•Super Falcons and Tinubu
The Super Falcons have declined attempts by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay President Bola Tinubu’s $100,000 gift to the team in Naira, insisting they only receive the funds in dollars.
Sports analyst Aron Akerejola, speaking on TV, explained that the controversy over the delayed bonuses was not due to negligence by the NFF but stemmed from the players refusing payment in local currency.
“The part of the story they are not telling is that these girls were given the money,” Aron clarified.
“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 also stated that the NFF then sent the funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for conversion into dollars, which caused further delay, reports Daily Independent.
“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 added.
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade 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 during an interview.
President Tinubu announced the reward, along with national honours and housing for the team, after their victory at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
