Women’s World Cup 2023: Nigeria’s Super Falcons ‘Grateful’ For Government Reward

The Super Falcons advanced out of a group that included co-hosts Australia and Olympic champions Canada thanks to their resolute play but were eliminated by finalist champions England in a shootout.

While hosting team members and officials at the presidential villa in Abuja, Nigeria’s first lady Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, commended the “unbreakable spirit and unwavering strength” of the team.

“We are grateful for this unexpected gesture because for several years we’ve been winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) and I can’t remember us being honoured or rewarded this way,” the experienced Ohale told BBC Sport Africa.

“We appreciate the federal government for their support and encouragement. And we also thank Nigerians for the remarkable support during the tournament.”

“Nigeria is a country where the public appreciate good things. When you do something good, they will show appreciation, and when you don’t do well, they will still show it – they will forget the good things you’ve been doing, so that’s how it is,” she laughed.

“I’m just happy we were able to put a smile on their faces.”

Players from the nine-time African champions team have been hosted by and rewarded by a variety of organizations, not just the federal government, in recent years.

The squad has repeatedly taken legal action to recover unpaid wages, and in the lead-up to a match last year, they even skipped practice to protest their treatment.

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo state, met four footballers from the state named Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tochukwu Oluehi, Desire Oparanozie, and Ohale. Uzodinma gave each player ten thousand dollars and promised them a plot of land.

The six Imo players who helped the Super Falcons make it to the 2022 Wafcon semi-finals in Morocco each received $6,300 (£4,940) from Uzodinma back in July.

“Uzodinma is like a father and has been showing his support throughout the tournament,” Ohale said.

“We can’t really thank him enough because it goes a long way to show that now people are really watching games. I’m happy and grateful for the rewards.”

Both Osun and Lagos states have held celebrations for the team’s players, with the governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, claiming that the team’s success “has ignited a new era of enthusiasm for women’s football in Nigeria” and has brought a “truly remarkable” sense of unity to the country.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Ibrahim Gusau has promised the squad that they will be compensated for their efforts in 2023, including any back pay for bonuses, allowances, and costs accrued as far back as 2021.

In an interview with a Nigerian radio station, Gusau expressed his displeasure with the timing of Fifpro’s intervention on behalf of the Nigerian women’s national team, pointing out that the players are already owed $60,000 (£47,000) by tournament organizers Fifa.

“If you have an outstanding for over two years, is that the time that you create distraction for yourself?” he said.

“It is only when we have the money that we can use it to pay such kind of payment.

“We can use the prize money we are getting from Fifa to pay any outstanding and the coach of the Super Falcons. That is what we will do.”

Nearly a fortnight has passed since Nigeria’s heartbreaking exit at the hands of England, who will contest Sunday’s final against Spain, and forward Asisat Oshoala has been reflecting on the team’s run at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. Nigeria are the only African side to have appeared in all nine Women’s World Cups.

“I’m very happy with the team,” the standout player for Nigeria told BBC Sport Africa, “It was interesting for us to get out of the group stage and go to the next round.”

“Obviously we were unlucky in our last match but I’m really proud of the team – amazing team spirit, amazing effort from the girls, and it can only get better.”

When Oshoala scored a late goal in Nigeria’s 3-2 triumph over co-hosts Australia, she took her shirt off in celebration, drawing a lot of attention.

She has scored more than 30 goals for the Super Falcons without acting in such a manner, not even when celebrating three Wafcon victories.

“I think the team just needed that at that moment and I was happy we were able to get it as a team, not because it was me but because I know the girls deserved it. There was a whole lot of hard work put in before the game.”

“I did the celebration because I was just in my moment and my family – the most important people to me – understood this.”

The 28-year-old was speaking at her all-girls academy in Lagos, which her foundation opened last year.

Girls between the ages of 12 and 18 are receiving training three times a week from the five-time African Footballer of the Year.

When asked about her childhood, the Barcelona forward stated, “I didn’t even know female teams existed.”

“I decided to set up an academy because of the hardship I went through. I just took it upon myself to make things easier for the younger generation.”

The monetary prizes being handed to Oshoala and her Nigeria team-mates seem to indicate a sea change.