FIFA’s $960,000 Was Not Meant For Paying Players’ Salaries – NFF Makes Clarification

FIFA’s $960,000 Was Not Meant For Paying Players’ Salaries – NFF Makes Clarification

In a hearing before a House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating non-payment of allowances to the Super Falcons, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) clarified that the $960,000 provided by FIFA was intended for World Cup preparation and not for paying players’ salaries related to qualifier matches.

Ibrahim Gusau, NFF’s President, highlighted that the funds were allocated for player training camps and friendly matches, and FIFA’s auditors would have raised concerns if the money had been diverted for qualifier match allowances.

Gusau further explained that the $960,000 was part of FIFA’s support to all 32 nations that qualified for the World Cup and was specifically earmarked for team preparation.

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Gusau also emphasized that the NFF has struggled to receive sufficient subvention from the federal government, impacting its ability to meet financial obligations to national teams.

He revealed that the NFF had to rely on FIFA funding for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, as the government did not allocate specific funds for the event.

Additionally, for the 2023 World Cup, while the federal government approved $1.7 million, only half of the approved amount was disbursed to the NFF.

Regarding the Super Falcons’ coach, Coach Randy Waldrum, Gusau stated that the owed allowances had been settled, and the coach’s contract was terminated.

He also confirmed that all outstanding allowances for the Super Falcons team, except those for a qualifier match against Ivory Coast, had been paid.

The committee requested the NFF to provide evidence of allowance payments and details of its revenue. The hearing was adjourned to the following week for further proceedings.