A wave of disappointment washed over the Super Falcons camp. The cheers from their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations win in Morocco were now a distant memory, replaced by a frustrating silence from the authorities. Star player and captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, voiced the team’s growing concerns, revealing that the promised bonuses and allowances had yet to materialize.
In a candid interview on the upcoming episode of ‘With Chude,’ the 24-year-old forward laid bare the team’s reality. “We have not received our money oo. Please, they have not paid,” she stated bluntly, refuting public assurances that the funds were on their way. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of a $100,000 cash reward for each player back in July 2024, along with other entitlements, the team’s bank accounts remained empty.
Ajibade’s frustration was palpable as she explained that while they had been told the money was “allocated,” none of it had actually reached the players. “People are begging,” she lamented, describing the emotional toll the delay was taking. She urged the authorities to fulfill their promises, not just for the players’ sake, but to honor their hard-earned victory.
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The interview also offered a glimpse into Ajibade’s personal journey, a testament to her resilience. She spoke of playing for FC Robo Queens in the Nigeria Women’s Football League for a decade without a salary, calling it a “tough moment.” Growing up in a compound with nearly 100 people in the Mushin area of Lagos, she did what was necessary to survive, even washing “people’s toilets and bathrooms for money” before her career took her to international clubs like Avaldsnes IL in Norway and eventually Atletico Madrid Feminino in 2021.
This story of a celebrated athlete’s struggle for fair compensation shines a harsh light on the challenges many Nigerian footballers face, even after achieving national glory.