Chairman of Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to pay players of the Super Falcons their entitlements.
Florence Omagbemi’s team, who won this year’s African Women Cup of Nations, have been holed up in an Abuja hotel since they returned to the country from Cameroon.
On Wednesday there were reports that they had seized the trophy they won last weekend, until the NFF pays them all outstanding bonuses and allowances .
It is understood the debt is up to a whopping N238.05million, an amount that has accumulated over time.
Falode says there should be caution and understanding among both parties, but the football house should do the needful.
“It’s a compassionate plea anyway to the Nigeria Football Federation to quickly do whatever that is humanly possible to pay off the side’s entitlements as well as compensate them for a good job done at the just concluded AWCON in Cameroon,” she told SuperSport.
“Admitted that things are quite tight financially with the federation but this was a championship. We all knew two years back that it would come exactly when it came.
“We must continue to commend the team for going through the harsh circumstances and tedious process to claim the title at the expense of the hosts, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.
“That’s no mean achievement and the worst things we can do right now to show appreciation is to allow them to mourn loudly over unpaid allowances and entitlements.
“I think they have exhibited a lot of patriotism by not going through the show of shame displayed by their past colleagues after a warm victory in the 2010 African championship in South Africa.
“This crop of Falcons is aware of failed promises in the past to offset their debts. They could have stayed back in Cameroon after the Awcon victory to further embarrass and soil the image of the country.
“The change mantra of the government must be demonstrated to the fullest as the players have done their part of the bargain. The NFF should quickly step in to reciprocate the kind gestures of the team.
“NFF should be seen to be living up to its avowed responsibilities to the heroic side, the Falcons.
“The players must not be kept in camp against their will and unnecessarily. Rather they should be paid off so that they can go home to reunite with their respective families.
“Virtually all the players are bread winners of their families and lots is being expected from them, especially at this yuletide season.”
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