Flamingos Owed U-17 World Cup Bonuses! NFF President assures debt will be cleared soon
They (Flamingos) went to the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and made Nigeria proud by finishing third at the tournament in India.
That was in October 2022. Nigeria famously defeated Germany on penalties to win the bronze medal. The first African country to achieve that feat in the competition history.
The team returned to the warm welcome of Nigeria’s Youths and Sports development Minister Hon. Sunday Dare In the company of then month-old NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
Three months after returning from the 2022 U-17 WWC players and officials of the bronze medal winning Flamingos are yet to receive their bonuses a concern the NFF President has promised will be addressed soon.
” We are quite aware of the fact that we are owing them (Flamingos) and I can assure them that they will get paid as soon as possible.”
” The Minister of Youth and Sports is working hard to ensure that the money meant for the team’s bonuses and allowances are released by the ministry of finance, ” Gusau told CompleteSports.
The Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau led Nigeria Football Federation – NFF assumed office in September 2022 and has been working to offset debts and source funds for the Federations engagements.
According to Gusau, what the Federation needs as per Flamingos debts is their patience and trust through the process of getting the required funds.
“No money was given to NFF to prosecute the African qualifying matches up to the world cup proper. We sourced funds that enabled the Flamingos to participate in the World Cup and we were also able to offset their daily allowances and other expenses, ” the NFF President explained .
” They should be patient and trust us to get their money, the process is not easy that is the cause of the delay. ”
Aside the owed bonuses, the U-17 Women’s World Cup bronze-winning Flamingos are also waiting to be received by the Federal government of Nigeria as promised by the Sports Minister.
On the delayed hosting, the NFF boss expressed optimism that the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development will fulfil his promise to arrange for the girls to be given a deserving reception by the Federal Government.
