Amidst speculations that world football governing body, FIFA will pay the Super Falcons their prize money through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), FIFA Secretary-General, Fatma Samoura has said the players would be paid directly.
Samoura disclosed this to the players on Monday in their dressing room at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium following their 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in their final group game of the World Cup.
“It is because of you that for the first time in the history of FIFA the Women’s World Cup prize money will be paid directly to you, the players,” Samoura said in a video posted by UK-based Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana.
Obayiuwana also said that FIFA’s director for Africa, Gelson Fernandes, told him that Samoura who will be leaving her position with football’s international governing body in a few months has given him the mandate to ensure that the players receive the money.
FIFA had previously confirmed that the 732 players participating in the World Cup would be paid at least $30,000 each. The paycheck rises if teams do well, with each player for the winning team earning $270,000.
The $30,000 payment is a significant payday for many players: The average annual salary worldwide for women who play professionally is $14,000.
So far, each Super Falcons player have earned $90,000 after qualifying for the round of 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup being played in Australia and New Zealand.
The Super Falcons who had already pocketed $30,000 each as an appearance fee from FIFA, now have $120,000 each – $30,000 earned in the Group Stage and $60,000 for knockout round.
Meanwhile, the Super Falcons will come up against the Three Lionesses of England in the second round of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons will face the Three Lionesses who finished first in Group A in the Round of 16 next Monday.