We can’t pay super falcons, FG blames economic recession

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday waded into the embarrasing episode of non-payment of the Super Falcons players’ match bonuses.

The bonuses are due to the female players after they won the African Women Nations Cup in Cameroon at the weekend, but the FEC discussed the matter at its meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari and blamed the failure to pay the ladies on the prevailing “biting economic situation”.

Reports emerged that the players refused to vacate their hotel rooms in Abuja having been disappointed at the paltry $100 offered them by the NFF to travel back to their bases.

Asked about this development, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, told State House correspondents that the matter was raised during the FEC meeting by Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung.

According to Mohammed, “the Minister of Youth and Sports raised the issue today at the Council and it is being looked into.

“Over time, it has become a tradition to reward victorious sports persons but I think this delay is caused by the biting economic situation.

“The Minister of Youths and Sports is handling the matter. It was reported under ‘Other Matters’ today at the Council.”

It is alleged that the NFF had pledged to pay the players their outstanding allowances for qualifying for the AWCON and their winning bonuses (US$6,500) before the start of the competition.

One of the players however, told BBC Sport that their sit-in at the Agura Hotel in Abuja would not end until they received all bonuses, totaling $23,650.