The captain of the Nigerian women’s national football team, Rasheedat Ajibade, has expressed frustration over the delay in payment of promised allowances and bonuses to the team. Despite their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco, the Super Falcons players have yet to receive the $100,000 reward pledged by President Bola Tinubu.
In a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Ajibade lamented the delay, stating, “We have not received our money oo. Please, they have not paid. All the promises you heard back and forth, we have not received anything.” The players have been informed that the money has been allocated, but nothing has been paid out yet. Ajibade emphasized that the delay is taking a toll on the players, with many already asking for their percentage of the reward.
Following the Super Falcons’ victory, President Tinubu announced a cash reward of $100,000 for each player, along with other bonuses, as a token of appreciation for their achievement. The President also conferred national honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on the team and their technical crew. Additionally, each player was promised a three-bedroom apartment in the Renewed Hope Estate, Abuja.
Ajibade also shared her personal struggles, revealing that she played for FC Robo Queens in the Nigeria Women’s Football League for 10 years without receiving a salary. She described her spell playing football in the NWFL as “a tough moment”. The Super Falcons captain grew up in a compound of almost 100 people in the Mushin area of Lagos and had to wash people’s toilets and bathrooms for money. Despite these challenges, she has risen to become one of the top players in the country.
Ajibade urged the authorities to fulfill their promises, stressing that the delay is affecting the players. “People are begging. We have not received it. When they pay it, you will see. Even our match bonuses and everything… everything is still a work in progress,” she lamented. The Super Falcons’ captain hopes that the government will come through with their promise and reward the team for their hard work and dedication.
