize their performance and abstain from public statements or distractions. However, the Super Falcons have now reached a point where they believe it is imperative for the Nigeria Football Federation to uphold their commitments and settle the outstanding amounts.
Nigeria’s Women’s National Team has been a consistent presence at every Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991. Nevertheless, the 2023 squad expressed disappointment at having to confront their federation regarding this matter. The team’s statement conveyed their frustration at needing to pursue the federation for payments before and during the tournament, and the possibility of having to continue this pursuit post-tournament.
The statement further read, “It is unfortunate that players find themselves challenging their own federation during a crucial juncture in their careers. FIFPRO remains dedicated to collaborating with the players to ensure their contractual rights are upheld and that the pending payments are resolved.”