Christmas came early for 23 members of the Super Falcons as each was gifted $10,000 each, approximately N7.8m — courtesy President Bola Tinubu’s wife, Remi.
The first lady hosted some of players on Monday at the Villa following the team’s laudable performance at the ongoing Women’s World Cup where they qualified for the second and lost to finalist, England, by penalties.
At the reception, Mrs Tinubu requested for the players’ account details and promised each $10,000 with $ 2, 500 for every of the team officials.
This is according to Punchng saying “Our correspondent learnt Mrs Tinubu gifted each player $10,000, while officials got $2,500 each.”
The report also said the reception is not without controversy, alleging that the Nigeria Football Federation purposely left most players out with only five in attendance to spare the football body of embarrassment from certain players.
“The First Lady said she would host the team, but suddenly we heard stories that the Presidency said the team that will attend the reception should be trimmed down. They (NFF) know that the players are aggrieved and will talk and leak out some secrets. The original list had most of the backroom staff but after some days, the GS (General Secretary) sent a message to Amina Daura (Head of Women’s Football, NFF) that they want only him, Anyansi and Gusau with just five players.
“Then after the First Lady received them, they were told to write down the names of the remaining members of the team who were not at the event, and their account details, but Sanusi told them to write down the names of only the players, leaving out other backroom staff members who were not at the ceremony. When the names of the other players shortlisted for the reception Glory Ogbonna and Nnadozie, who were absent, were announced, Sanusi went to collect their money but he was told they won’t deal with him or any other person except the team captain Onome Ebi,” it quoted a source purportedly privy to the situation as saying.
