Super Falcons Plan Protest to FEC over Unpaid Allowances

AWCON 2016 FALLOUT

Duro Ikhazuagbe

After days of going back and forth over their unpaid allowances, 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations winners, the Super Falcons, have concluded plans to embark on a peaceful protest to the seat of power in the Federal Capital City of Abuja wednesday.

THISDAY checks revealed yesterday that the Falcons who won their 8th AWCON title in Cameroon penultimate weekend are planning to take their case to the Presidency as a way of pressing further to get their entitlements.

Despite reports that they were paid N100,000 per player by cash-strapped Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last Friday, the girls and their officials are believed to be heading to the seat of power with their case on how to get their allowances said to be over $16,000 each.

“We cannot continue to die in silence. If the NFF is claiming not to have the money to pay us, then it is better we take our case to the President at the Presidential Villa to register our displeasure and how to get our benefits,” observed one of the players who did not want her name in print last night.

The aggrieved players who are holding on to the trophy of the 10th edition of the African Women tournament have refused to vacate the team’s Agura Hotel in Abuja until their benefits are fully settled.

“Nobody can throw us out of this place (Agura Hotel) until all our allowances are fully paid. We are not going anywhere,” insisted another influential member of the team.

Another source in Abuja hinted last night that the 2016 AWCON champions are ready to carry placards and proceed on a peaceful protest to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting scheduled to take place wednesday.

An Abuja based female sports journalist, Aderonke Bello, said in a statement last night she was going to lead the protest to the Presidency for the girls to get their deserve benefits.

“The players deserve to be paid their dues because they have served the nation diligently. This is unfortunately a regular occurrence to female football in Nigeria. We treat our victorious girls with disdain and total disrespect at all times. It is disgraceful really.

“It is inconceivable that the NFF/Federal government are unwilling to pay the players their dues after winning the trophy. This has to stop and the girls must be paid their dues.”

“We are going to protest the unfair treatment meted out to these champions who have won the tournament eight times, making them the most successful football team in Nigeria, and we hope the Federal Government will listen to their plea,” concludes the female footballers rights advocate.