Unpaid bonuses: Nigeria's Super Falcons 'refuse' to leave hotel

The Nigerian Super Falcons who emerged champions of women's Africa Cup of Nations for the eighth time on Saturday are still left frustrated in Abuja after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) failed to redeem its pledge to pay the team on Monday.

The team arrived Lagos on Sunday after beating hosts Cameroon in the final on Saturday.

They were moved to Abuja with a promise that allowances and match bonuses of players and officials would be paid on Monday when banks opened for business.

According to BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, the footballers have refused to leave the hotel until they are paid.

Hearing from @oluwashina that #Nigeria's Super Falcons refusing to leave their hotel in Abuja without bonuses for winning women's #AFCON.

— Farayi Mungazi (@BBCFarayi) December 6, 2016

Sports Minister Solomon Dalung reportedly spent most of the day at the Presidential Villa trying to convince the Presidency to release some money so as to allow the NFF pay the ladies.

It is not the first time the women, who get paid considerably less than their male counterparts, have had problems over bonuses.

In another shocking case, an official told New Telegraph that the players were also left livid by the way the federation treated the issue of injured Onome Ebi who needed to operate her wounded arm at the National Hospital, Abuja on Monday.

“The federation promised that they will pay the bill which is about N500, 000 but nobody has showed up. Onome is going ahead with the surgery whether they come or not, she has even paid the deposit,” another player who sought anonymity said.