18/08/2025
Super Falcons Insist on Dollars Over Naira Bonuses 🇳🇬
The Nigerian women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, have once again found themselves in the headlines, this time, not for their performance on the pitch, but for a dispute over payment of their bonuses.
Reports indicate that the Nigerian government had prepared to settle the players’ bonuses in naira. However, the players declined, insisting that they would only accept the payments in U.S. dollars.
The bonus in question amounts to approximately $30,000 (around ₦16.8 million). According to several players, their preference for dollars stems from the fact that most of them are based abroad and have little or no use for large sums in Nigerian currency. We don’t live in Nigeria, so what are we supposed to do with naira? one of the players reportedly stated.
The situation sparked debate, given that the players were representing Nigeria and playing under the country’s flag. Still, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) explained that the matter was not a refusal on the part of the government. The Federation noted that the funds had already been forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for conversion into dollars before being distributed to the players.
According to the NFF, the main challenge lies in the fact that many of the players do not hold Nigerian bank accounts, making direct payment in naira impractical.
While the currency standoff continues, what remains clear is that the players expect their bonuses to be settled in a form that is both convenient and useful to them. On the other hand, the government maintains that due process must be followed through the CBN.
At the heart of this issue is a broader conversation: how should Nigeria handle payments for athletes who represent the nation but are based abroad? Until a lasting solution is found, the tension between patriotism and practicality is likely to linger.
