The Super Falcons have turned down attempts by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay President Bola Tinubu’s $100,000 reward in Naira, insisting on receiving the funds in dollars.
Sports analyst Aron Akerejola, speaking on Arise TV, clarified that the delay in disbursing the allowances was not due to negligence but stemmed from the players’ refusal to accept local currency.
“The part of the story they are not telling is that these girls were given the money,” Aron explained. “The NFF proposed paying their allowances in Naira at the rate of ₦1,530 to a dollar. The players refused, saying, ‘We don’t live in Nigeria. What will we do with Naira?’”
He added that the NFF had since forwarded the funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for conversion into dollars, which caused further delays. “It’s not the fault of the NFF. The government released the money, but the players rejected Naira. That’s why it dragged on,” he said.
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade previously confirmed that the squad had yet to receive Tinubu’s $100,000 reward. “We have not received our money, but hopefully, it will be paid,” she told reporters.
President Tinubu had announced the financial gift, along with national honours and housing benefits, following the team’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco.
