The Super Falcons have rejected attempts by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay President Bola Tinubu’s $100,000 gift to the team in Naira, insisting instead on receiving the funds in dollars.
Sports analyst Aron Akerejola, speaking on Arise TV, revealed that the controversy over the delayed bonuses was not due to negligence by the NFF but arose after the players refused payment in local currency.
“The part of the story they are not telling is that these girls were given the money,” Aron explained. “The NFF proposed paying their allowances in Naira at the rate of ₦1,530 to a dollar. The players refused, saying, ‘We don’t live in Nigeria. What will we do with Naira?’”
He added that the NFF subsequently sent the funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for conversion into dollars, a process that caused further delay. “It’s not the fault of the NFF. The government released the money, but the players rejected Naira. That’s why it dragged on,” he said.
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade had earlier confirmed that the squad had not received Tinubu’s $100,000 reward. “We have not received our money, but hopefully, it will be paid,” she said in an interview.
President Tinubu announced the reward, along with national honours and houses for the team, after their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations victory in Morocco.
