Former Nigeria attacker, Stella Mbachu, has urged the Super Falcons to continue their protest till their bonuses and allowances owed them by the Nigeria Football Federation are paid.
The team on December 3 won the African Women’s Cup of Nations for the eighth time following their 1-0 victory over hosts Cameroon in the final.
The NFF reportedly owes each player bonuses and allowances totaling $25,000. This forced the team to begin a protest in their Abuja hotel last week Tuesday.
However, the NFF reportedly paid the players N100,000 on Sunday with a promise to pay them their full entitlements later .
Mbachu, who spoke with our correspondent on Monday, said the money was too small for the players to call off their protest.
“The players have been demanding what is rightly theirs and it should continue till they are paid. The ladies should not leave the hotel because once they leave, their allowances will go into thin air,” she said.
“I can remember that such a thing happened after the team’s triumph in 2014 in Namibia. We were promised to be paid after we arrived in the country but we haven’t heard anything about it. The NFF has been unfair to female players.
“The Super Eagles won’t be owed for this long. This is really a sad treatment for a team that went through the qualifiers to the final of a competition unpaid. The ladies shouldn’t be intimidated by anything because that is the only way they can get what is theirs.”
She added, “If it is true that they have been paid N100,000 each then that is no money at all. It is too small. If the complete money isn’t paid, they should stay there. The issue is currently beyond the NFF and has become that of the Federal Government.
“The ladies should be given their entitlements and allowed to go home in peace. They aren’t requesting extra – just their rightful money and that should be given to them.”
credit: punchng