- House committee orders NFF to provide payment proof for 2019 Women’s World Cup expenses; NFF president discusses funding sources
- NFF president questioned by committee, denies funding for 2019 Women’s World Cup, cites FIFA and CAF support, committee expresses frustration
The Chairperson of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the financial dispute between the Falcons and the Nigeria Football Federation, Blessing Onu, has ordered the football body to produce payment slips for women’s national team players and officials attending the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.
She stated this in Abuja on Thursday while questioning NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, who was present before the committee.
Onu requested that the NFF provide documents detailing how the Falcons were funded for the 2019 Women’s World Cup and a breakdown of match bonuses and payment slips for the team’s 23 players and coaching staff by August 30.
Gusau responded that no funding was available for participation but that the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand would provide $960,000 to all 32 qualifying countries.
According to him, these countries should use the FIFA preparation money to prepare their teams for the World Cup.
We can’t use this money to pay outstanding allowances for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, he said.
The NFF president stated that they typically received funding from the Confederation of African Football and FIFA, and that no payment was received from the Federal Government for its staff and officials.
He stated that FIFA covered the federation’s operational costs.
The Confederation of African Football provides $250,000 per annum as subvention funds, he said.
Onu accused Gusau of obstructing the investigation into the Falcons’ allegations of non-payment of allowances and entitlements.
Her statement came in response to the NFF president’s alleged refusal to accept the invitation of the ad hoc committee investigating the clash between the Falcons and NFF officials.
Onuh said;
It’s obvious that the NFF president is frustrating this ad hoc committee from investigating the allegations levelled against it.