Football stakeholders have expressed mixed reactions to the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari for the immediate release of funds to settle the players and officials of the Super Falcons.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that following the team’s protest at the Three Arms Zone on Wednesday, the President had directed that players and officials of African champions, Super Falcons be paid within two days.
As a result, the players and officials of the Super Falcons were paid various sums of money as approved by the Federal Government after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) received the money on Friday.
NAN reports that the sum of N471 million (US 1,173, 820.00) was released were released to the NFF.
The monies were for the uper Falcons’ participation at the 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals, which the team won after defeating hosts Cameroon 1-0 in the final in Yaounde on Dec. 3.
Part of funds released were also payment of monies due to players and officials of the Super Eagles for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Algeria, played in Uyo last month.
A cross section of football stakeholders told NAN that the move was a welcome development, adding that it had doused the tension of all parties concerned, while others noted that the team deserved more.
Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, said, “We are grateful to the Presidency for the prompt action, and we believe this will put the minds of the players at rest.
“It has been a very difficult time for the NFF. No official of the Federation was happy that the players and officials could not be paid their entitlements immediately after the tournament.
“It is not as if the Federation did not plan to pay the players and officials their entitlements.
“The NFF expected some money from a number of sources but this did not work out.
“They are champions and deserve to be treated as such; there are no doubts about that,” he said.
Godwin Bamigboye, the Chairman, Nigeria Coaches Association, FCT Chapter thanked the federal government for wading into the crisis, adding that its intervention was long overdue.
“We are immensely grateful to the federal government for coming to the girls’ rescue, even though it came a little too late.
“It was rather sad, disheartening and a national embarrassment to see the African champions take to the street with placards begging for money while, their Cameroon counterparts were being hosted at a presidential reception.
“I must also applaud responsible men like Olajire (Ademola) and others who at some point fought for the girls, and always stand up for our national teams, especially the age-grade teams.
“We cannot continue to fool ourselves and ignore where our problems lie and address it squarely,” he said.
Tolulope Oguntimehin, the General Secretary of Nigeria National League side, Supreme Court Football Club, Abuja also expressed gratitude to federal government for addressing the plight of the girls.
He, however, added that the problem bedeviling the Sports Ministry as well as the NFF was one of incompetent leadership.
“I think what is happening to the Sports ministry and the NFF is good for our football because it will to certainly make some stakeholders realise that it is not business as usual.
“If you don’t have an idea or concept that you want to bring to the table to vie for positions in the NFF then you don’t go borrowing money from the bank to contest any position on the board.
“Let’s rather start having people with fresh ideas on how to turn our football around coming on board and it starts at the state level,” he said.
Jane Onyi, a Sports journalist said, “Well I guess the NFF has been vindicated. They said when money comes they will pay.
“Even the Super Eagles that did not protest got paid. I really thought the federal government would shake up this NFF,” she said .
Samuel Ahmadu, a News Editor said, “it is simply unimaginable that our heroines can still be shortcha