Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has revealed that the Nigerian government has not yet paid the team the rewards promised for winning the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Justin Madugu’s side staged a remarkable comeback in the final against Morocco, overturning a two-goal first-half deficit to win 3-2. Ajibade, who was named Player of the Tournament, had urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) during the trophy presentation with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invest in better facilities to help the team compete at the highest level.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Nigeria $1 million for the victory, double the amount given to the 2022 winners. President Tinubu later announced that each player would receive $100,000 (about ₦153 million) and 11 technical crew members would get $50,000 (₦75.6 million). Players and staff were also awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) title, a furnished three-bedroom apartment in the “Renewed Hope” estate, and ₦10 million each from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
However, Ajibade has now confirmed that none of these promises have been fulfilled.
“We have not received our money. They haven’t delivered it. They will pay,” the former Atletico Madrid midfielder said in an interview with Chude. “All the promises we’ve been hearing, none have been fulfilled, but hopefully soon. Even our match bonuses and everything, it’s still a work in progress.”
Delayed payments have been a long-standing issue in Nigerian football. In 2016, former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi revealed he paid for the Olympic football team’s flight to Brazil after the NFF failed to make arrangements.