House Committee on Sports Summons NFF over Falcons Bonus Crisis

Olawale Ajimotokan  in Abuja 

 The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been invited to appear before the House Committee on Sports for a parley to address the lingering  issue of unpaid bonuses owed  the Super Falcons at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The meeting is scheduled to hold on August 15 at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

An official statement yesterday by the Chairman House Committee on Sports, Honourable Ekene Adams Abubakar,  said those summoned would address those issues that have tainted the nation’s image at the global tournament.

“Considering the need for mutual co-operation, unity, peace and a sense of belonging, I wish to humbly request your presence at this crucial meeting

 in order to reach a common ground on issues that have tainted the image of the country at the global level. We also want to achieve a renewed policy direction for the Nigeria Football Federation anchored on peace and unity.

“I implore you to come on board as we embark on this journey to reposition Nigeria Football as an epitome of peace and excellence in the African continent and the world at large. 

The committee will be profoundly honored to have your esteemed presence at the meeting, ” the statement concluded.

Before and during Nigeria’s participation at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has been embroiled in bonus row with the Super Falcons.

The matter took a different dimension with the announcement by FIFA that all the players that featured in the group stage of the 2023 Australia and New Zealand edition would smile home with a minimum $30,000 participation bonus while there is also a graduated bonus for each stage of the tournament attained by teams. 

Super Falcons who lost gallantly to England in penalty shootouts are entitled to $60,000 each for reaching the Round of 16. They missed additional $30,000 for not able to surmount the challenge posed by the Lionesses.

However, the players appear not satisfied with explanations by the NFF that all that they are entitled to collect is just the largesse from FIFA. They want also to collect the win bonuses promised by the federation before the money from FIFA in addition to outstanding allowances, some dating back to 2021.

Even Falcons’ American Coach, Randy Waldrum, was the first to drag the federation on social media, revealing that he was only paid seven out of the 14 months he was owed.

World’s players’ body FIFPRO this week joined in calling out the NFF to honour its obligations to the Super Falcons. It wondered why NFF will have to wait for players to  protests before paying them monies due to them.