The Nigeria Football Federation has responded resolutely to a recent statement from FIFPRO, the global association of professional footballers, urging the NFF to fulfill payment obligations to the Super Falcons.
According to the NFF, the ongoing debate has been blown out of proportion, with the federation stressing their initial agreement with the players regarding compensation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
In a surprising turn of events, FIFA introduced a revised compensation structure, granting players from all participating teams higher earnings, which reportedly boosted the morale of the athletes.
The NFF maintains that they had a mutual understanding with the players about their earnings, but FIFA’s updated package was too attractive to pass up.
Had the Super Falcons progressed further in the tournament by defeating England and securing a spot in the quarter-finals, the players could have earned up to $90,000 each, illustrating the potential for even greater rewards.
The federation commended the team’s remarkable performance in the Round of 16 and their impressive record of not losing any matches within regulation time.
The NFF reiterated its commitment to resolving financial discrepancies with the players, including outstanding fees from friendly matches and qualifying games.
The federation assured the players that their dues would be settled once the World Cup earnings were received.
Taking a firm stance, the NFF challenged FIFPRO to address genuine concerns rather than making vague statements.
Interestingly, the federation disclosed that FIFPRO has yet to establish an affiliate body in Nigeria, indicating a lack of proper representation for Nigerian players.
The NFF called upon FIFPRO to establish a localized affiliate that genuinely understands the nuances of the African football environment, suggesting that this move would facilitate more meaningful dialogue between players and the international football community.