Lagos, Nigeria (AP) – Nigeria’s President Bora Tinubu on Monday hosted and won the gift for the winning national women’s soccer team, who overcame poor preparation and lack of payments. Record expansion No. 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
The Super Falcons’ comeback 3-2 victory over host Morocco in Saturday’s thrilling final was praised by Tinubu and many in Nigeria. In countries that love soccer, passion and hard work often trump institutional challenges.
According to analysts, the Continent’s success is a paper on mismanagement by national authorities on women’s teams. The country’s success came despite the country.
“The Nigerian football authorities have managed to control despite not having much funding, care, attention and planning on how women’s national teams run,” Lagos-based football analyst Solace Chukwu told The Associated Press.
The difference in treatment
The team had been owing match bonuses for years, but once became a training boycott in 2022. Even if they win towards the final in Morocco, the payment backlog was only approved by the president before the final on Saturday. They are also said to have been unable to hold competitive and friendly matches and their training kits were not available.
In Nigeria, sports competitions are plagued by issues of fraud, corruption and mismanagement, a common issue that led to an inviolable scandal that led to protesting and selecting athletes to represent other countries.
According to Oluwashina Okeleji, a sports analyst focused on Africa, women’s teams are the most affected.
“The argument from the Union (in Nigeria) is that men bring more money than women, but the truth is that women bring Nigeria the most fame, honor and title,” Okereji said.
The country’s managed soccer body, a spokesman for the Nigerian Football Federation, has refused to respond to the allegations.
Victims of success
Nigerian women’s teams exercised almost identical control in African football. Nigeria established its first soccer league for women in 1978, a few years ago as a counterpart on the continent.
However, this profit has not surpassed the team in similar achievements at the global stage, where analysts say the authorities have not exploited this early advantage.
“The men’s teams are generally huge under management of Nigerian football as cash cows,” Chukwu said.
The present promised by the president now does not convince fans, including money and wealth.
“This one-off payment and apartment doesn’t make sense. For what reason, the need to invest in facilities, staff and payments is one of the reasons why women’s lack of investment in soccer is not as high quality as men.”
