Super Falcons Demand $100,000 Reward in Dollars, Reject Payment in Naira

Nigeria’s Women’s National Football Team, the Super Falcons, are in a standoff with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over President Bola Tinubu’s promised $100,000 reward, insisting the payment must be made in dollars.

Sports analyst Aron Akerejola revealed on Arise TV that the NFF initially tried to settle the players in local currency at a conversion rate of ₦1,530 to a dollar, but the Falcons rejected the offer.

“The part of the story they are not telling is that these girls were given the money,” Aron explained. “The NFF proposed paying their allowances in Naira at the rate of ₦1,530 to a dollar. The players refused, saying, ‘We don’t live in Nigeria. What will we do with Naira?’”

The NFF was subsequently forced to forward the funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for conversion into dollars, which caused further delays. “It’s not the fault of the NFF. The government released the money, but the players rejected Naira. That’s why it dragged on,” he added.

Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade confirmed the impasse, admitting the squad had yet to receive Tinubu’s cash. “We have not received our money, but hopefully, it will be paid,” she said.

Following the Falcons’ Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco, President Tinubu had announced the $100,000 reward along with national honours and houses for the squad.

The players’ refusal to accept Naira has sparked a wider debate. Critics argue that if Nigeria’s champions reject the country’s currency, it sends a troubling message to citizens struggling with inflation and a collapsing exchange rate.

Social media reactions have been mixed. Some fans support the players’ stance, insisting, “Dollar is what was promised, dollar must be paid,” while others accuse the Falcons of being unpatriotic.

The controversy highlights declining confidence in Nigeria’s currency, with even top athletes unwilling to accept it, reflecting deeper concerns about the nation’s economic stability.