Former Arsenal footballer and football pundit Ian Wright has delivered a stern warning to Nigeria’s Football Federation (NFF) following the Super Falcons’ historic victory over 2023 Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia on Thursday.
In a tweet that went viral, Wright Wright, who has constantly advocated for the women’s game and its players, has called on the NFF to pay the nine-time African champions their money due to them.
“Pay them!!!!!! @thenff,” he tweeted.
It will be recalled the team prior to the tournament had been marred by threats of a boycott with the head coach, Randy Waldrum in a war of words with the NFF over unpaid pay, inadequate travel arrangements, and the cancellation of a pre-tournament camp.
It was rumoured the players were going to boycott their first game against Canada last week after learning they would not be given tournament match bonuses, with the federation citing FIFA’s announcement that each will be paid at least $30,000 for participating.
However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino made a U-turn by stating that the prize money will still be handed to the federations and that the governing body is simply asking for a percentage of that money to go to the players.
“We have issued recommendations, but we are an association of associations. So whatever payments we do will be through the associations, and then the associations will make the relevant payments to their own players,” he said then.
