#FIFAWWC: “We Are Not Owing Falcons” – NFF SPORTS

The Nigeria Football Federation has denied owing players and officials of the senior women national team, Super Falcons any money.

This was contained in a press statement on Sunday to debunk reports that Falcons refused to leave their hotel at the World Cup in France over pay dispute with the Federation.

The statement quoted the NFF second Vice President as saying that “We (NFF) have paid the players and officials the entitlements due them for the tournament and other outstanding bonuses and allowances were settled before the team arrived at the World Cup finals.”

The NFF explained that despite delay in the release of funds, it addressed all issues raised by the team captain Desire Oparanozie via an email prior to the team resuming in camp in Austria.

The statement read in part, “The monies for the Super Falcons’ preparation and participation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in France were recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. But the release of the funds is still being processing by the Federal Ministry of Finance and will be concluded soonest.

“Inspite of the delay in release of funds, the NFF made huge sacrifices including borrowing to ensure it gave the Falcons the very best of preparation for the World Cup in France with about 15 test games, with camps/games held in China, Cyprus, Spain, CIV, and Austria).

“The NFF is indeed encouraged by results achieved by the Super Falcons in France, being the first time the team qualified to the knockout rounds in the last 20 years with credible performance against some of the world’s best teams.