NFF General Secretary accused of sidelining Super Falcons players from Presidential visit

Accusatory fingers have been pointed in the direction of NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi after only three members of the Super Falcons' team got to meet the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu

Following their impressive showing at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, players on the Super Falcons of Nigeria team were billed to visit the Presidency and were in line to be accepted by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, however, only a handful of players eventually got to visit with the dignitaries, leading to an uproar from fans who accused the NFF of sidelining some players. 

Super Falcons barely turn up to First Lady’s reception

The First Lady promised to host the entire tea after their valiant efforts at the World Cup, but rather than having the entire team grace the occasion, many were shocked to find that only a handful of Super Falcons players graced the occasion. 

Only three players who travelled to Australia and New Zealand to represent the Super Falcons met with the First Lady, including captain Onome Ebi, Tochukwu Oluehi, and Christy Ucheibe. 

Of the three players, only Ucheibe was a regular in the team, having featured in every match at the World Cup, and onlookers questioned why other first-team stars were not at the event which was also attended by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, the wife of the Senate President, Ekaette Akpabio, NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, NFF 1st Vice President, Felix Anyansi-Agwu and the NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi. 

According to a source cited by Punch Newspapers, the reason that only a small number of players attended the event was due to the instruction of the NFF General Secretary, Sanusi who trimmed down a list of 21 individuals including players, backroom staff and officials to only six.

NFF source points finger at Sanusi

The source, allegedly among the officials who were axed from the list declared that some players were left out of the event because they could not be trusted to keep state secrets, and also noted that the final list was dictated by Sanusi.

According to the anonymous source, “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 another official 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.”

Punch also managed to corroborate the stories from other sources including one player who was unable to attend, but who also claimed that she was asked to send her account details as well. 

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