Former members of Nigeria’s women’s national team have cautioned that the Federal Government’s failure to deliver on promises made to the Super Falcons could hurt the team’s quest for a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown in Morocco, as well as its qualification for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.
At a recent gathering in Chicago, United States, members of the United Ex-Super Falcons Worldwide voiced worry that, a year after the team’s triumph, the government was yet to redeem its pledge of $100,000, land allocations and other rewards for each player.
Patience Avre, a United States-based former Super Falcons player, said the doubt hanging over the unmet promises had dampened the spirits of the players now preparing for the tournament in Morocco.
“The United Ex-Super Falcons Worldwide feel the pain the present players are facing. They may be training ahead of the WAFCON, but complaints over the unfulfilled promises are getting louder. Virtually all the players have hinted to us that there has been no official statement since last year, and nobody talks about it. The players don’t complain openly for fear of being dropped. The government should motivate the players or risk international embarrassment,” Avre said.
She explained that the ex-internationals were appealing on behalf of the current squad partly because many former Falcons had themselves been treated poorly over the years.
She said, “The truth is that Nigeria should have been among the world’s leading women’s football nations, but poor motivation over the years has been a major setback. The Federal Government is capable of adequately rewarding everyone who has brought honour to the country. All such successful players deserve proper financial rewards in addition to national honours. Some of us shed blood, tears and sweat without appreciation. Some former Falcons players have died, while others are battling illnesses and injuries sustained while representing Nigeria. Some could not settle down to marry, while many married very late. We sincerely hope that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will ensure that both past and present Super Falcons players benefit from the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
By contrast, Nigeria’s women’s basketball side, D’Tigress, who were also pledged $100,000 each and housing units after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket, received their rewards in March this year during a training camp in France.
The National Sports Commission attributed the delay in handing the Super Falcons their cash rewards, land documents and national honours certificates to the postponement of the team’s camping programme before the 2026 WAFCON. Through the same commission, the Super Eagles collected their land documents and national honours certificates ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Source: Punch.
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