The Nigeria Football Federation has pledged to pay players and officials of the senior women national team, Super Falcons, all their entitlements for winning the Women Africa Cup of Nations the eighth time, saying the money was not readily available at the moment.
NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, who met with the players and officials at the Agura Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, said the Federation was not happy owing players and coaches.
He blamed the present severe economic challenges.
“There is no gainsaying that there is severe economic challenges and all organizations, whether government or private, are feeling the pinch. It is not Government’s doing; it is not anybody’s doing. We know we have financial commitment to you (players and officials of Super Falcons) and we have not at anytime stated otherwise. But the money is not readily available at the moment,” he said.
“I have come to appeal to you, to understand the situation of the Federation, to understand the situation of the country at the present and exercise patience. We will pay you all monies you are being owed as soon as we receive same from the Government, just as we paid the U17 boys who won the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile last year, after the tournament. And just as we sorted out Coach Samson Siasia’s wages as soon as we had the funds, after the Olympics.”
Mr. Sanusi also recalled that the Super Eagles were owed monies for the match against Tanzania and were paid when funds for that match was made available by government.
“As I speak with you, we are still owing the Super Eagles for the matches against Zambia and Algeria, but the memos have gone to government and are being looked at,” he said.
“We must commend the Hon. Minister (Solomon Dalung). He has been energetically pushing the cases of the various National Teams. We did the memo for the Women Africa Cup of Nations in October and it is being processed as we speak.”
Mr. Sanusi said the NFF had embarked on an aggressive drive to find a permanent solution to the issue of owing players and coaches.
NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, who met with the players and officials at the Agura Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, said the Federation was not happy owing players and coaches.
He blamed the present severe economic challenges.
“There is no gainsaying that there is severe economic challenges and all organizations, whether government or private, are feeling the pinch. It is not Government’s doing; it is not anybody’s doing. We know we have financial commitment to you (players and officials of Super Falcons) and we have not at anytime stated otherwise. But the money is not readily available at the moment,” he said.
“I have come to appeal to you, to understand the situation of the Federation, to understand the situation of the country at the present and exercise patience. We will pay you all monies you are being owed as soon as we receive same from the Government, just as we paid the U17 boys who won the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile last year, after the tournament. And just as we sorted out Coach Samson Siasia’s wages as soon as we had the funds, after the Olympics.”
Mr. Sanusi also recalled that the Super Eagles were owed monies for the match against Tanzania and were paid when funds for that match was made available by government.
“As I speak with you, we are still owing the Super Eagles for the matches against Zambia and Algeria, but the memos have gone to government and are being looked at,” he said.
“We must commend the Hon. Minister (Solomon Dalung). He has been energetically pushing the cases of the various National Teams. We did the memo for the Women Africa Cup of Nations in October and it is being processed as we speak.”
Mr. Sanusi said the NFF had embarked on an aggressive drive to find a permanent solution to the issue of owing players and coaches.