By Dipo Olowookere
Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, has disclosed that the government never expected the Super Falcons to clinch the just concluded CAF African Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Mr Dalung said this while addressing newsmen on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said if the government had envisaged the Falcons winning the title, it would have made arrangements for their allowances, which is presently causing an embarrassment.
According to him, the difficulties in paying the players’ entitlements could have been avoided if the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had imagined the team would win the competition and put in place the process of paying their entitlements.
The players are protesting over their unpaid allowances, which have accumulated to N238.05 million. They have seized the trophy they won at the competition because of this.
“Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team will emerge victorious.
“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,” the Minister told journalists on Thursday in Abuja.