By Daniel Edu
A dispute has arisen between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) regarding the unpaid bonuses and allowances owed to the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national football team. The backlog of unpaid dues dates back to 2021.
This verbal exchange follows the Super Falcons’ elimination from the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. FIFPro issued a statement on Tuesday acknowledging that the players had raised concerns about their outstanding payments to the federation.
FIFPro emphasized that the players were committed to receiving their rightful compensation without resorting to boycotting any matches during the World Cup. The statement revealed the frustration felt by the players, urging the Nigeria Football Federation to fulfill its financial commitments and settle the owed amounts.
The NFF swiftly responded, dismissing FIFPro’s involvement as an overblown matter. The NFF clarified that once FIFA disburses the funds for the World Cup, the players will receive compensation for friendly games, qualifying matches, appearance fees, and bonuses.
The NFF recalled that initial agreements had been made with the players, but FIFA’s revised package offered better terms that were accepted by the players. The NFF emphasized that the players’ potential earnings could have been significantly higher had the Super Falcons progressed further in the tournament.
This exchange underscores the ongoing tension between player associations and football governing bodies over issues of compensation and financial transparency.
