The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has hit back at the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) after the latter released a statement addressing the issue of unpaid bonuses to the Super Falcons.
The Nigeria female national team are embroiled in a back and forth with the NFF over unpaid bonuses from the $960,000 payment global football governing body FIFA made to each 32 participating football associations at the ongoing Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
FIFPRO, which represents the interest of professional footballers globally, said it was stepping in to assist on the matter. The NFF however responded by calling it “a storm in a teacup.”
“The Nigeria Football Federation has dismissed as nothing more than a storm in a teacup, a statement issued by the world body of professional footballers, FIFPRO on Tuesday calling on the Federation to pay players of the Super Falcons what they are owed,” read the NFF statement.
“The Federation reiterates that it had an earlier agreement with the players on what they would earn at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but world football-governing body, FIFA came up with a new template that guaranteed more money for the players and which made players of all participating teams happier.
“The NFF insists it does need FIFPRO shouting from far off to pay Nigerian players what they had been promised by both FIFA and the NFF, dismissing the body’s statement as a mere relevance-seeking message.”
????How we were received at the Marriott Hotel ???? following our Round of 16 elimination from the #FIFAWWC by England ????????????????????????????
We appreciate your support ????????#SoarSuperFalcons| #NGA | #ENGNGA | #BeyondGreatness pic.twitter.com/0F1yMUsSDT
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) August 7, 2023
The NFF called on FIFPRO to “stop playing the ostrich and stand up to its real responsibilities and address real issues.” The Nigerian football governing body also adviced FIFPRO to establish an affiliate body in Nigeria, as it currently does not have one, which the NFF claims will be a legitimate way to speak for players that represent the country.
