Arsenal legend Ian Wright has stepped up to voice his support for the victorious Super Falcons by calling out the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to pay the team their rightful match bonuses.
Just weeks before their thrilling 3-2 victory against the hosts, the Nigerian Women’s team were dealt a heavy blow when Dr Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of the NFF, announced the cancellation of their match bonuses amounting to £15,760 (AUS$30,000) for their participation in the group stages of the prestigious tournament.
Frustration and disappointment permeated the team as they received this shocking news, and they even contemplated the drastic step of going on strike during their opening match against Canada.
Ironically, Canada’s women’s football team was also battling for equal pay and support from their Football Association compared to their male counterparts.
Amid this tense situation, the revered Arsenal football legend Ian Wright weighed in on the controversial ongoing pay dispute between the Nigerian Women’s team and the country’s football association.
He took to Twitter to express his unequivocal support for the Super Falcons.
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He left no room for ambiguity in a passionate tweet, simply stating, “Pay them!!!!!!”
His message reverberated across social media, gaining widespread attention and rallying support for the Nigerian women’s team.
The call for justice and fairness in women’s football has transcended national borders and resonated with football enthusiasts worldwide.
With the spotlight firmly fixed on the NFF, pressure is mounting on the federation to heed Ian Wright’s plea and address the pressing issue of pay disparity in women’s football.