THE captain of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Rasheedat Ajibade, has expressed deep frustration over the Federal Government’s delay in fulfilling its promise to pay each player $100,000 and other entitlements following their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory in Morocco.
News Point Nigeria reports that Speaking on the forthcoming episode of With Chude, hosted by Chude Jideonwo, Ajibade revealed that the team has not received a single dollar of the pledged amount announced by President Bola Tinubu in July 2025.
“We have not received our money oo. Please, they have not paid. All the promises you heard back and forth, we have not received anything,” she said.
The 24-year-old forward disclosed that despite repeated assurances, the players have only been told that the funds had been “allocated,” yet none has reached them.
“People are begging. We have not received it. When they pay it, you will see. Even our match bonuses and everything… everything is still a work in progress,” she lamented.
President Tinubu’s promise of $100,000 per player was widely celebrated at the time, hailed as recognition for the Falcons’ resilience and dominance on the continent. But more than a month later, Ajibade’s comments suggest the commitment remains unfulfilled.
The captain, who plies her trade with Atlético Madrid Feminino in Spain, also opened up on her personal struggles before finding success abroad.
She recalled playing for FC Robo Queens in the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) for a decade without receiving a salary, describing that period as “a tough moment.”
Growing up in Mushin, Lagos, in a compound housing nearly 100 people, Ajibade said she had to take on menial jobs to support herself, including washing toilets and bathrooms for money.
Her journey from those challenging beginnings to captaining Africa’s most successful women’s football team has been marked by perseverance and sacrifice.
But now, she insists, it is time for the authorities to keep their word.
“We just want them to fulfill their promises. This is not about luxury, it is about respect and honoring the hard work we put in,” she stressed.
The presidemcy, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the Ministry of Sports have yet to respond to Ajibade’s comments.
The delay in payment has once again spotlighted the recurring issue of unpaid allowances and bonuses that has plagued Nigerian football teams for years, often overshadowing their on-field achievements.
