the NFA is at it again, have not payed the falcons a dime since their training days, the girls now threatens to bycot martch with USA.

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•Players boycott training, tie against US in jeopardy
•FA threatens to ban them

Nigerians should expect the worst from the on-going China 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup as the Super Falcons’ boycott of training began Saturday and was on till yesterday, 24 hours before their crucial match against the United States of America in Shanghai.

The players are protesting non payment of their allowances and bonuses. From their days in camp in Nigeria to the training tour of Germany to when the world championship started in China, the players have not received a kobo from the Nigeria Football Association. And they are women who need special attention and may want to buy a few things that are private to them.

Yet, they have not been paid a dime, a development that many see as unfortunate. It was same story in the last World Cup where the girls were treated so badly that they could not win a match.
Here, in China, they have not earned anything even for the draw against Sweden, a country that has good female football history.

The strike embarked by the players has not portrayed Nigeria in good light. It was the same story for Togo in the last 2006 World Cup in Germany when grumbles over unpaid allowances made news in Germany than the game they were there to play.

It is only divine intervention that may see the name of Nigeria not spelt with goals by by the United States of America. That is if the Super Falcons players eventually agree to play their last group match. They are still boycotting training and as at yesterday nobody knew what they would be up to.

It is so bad here that the NFA has threatened to ban the players if they do not rescind their decision. Princess Bola Jegede, head of female football, has been appealing to the girls and feels strongly that they would respect her plea. The coach, Ntiero says he would prefer to remain neutral.

FIFA and the Local Organising Committee are now aware of the crisis in Nigerian camp when the Nigerian team could not come out for their Monday morning training where they were supposed to address the press after the training as it is the tradition before matches. The development is casting shame on Nigeria’s image here.

•Over bonuses, allowances

Peace is yet to return to the Nigerian camp with the Nigeria Football Association, NFA and the female national team players embroiled in a war of words over allowances and bonuses due to the players in the ongoing Women’s World Cup in China.

The dispute from all indications, is rubbishing Nigeria’s image and could even jeopardise any chances of them qualifying from their last group B game in Shanghai on Tuesday.

While NFA spokesman, Ademola Olajire on one hand, has consistently maintained that money has not arrived from Nigeria, hence the inability to pay bonuses and allowances, players on the other hand are accusing the FA of sabotaging them by with- holding money.

“They did not even want us to come for this championship in the first place. They never gave us a chance. It was at the realisation that the FA could collect the $250,000 participation fee that FIFA has promised each country in the final, that they agreed to allow us come. That money is their first target, said one of the players.

Another grievance of the players is that right in the tournament, NFA has breached all agreement reached, concerning what is to be paid to them.

“We agreed on a winning bonus of $1,500 and then, $750 for a draw. We also agreed on a daily allowance of $70 per player. Now, they have gone against it and are doing their own,” said some of the players.
Their stand has been however contradicted by the FA’s spokesman, Ademola Olajire, who insists there is nothing like that.

“The FA came up with a package of $750 winning bonus per player and $400 for a draw per player. So, we don’t know from where they got the figure they are quoting,” Olajire stated.
But a top NFA source, who pleaded anonymity, said the FA has roundly sabotaged this competition by withholding money.

“I hold them responsible for what is happening. Indeed, they did not want the team to make this trip. They thought the players lacked the ability to go far, believing it will end quickly for them. They have deliberately sown the seed of failure in China,” the source said.


Although the team put up a show of strength which fetched the drawn game against Sweden in their opening game, it was obvious they would fell against North Korea because of the row and distractions of money. And they were beaten 2-0 by North Korea in the second group game in Chengdu.

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