Unfulfilled promises may derail Falcons, ex-players warn

Former Nigeria women’s national team players have warned that the Federal Government’s failure to fulfil promises made to the Super Falcons could undermine the team’s bid to win a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco and qualify for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup, PidomNigeria Online reports.

Members of the United Ex-Super Falcons Worldwide, at a recent meeting in Chicago, United States, expressed concern that the Federal Government has yet to fulfil its promise of $`100,000, land allocations and other rewards for each player, one year after the team’s success.

United States-based former Super Falcons player Patience Avre said the uncertainty surrounding the unfulfilled promises had affected the morale of the players currently preparing for the tournament in Morocco.

“The United Ex-Super Falcons Worldwide feel the pain the present players are facing. They may be training ahead of the WAFCON, but complaints over the unfulfilled promises are getting louder.

“Virtually all the players have hinted to us that there has been no official statement since last year, and nobody talks about it. The players don’t complain openly for fear of being dropped. The government should motivate the players or risk international embarrassment,” Avre said.

She added that the former players were making a passionate appeal to the Federal Government on behalf of the current squad because many ex-Super Falcons players had also been poorly treated in the past.

She said, “The truth is that Nigeria should have been among the world’s leading women’s football nations, but poor motivation over the years has been a major setback.

“The Federal Government is capable of adequately rewarding everyone who has brought honour to the country.

“All such successful players deserve proper financial rewards in addition to national honours. Some of us shed blood, tears and sweat without appreciation. Some former Falcons players have died, while others are battling illnesses and injuries sustained while representing Nigeria.

“Some could not settle down to marry, while many married very late. We sincerely hope that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will ensure that both past and present Super Falcons players benefit from the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Like the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, were also promised `$100,000 each and housing units after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket. The promises were fulfilled in March this year during the team’s training camp in France.

According to the National Sports Commission, the delay in presenting the Super Falcons with their cash rewards, land documents and national honours certificates was due to the postponement of the team’s camping programme ahead of the 2026 WAFCON.

Through the NSC, the Super Eagles also received their land documents and national honours certificates before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.