Super Falcons as Federal government's albatross

Super Falcons as Federal Government’s albatross

The nation’s senior female football team, Super Falcons, again did the nation proud last Saturday when the team won the CAF African Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon. They beat the host country, Cameroon, to win the trophy for a record eighth time.

The country erupted in joy. President Muhammadu Buhari led other top government officials to congratulate the ladies. He described the “hard-earned” victory over the Indomitable Lionesses as “very sweet and well-deserved.” He commended the Nigerian women for their “indomitable spirit, resilience and team work” which spurred them to victory in spite of a vociferous home crowd.

But that joy was short lived when news broke on Tuesday that the victorious Super Falcons had seized the trophy they won. The players had said they would hold on to the trophy until the authorities concerned offset the  N238.05m accumulated bonuses which they are being owed. They threatened that if Buhari refused to address their grievances at the Federal Executive Council’s meeting on Wednesday, they would embark on protest on the streets of Abuja.

When I asked the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, to react to the development after the post-FEC briefing on Wednesday, the minister attributed government’s inability to meet the demands of the players to what it called “biting economic situation.”

The shocker however came from the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, when we asked him the same question on Thursday. The minister said the government did not expect the Super Falcons to win the competition and that was why the government was currently facing difficulties in paying the players’ entitlements!

How can the Federal Government send players to compete and it will expect failure? Dalung cannot be right on this matter. I recall that on November 8, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo paid a surprise visit to the Super Eagles and Super Falcons during their training sessions at the National Stadium, Abuja.

During the session with the Super Falcons, Osinbajo expressed the hope that the players, as defending champions, would retain the trophy in Cameroon. “I am happy that you girls are the reigning African champions, and I believe you will go to Cameroon and retain your trophy. The whole nation is behind you. You must start by beating Mali and then going all the way so as to bring the Cup back to Nigeria,” he said.