Super Falcons players set to receive ₦46 million World Cup prize money directly from FIFA.

Players of Nigeria's Super Falcons can rest easy knowing that they will be receiving their World Cup prize money of at least ₦46 million each directly from FIFA

FIFA's Secretary-General Fatma Samoura has informed players of Nigeria’s Super Falcons that they need not worry about any problems with claiming their World Cup prize money, stating that the promised amounts would be paid directly to the players by football’s governing body.

FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura salutes Super Falcons as Africa's best

The Super Falcons booked a place in the last 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after finishing second in Group B and are entitled to a reward of $60,000 per player.

Samoura stated how proud she was of the Super Falcons achievement, and noted that the team was on track to regain its place as a leading light in African women’s football.

The Senegalese executive told the Super Falcons in a face-to-face meeting, “I am a proud African, of course, and I am very proud of what you have achieved tonight. It’s good for Africa, it’s good for women’s football and it’s good for Nigeria also.

“Nigeria has also the chance to be a litmus for the Ecowas, meaning also that your country is regaining its position as a powering engine for Africa.”

Super Falcons guaranteed prize money will reach them

The FIFA chief further extolled the Super Falcons as the best side on the continent and charged them to keep making Africa proud with their performances.

She told the team, “Your presence here means one thing because you have been consistently playing this World Cup since the first edition, [it shows] that you are the best team in Africa, so make us proud again.”

However, concerns have been raised about said prize money reaching the hands of deserving players after a slew of accusations against the NFF of withholding tournament bonuses by head coach Randy Waldrum.

To ease the fears of a repeat incident, Samoura also noted that football’s governing body was aware of the struggles that the Super Falcons have faced in the past to wrestle funds away from the national FA and promised the team that they would not face a similar situation after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

She informed the players that would get their prize money directly from FIFA thanks to a new initiative saying, “I know it has been tough… we have to face the reality of Nigeria, which pains me a lot, and it is because of you that, for the first time in the history of the prize money, we have requested the money, to make sure that it goes directly to you [the players].”

This will come as a relief to many players in the Super Falcons, especially given the claims made by head coach Waldrum about the habitual nature of the Nigerian FA to owe its players and staff their due diligence for several months.

Nigeria will play the Lionesses of England in their Round of 16 clash and will be hoping to make further history by making it to the third phase of the competition for the first time ever.

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