The Super Falcons of Nigeria are planning to stage a strike and boycott their opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup after the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Mohammed Sanusi told them their match bonuses for the competition had been cancelled.

According to a report by Sunday Agunbiade, the decision was taken after six senior players, captain Onome Ebi, Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, Ohale Osinachi, Tochukwu Oluehi and Desire Oparanozie, held a meeting on arrival at the Mercure Resorts, Gold Coast, following Sanusi’s announcement.

“We are going ahead to press for our demands,” a senior player said “We are ready to go as far as missing our first game against Canada on July 21 because this has to stop.

“On Wednesday night, we held a meeting where we agreed that we were going to find out if what we were asking for is legitimate, and that if it’s legitimate, we will press for our demands. It was what was agreed. "

"The next meeting will be after we get the information we need and then the protest will start, she added.

It was learnt that shortly before the Nigerian contingent departed Abuja for Australia July 2, during a meeting with the players, Sanusi told them that they would not be paid match bonuses by the federation, since FIFA had already announced that every player would get $30,000 in the group stage of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Sanusi also announced that the players would no longer be given 30 percent from the $1,560,000 FIFA grant to all member associations for the group stage of the competition.

“The General Secretary came for the meeting clutching so many papers; he told us that we won’t be paid match bonuses at the World Cup because FIFA had already given each player $30,000 for the group stage. He also said we won’t get 30 percent from the $1,560,000 FIFA would give the NFF.

“One of the oldest players in the team asked him if FIFA would deduct the money ($30,000) they would give us from the $1.5m they gave the federation but he (Sanusi) said no. So, she said if it’s like that, then it shouldn’t affect our match bonuses. After several minutes of argument, Sanusi asked us if we would have preferred the $9,000 match bonus or the $30,000 from FIFA.”

It is unfortunate that while Nigerians are expecting great performances from the Nigerian ladies who are highly rated to be the best from Africa and likely contender for the female world cup, the Nigerian Football Federation NFF saddled with organisation of football in Nigeria is posing for war against the coach and the players. (Daily Independent)

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