Super Falcons Refuses to Leave Hotel In France Over Unpaid Bonuses
World’s most popular Black Nation, Nigeria hit with another national disgrace as the country’s female team known as Super Falcons staged a sit-in protest at their hotel in France, following their elimination from the Women’s World Cup on Saturday until all of their outstanding bonuses are paid, ESPN’s Colin Udoh reports.
Following the Super Falcons 3-0 loss against Germany in the round of 16, the country’s female national team are a stagging protest of not leaving their hotel base in France, until all bonuses & allowances are been paid by the country’s sports federation ministry.
Some members of the Super Falcons speaks with ESPN, and they said they are owed bonuses from two games, against Gambia and Senegal, from as far back as two years ago, amounting to 2 million Nigerian naira (about $5,600 U.S.), but they have been paid only half of that. They also say they are owed five days of daily allowance while at the World Cup.
“They paid us 1 million [naira] and said that is all. We want them to pay the balance,” one player told ESPN. “Part of that money is from two years ago, the other is from three years ago. And they are also owing us five days’ daily allowance here in France.
“Before the World Cup, we asked them for a meeting so that we could discuss our World Cup bonuses, like they did with the men’s team last year. They ignored the letter and nobody said anything about it until now.”
Nigeria’s women’s team also staged a protest over bonuses after winning the 2016 African title in Cameroon. The team also sat in at a South African hotel for three days in 2004 after winning the African title until outstanding allowances were paid.