Attempts by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay the Federal Government’s $100,000 gift to the Super Falcons in Naira equivalent have been resisted by the West Africa Women Cup of Nation, WAFCON, winners, who are insisting instead on receiving the funds in dollars.
Arise TV Sports analyst Aron Akerejola, made this revelation on Monday, explaining that the controversy over the delayed bonuses was not due to negligence by the NFF but arose after the players refused payment in local currency.
“The part of the story they are not telling is that these girls were given the money,” Aron disclosed, adding that, “The NFF proposed paying their allowances in Naira at the rate of ₦1,530 to a dollar. The players refused, saying, ‘We don’t live in Nigeria. What will we do with Naira?’”
He further explained that the NFF subsequently sent the funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for conversion into dollars, a process that caused further delay. “It’s not the fault of the NFF. The government released the money, but the players rejected Naira. That’s why it dragged on,” he said.
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade had earlier stirred controversy during a media chat that the squad had not received government’s $100,000 reward. “We have not received our money, but hopefully, it will be paid,” she said in an interview, sparking widespread backlash against the NFF and government.
President Tinubu announced the reward, along with national honours and houses for the team during a reception at the Presidential Villa after the teams’ victory at the WAFCON in Morocco, coming from a 2-0 down to trounce their Moroccan counterpart, 3-2.
