By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 9, 2025

The United Ex-Super Falcons Worldwide, a body for retired players of the women’s national team, has hailed the Nigeria Football Federation for promptly paying the current squad 30 per cent of the $1m prize money for winning the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

According to the group, the funds, remitted by the Confederation of African Football, were distributed barely a month after Nigeria’s dramatic 3-2 victory over hosts Morocco in Rabat on July 26, 2025.

Interim chairperson of the group, Patience Avre-Odeli, said the speed of the payment was unprecedented in the team’s history.

“We, the members of United Ex-Super Falcons (Worldwide), are very happy with the prompt action of the NFF. This kind of swift response is what the team needs to maintain harmony and focus,” Avre-Odeli said in a statement.

“It sets a positive precedent, and we hope it becomes a consistent culture rather than a one-off gesture.”

The Falcons have had a history of disputes with the NFF over unpaid bonuses and poor treatment.

In 2016, after winning the WAFCON in Cameroon, the team staged a sit-in protest in Abuja, refusing to leave their hotel until allowances and bonuses were settled.

In 2019, during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, players again boycotted training, accusing the federation of owing them match fees and allowances.

Avre-Odeli, who was part of the first Falcons squad to win the WAFCON in 1998 and reach the quarter-finals of the 1999 Women’s World Cup, admitted that her own generation received little or no compensation for their achievements.

“It’s unfortunate that during our time, both the federation and government failed to adequately reward our contributions,” she said.

“We fought hard for the country, but there was no structure to protect us.”

However, Avre-Odeli said her group would continue advocating for retired players, many of whom were left behind during the early years of the women’s game in Nigeria.

“We are proud of the progress made, but we will keep pushing to ensure that both past and present players are valued,” she added.

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 9, 2025

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