A big sigh of relief it was for the Super Falcons of Nigeria and double joy on Monday after sharing the spoils with Republic of Ireland to book a place in the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Nigeriasoccernet.com can report.
The achievement brought joy not just to Nigerians but to African and that led FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura of Senegal to their dressing room where she broke the goodness to the team.
Fatma Samoura disclosed to the team that they will get their prize money for participating in the 2023 Women’s World Cup directly from the Federation of Internationale Football Association (FIFA).
“It is because of you (the Super Falcons) that for the first time in the history of FIFA the Women’s World Cup prize money will be paid directly to you, the players,” Samoura said in a video posted by UK-based Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana.
Obayiuwana also said that he was told by FIFA’s director for Africa, Gelson Fernandes, that Samoura who will be leaving her position with football’s international governing body in a few months has given him the mandate to ensure that the money is received by the players.
FIFA had earlier confirmed that the 732 players participating in the World Cup will be paid at least $30,000 each. The paycheck rises if teams do well, with each player for the winning team earning $270,000.
The Super Falcons will on Monday take on the Lionesses of England at the Suncorp Stadium by 8:30am for a place in the quarter-final.
