Nigerian players competing in the Women’s World Cup have received a reward of US$10,000 (£7,800) from the Nigerian government for making it to the last 16, and defender Osinachi Ohale expresses their appreciation.
Prior to revealing the groundbreaking prize, Oluremi Tinubu, the spouse of President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s first lady, commended the “indomitable determination and steadfast resilience” while hosting team members and officials at the presidential residence in Abuja.
BBC Sport Africa informed Ohale, the seasoned player, that “I can’t remember being rewarded or honored in this way, and we are grateful for this unexpected gesture because we have won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) several times over the years.”
“We appreciate the federal government for their support and encouragement. And we also thank Nigerians for the remarkable support during the tournament.
She laughed and said, “If you do something good, they will not forget how you have been doing things well. They will still show their appreciation when you do something good. Nigeria is a country where the public appreciates good things.”
“I’m simply delighted that we were able to bring a smile to their faces.”
Floodgates finally opening?
Unlike previous years, the federal government has not only been hosting but also rewarding players of the nine-time African champions.
On multiple occasions in the past, the team boycotted training before a match due to unpaid money owed to them.
The governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, met four players from the state – Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tochukwu Oluehi, Desire Oparanozie, and Ohale – offering each of them a parcel of land. Additionally, he distributed a sum of $10,000 to each player.
In Morocco, the Super Falcons reached the 2022 Wafcon semi-finals, and Uzodinma gave six players from Imo $6,300 (£4,940) back in July.
“Uzodinma is akin to a paternal figure and has consistently demonstrated his backing throughout the tournament,” Ohale appended.
I’m extremely grateful and happy for the rewards. Watching games is truly a way that people show their appreciation now, and it goes a long way. We really can’t thank him enough for that.
In Nigeria, the squad’s display has generated a “genuinely extraordinary” harmony within the nation, sparking a fresh wave of excitement for women’s soccer, as declared by Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu through social media. Furthermore, athletes have been celebrated in Osun and Lagos.
Furthermore, apart from overdue bonuses, allowances, and expenses from 2021, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has guaranteed the team that they will be receiving their prize money for the 2023 World Cup. Meanwhile.
Last week, during a local radio interview, Gusau, who is a tournament organizer for Fifa, expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of the intervention. However, he also highlighted that the Fifpro union has been assisting Nigeria’s women’s players in their dispute with the NFF, and they are already entitled to £47,000 ($60,000).
“If you have an outstanding (debt) for over two years, is that the time that you create distraction for yourself?” He said.
“Only when we have the funds can we utilize it to make such a payment.”
What will we do? We can use the prize money we are getting from Fifa to pay any outstanding coach of the Super Falcons.
‘I didn’t even know female teams existed’
Oshoala Asisat, the forward for Nigeria’s team, has been reflecting on the team’s run in the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. They will face Spain in the final contest on Sunday, which marks their heartbreaking exit from the tournament under the hands of England. The African side has only appeared in nine Women’s World Cups, making this fortnight a significant moment for them.
BBC informed that Nigeria’s star player, Africa Sport, is interestingly going to the next round and it makes me very happy to see the team get eliminated from the group stage.
I’m really proud of the amazing team spirit and the incredible effort from both the boys and girls, but unfortunately we were clearly unlucky in our last match.
Oshoala garnered attention when she celebrated late as the matchwinner in Nigeria’s victory against Australia, securing their sole victory in a 3-2 match.
Why behave in such a manner this time, considering she has achieved more than 30 goals for the Super Falcons without commemorating in that manner, not even when clinching three Wafcon championships?
I was happy because we were able to get it as a team, and at that moment, I knew the girls deserved it and I did not because it was not me who put in the whole lot of hard work before the game.
I understood that this was the most important moment for my family and me because I was just in the midst of celebrating.
The 28-year-old was speaking at her exclusively female academy in Lagos, which was established through her foundation last year.
Females aged 12 to 18 are undergoing coaching three times per week from the five-time recipient of the African Footballer of the Year award.
“I didn’t even know women’s teams existed,” stated the Barcelona striker, reminiscing about her early years.
I decided to set up an academy because I went through the hardship. It just took me to make things easier for the younger generation.
The monetary benefits being given to Oshoala and her Nigerian teammates would seem to demonstrate the extent to which things have transformed.