The House of Representatives yesterday invited the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) to appear before it today with a view at resolving the issues surrounding the protest by members of the national women’s football team, the Super Falcons ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup which begins next week.
The House also asked thenff to immediately pay outstanding match bonuses and allowances to the Super Falcons.
In a resolution at plenary following a motion by Hon. Olumide Osoba, the House said it will set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the dispute between the Super Falcons and the NFF and propose necessary reforms to prevent the planned protest and boycott by the team at the Women’s World Cup also to prevent future occurrences.
In his motion, Osoba said the Super Falcons are currently facing significant challenges and unrest which threatens to disrupt their participation in the upcoming tournament.
He expressed concerned about the potential embarrassment and negative impact on Nigeria’s reputation if the planned protest and boycott is allowed to go ahead without intervention, as witnessed in previous incidents involving the Nigerian women’s basketball team.
Read Also: WOMEN’S WORLD CUP: Chelsea’s coach warns Super Falcons over ‘nightmarish’ Kerr
He informed the House of historical instances of non-payment of salaries, allowances, and bonuses, as well as the arbitrary dismissal of players within the Nigerian women’s sports teams including the revelations surrounding the Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, as depicted in a video that had gained widespread attention.
In the said video, several alarming issues, including unpaid wages, dismissals, and interference in team selection by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), this situation was not only embarrassing but also raises serious questions about the treatment of athletes
and the overall management of sports in our country.
He said there has been recent reports regarding the ongoing dispute between the Super Falcons and the NFF over unpaid match bonuses and inadequate support for the team’s preparation for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
He said: “the Super Falcons have threatened to boycott their opening game on July 21, resulting in potential embarrassment for the government and jeopardizing Nigeria’s participation in the tournament.
He acknowledged “the commitment and dedication of our athletes who have represented Nigeria with honour and achieved remarkable success in international competitions. However, it is disheartening to witness the neglect and mistreatment they have endured, which undermines their morale and tarnishes our nation’s reputation.”