Fatma Samoura, Secretary-General of the Federation Internationale de Football Association, has stated that FIFA has opted to give award money directly to players because of the Super Falcons.
The FIFA president told the Nigerian female national team after their 0-0 tie with the Republic of Ireland in the Women’s World Cup that she understands how difficult it has been and that they must “face the reality of Nigeria.”
She did, however, emphasize that the prize money would be paid to them – the players – for the first time due of such facts.
“It is because of you that for the first time in the history of FIFA, the FIFA women world cup prize money will be paid directly to you, the players,” Samoura said, amid cheers from the nine-time African champions.
The players had previously threatened to go on strike for the first match of the campaign against Canada, who are also involved in a salary dispute with their own FA, requesting equal pay and support with the men’s team.
Samoura, on the other hand, praised the Super Falcons for progressing to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a first for an African team in the competition.
According to the Secretary-General, their accomplishment gave joy to women’s football as a whole, as well as African women’s football and the African girl-child, via their elegance and self-assurance on the field.
“I must say that I am proud of you. As you know, I am the first woman to be Secretary General of FIFA since the organisation was founded in 1904, and I am also an African. So, I am easily excited by any accomplishment that glorifies women’s football and African football,” she said.
The FIFA scribe who was in company with Nigeria’s leader of the delegation, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu and others, described the Super Falcons as the “best team of Africa”. She said their performance would inspire other African teams at the tournament.
“You have won one match here, as Morocco and Zambia, but you are the only team that has made it to the knock-out stage yet. I am also excited because when FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced my name as the new FIFA Secretary-General, I was in Nigeria working for the United Nations. So, Nigeria is a second home for me.
“You should continue to believe in yourselves and play as a team, and be ready to lift the African flag higher in this tournament.”
Osasu Obayiuwana, a British-Nigerian journalist, who posted the video on Twitter, noted that Samoura had mandated FIFA’s Director for Africa, Gelson Fernandes, to ensure that the players received the money as she would be leaving soon. Samoura is leaving after seven years as the highest-profile woman working in the world football governing body.
However, she will stay in the job through the ongoing Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and leave at the end of the year.
Obayiuwana wrote in a post on his Twitter account: “It is because of you (the @NGSuper_Falcons) that for the first time in the history of @FIFAcom, the #FIFAWWC prize money will be paid directly to you, the players.
@fatma_samoura, @FIFAcom Secretary-General said this to the #Nigeria players in the dressing room of… “Even though @fatma_samoura will be leaving #FIFA in a few months, I am told that @GelsonFernandes, FIFA’s director for Africa, has been given the mandate by her, to ensure that the money is received by the players. “Right now, every @NGSuper_Falcons player is entitled to $60k each.”
