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Super Falcons threaten to boycott AWCON

By Editor |   27 October 2016   |   3:54 am  

Nigeria’s soccer team players run with balls during a training session AFP/Getty Images/ JEWEL SAMAD<br />

There are reports that the Super Falcons may shun the 10th African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) scheduled to hold in Cameroun from November 19 to December 3.

The title holders are pitched in Group B together with arch-rivals Ghana, Mali and newcomers Kenya.According to supersport.com, the players are not happy that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has not deemed it necessary to settle, as promised, their outstanding qualifying match allowances and bonuses.

“The players are unhappy that to date the NFF has only paid N10, 000 qualifying bonus to each of the players to enable them travel back to their respective homes after April’s successful qualifying match against the Teranga Lionesses of Senegal in Abuja.

“The NFF had cited financial challenges, promising to pay their bonuses and allowances soon but that’s yet to see the light of day.“They want all the outstanding allowances paid forthwith or they will stay away from the upcoming Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroun.

“They are not happy that NFF has continued to treat them as outcasts compared with their male counterparts, Super Eagles, who were handsomely rewarded with $4, 000 and $5, 000 respectively for a draw and a win in the failed 2017 Afcon qualifying campaign.

“They have told whoever that cares to listen that their presence in camp as well as training for the championship should not be misconstrued as weakness or evidence of their preparedness to participate in the biennial football competition.

“They said the country is in for a big shock unless the federation does the needful by quickly paying off their backlog of match bonuses.“The players said they are ready to cooperate with the head coach, Florence Omagbemi, to successfully defend the African title but on condition that their arrears of bonuses are paid forthwith,” the report quotes an anonymous source.

The report said the Falcons were also yet to get paid for last year’s Olympic qualifying campaign against Mali under former handler, Edwin Okon.The domestic players are already in camp sweating it out under the guidance of head coach, Omagbemi, while the overseas-based stars, Rita Chikwelu, Ngozi Okobi, Faith Ikidi, Ngozi Ebere, Evelyn Nwabuoku, Desire Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega and Asisat Oshoala, were still being expected.

Nigeria will kick off their title defence on November 20 with a game against West African foes, Mali, at the Limbe Omnisports Stadium before they take on perennial rivals Ghana on November 23 and newcomers Kenya on November 26.

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