With the exception of the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco, the other three countries billed to fly the banner of Africa at the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup; Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia have been hit by one form of distraction or the other; that could rub-off on their performances at the Mundial to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, from July 20 to August 20, 2023.
Globally acclaimed football experts have always had the view that, for Africa with its abundant raw talents, and top professional players to win either of the Senior World Cups; member countries of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) must first of all get the administrative and managerial aspects of their football right; and in-tune with the templates of top footballing nations in Europe and South America.
While counties like Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, and Senegal seem to be making concerted and appreciable efforts, geared towards placing their football on sound footing; it is rather unfortunate that Nigeria takes the lead among the host of other African countries, who have continued to regress.
For clarity, this piece will specifically focus on the antecedents in the four African teams to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as named earlier.
The investments by the Moroccan government in sports infrastructure; especially football development is a topic for another day. But to make it brief, the semifinal finish of its men’s team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar; beating Nigeria enroute to qualifying for the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations; that two of its clubs Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane won both of CAF’s Inter-Club Championships in 2022; and the number of tournaments they hosted in the last two years, stand them out.
So, it’s not surprising that the Moroccan women’s team have got no hiccups, while preparing for the tournament, down under.
In addition to the $30,000 appearance fee, each squad member of the 32 participating teams will get from FIFA directly; debutants the Copper Queens of Zambia has been assured that each player will still get from their FA, a winning Bonus of $5,000; same as the Zambia men’s team. With this, Zambia seems to be the first African Country to introduce equal pay for its senior national teams.
At the peak of a showdown that pitted players of Banyana Banyana against the South African FA; Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the wife of CAF President Patrice Motsepe, reached out to the country’s Players’ Union and SAFA to resolve their rift concerning players bonuses.
National broadcaster SABC Sport later reported that the Motsepe Foundation and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture have pledged to contribute R6 million, to be shared by the 23-woman squad.
During the discussions, issues of additional bonuses outside of the FIFA-guaranteed $30 000 participation fee was also settled. Each of the players would now receive an additional R250,000 outside the FIFA bonus scheme, which could rise to over R5-million should they go all the way in Australia and New Zealand.
Regrettably, Nigeria has the most complex and unresolved spate of frictions, but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has at best stood aloof or made halfhearted attempts to diffuse or address the mirage of challenges, the team is grappling with.
With just over a week, to the start of the World Cup, the NFF has yet to make public its bonus regime for the players; whose selection had been embroiled in serious crisis, with the NFF hierarchy accused of imposing players on the head coach, Randy Waldrum; who the NFF also accused of incompetence and not minding his business.
Having reclined to a fourth place finish at the AWCON in Morocco last year, Nigeria’s imperious stature as nine-time African Champions is badly threatened, yet the NFF, even with a new leadership following the exit of the Amaju Pinnick-led board; is playing to the gallery and cannot account for the $960,000 (N700,000,000) it received towards the end of last year from FIFA, to prepare the Super Falcons for the tournament.
The silence of the NFF and its refusal to address these infractions, are both unsavory and unacceptable! Thankfully, the team Captain, Onome Ebi has come out to deny a reported mutiny, being plotted by the players, ahead of their tournament opener.
But as we all know, there is no smoke without fire, especially as it concerns a clandestine organisation like the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
This piece is intended to reawaken the consciousness of all Nigerians, especially the sporting authorities and our government, on the need to stop organizations like the NFF from toying with the welfare and well-being of our youths, especially our elite athletes. The regime of administrators feeding fat, while the gladiators are perpetually neglected must stop; for Nigeria the most populous black nation and physically strong youths, endowed with athleticism; to take its place of pride, as the leading sports county in Africa and the world at large.
