Falcons lament N55,000 bonus after Algeria win

The Super Falcons are reportedly unhappy over the N55,000 win bonus paid to each player following the team’s 1-0 win over Algeria in a 2020 Olympic Games second leg qualifier at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on September 3.

The Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala’s strike helped the African secure a 1-0 win and 3-0 aggregate, having won the first fixture in Blida 2-0.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the Falcons were paid the N55,000 by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

The Nigeria Football Federation, in its invitation letter to the players, which was made available to The PUNCH, stated that the players’ remuneration would be taken care of by the sports ministry.

“The 2019 African Games and the Olympic Games are wholly programmes of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. Therefore, remunerations of all athletes including footballers are borne entirely by the ministry.

“All allowances will be paid to the individual athletes (footballers both men and women) at a rate determined by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development,” the invitation read.

But a Falcons senior player, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the players were unhappy over N55,000 they received, saying it was too small.

She said, “Yes, we were paid N55,000 for the win against Algeria at the Agege Stadium. NFF told us that the ministry will pay us, but we were surprised that the ministry could pay us such an amount of money. Honestly, I’m getting tired now.

“The players are not happy about it but we all kept quiet. No one said anything to them (NFF) because they already said anytime we came to camp we were always creating problems.”