Super Falcons on Sunday staged a sit-in protest at their hotel in France until all of their outstanding bonuses were paid.
The team crashed out of the ongoing the Women’s World Cup on Saturday after Germany thrashed them 3-0.
According to ESPN, the players revealed that they were owed bonuses from two games, against Gambia and Senegal, from as far back as two years ago, amounting to N2 million but they were only paid half of the amount owed. They also said they were owed five days of daily allowance while at the World Cup.
“They paid us on 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.
Meanwhile, Colin Udoh, former Super Eagles media aide on his verified Twitter handle, has revealed that the team has finally agreed to leave their hotel.
He tweeted, “Players agreed to leave (the) hotel on Saturday after missing earlier scheduled transportation. Will now arrive home on Monday.”
Meanwhile, The Nigerian Football Federation has provided insight into why the Super Falcons protested over unpaid bonuses, following their elimination from the Women’s World Cup in France, explaining that they demanded to be paid in United States dollars, rather than in naira.
Nigeria had reached the knockout stage before losing 3-0 to Germany in the round of 16 on Saturday in Grenoble.
The players, however, refused to leave their hotel rooms, demanding payment of outstanding allowances from the NFF.
According to ESPN FC, they were owed bonuses from two games, against Gambia and Senegal, from as far back as two years ago, amounting to N2m (about $5,600).
A resolution was said to have been found after meetings with officials, where they received explanations about the payments and assurances the money would be paid.
The NFF president Amaju Pinnick told ESPN that the issue had come down to a misunderstanding.
Pinnick was quoted as saying, “As far as we are concerned, that is a non-issue as the bonuses they are asking for have been paid. The problem is that the players wanted to be paid the bonuses for home matches in US dollars, but that is no longer the rule under this government.
“All transactions for home games must be paid in naira.”
FIFA had stepped in on Sunday morning after the players missed their transport to Paris and subsequently their flights, and the NFF were advised that any further expenses incurred by the team’s continued stay would be deducted from their participation fee.