‘Nobody Knew the Team Will Emerge Victorious’- Dalung on Unpaid Allowances

Following the recent drama on the unpaid salaries of the Super Falcons who recently won the CAF African Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the Minister Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said that the government never expected the women to win. Hence why provisions were not made for their salaries.

According to Punch, Dalung made this statement during a meeting with the
State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Recall that the footballers continue to hold onto the trophy until their unpaid salaries and benefits totaling N238.05m are cleared by the Federal Government. Earlier, the  General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, met with the team at the Agura Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, and blamed the turn of events on the economic situation. But Dalung has blamed this government which he says was not prepared for the footballers’ victory.

“Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team will emerge victorious,” he began. “If we were confident they will emerge victorious, all the federation would have done is to plan for process of participation and entitlement.

“It is already established in sports tradition, when you win this is what you are entitled to. The situation is highly unfortunate and I don’t like it. These girls have given confidence to women who want to embrace sports, so this will go a long way in killing this laudable achievement. It is unfortunate but we will make sure the right thing is done,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons have threatened to take to the streets in protest if they are not paid their salaries.