Football
The Nigeria Football Federation has made a pledge to pay players
and officials of the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons all their
entitlements for winning the Women Africa Cup of Nations for the eighth time,
even as it craved the understanding of the team that the money is not readily
available at the moment.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who met with the
players and officials at the Agura Hotel on Tuesday, said the Federation is not
happy owing players and coaches, but present severe economic challenges inform
that it can only continue to seek the understanding of these persons, as well
as hoteliers, travel agents and Management and Staff until the situation
improves.
“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.
“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.”
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.
“We must commend the Hon. Minister (Barrister 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.”
Stating that the NFF has embarked on aggressive drive to find a
permanent solution to the issue of owing players and coaches, Sanusi said
corporate players are now lending a listening ear to the NFF leadership and the
Federation’s finances would soon improve. “We are also working to get monies
outstanding from former sponsors of the National Teams, to complement what we
are expecting from Government.
“In relation to all these, we are in the process of sorting out
our TSA domiciliary accounts so that we can receive our due grants from FIFA
and CAF, including the $80,000 prize money from the AWCON, once it is
available.”
The NFF scribe also appealed to media representatives to
understand the plight of the Federation, and temper their write –ups with some
understanding.
“This morning, I was reading a report that the Federation is yet
to pay the Super Falcons one kobo. That is not correct. While the team was in
Cameroon, the NFF sourced for money from one of our sponsors and paid the
players N500,000 each, and also paid the technical crew and backroom staff.
“Our friends in the media should make effort to clarify whatever
information they have before going to press.”
While praising the Falcons for their tenacity and total dedication
to duty in Cameroon despite low morale, Sanusi confirmed that the NFF is waiting
for word from the Government to know when the African champions will be hosted
to a state reception.
“The reception is out of our hands. We are waiting on the Federal
Government, and as soon as we have confirmation of the date, we will inform the
players and officials to regroup in Abuja.
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