The Super Falcons of Nigeria’s victory over the Co-hosts of the 2023 Women’s World Cup has attracted mixed reactions across the world.
While the likes of Atiku Abubakar who contested for the seat of the president of Nigeria during the 2023 presidential election, and the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, issued statements to congratulate the players, former Arsenal’s player turn pundit, Ian Wright took a different route.
Immediately after the Super Falcons beat Australia 3-2 courtesy of goals from, Uchenna Kanu, Osinachi Ohale, and Asisat Oshoala, Atiku took to his verified Twitter page to congratulate the players.
The former Vice President of Nigeria tweeted, “Bravo, Super Falcons, @NGSuper_Falcons! Your remarkable victory brilliantly encapsulates what we can do as a people and a country when we work together as one.”
As for Governor Obaseki, the governor released a statement to describe how the Super Falcons’ 3-2 win over Australia “was a nerve-wracking end to an intriguing encounter”.
He went further to describe the team as “amazing” and he congratulated the Super Falcons “for earning a hard-fought three points against the Australian Matildas, who was the bookies’ favourite for the match.”
He added, “We are proud of our girls and will be rooting for them as they go for another victory in their next game against Ireland, and secure a place in the knockout phases of the Women’s World Cup.”
But as for Ian Wright, there were more important issues to tackle than just congratulating the Super Falcons for beating Australia.
The former Arsenal star retweeted a tweet announcing Asisat Oshoala’s match-winning goal and then wrote “Pay them!!!!!”
This is seen as a direct attack on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as he tagged the federation’s official Twitter handle in the retweet.
The “pay” Ian Wright is asking for is the same “pay” that almost forced the Super Falcons to boycott their opening game at the 2023 Women’s World Cup which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Recall that the NFF reportedly told the Falcons that they won’t be paid match bonuses during the World Cup since FIFA has announced that each player will get AUS$30,000 in the group stage and get two times that amount in the second round. But the players wanted the match bonuses as it ought to be.
Aside from that, the head coach of the Super Falcons, Randy Waldrum, has openly claimed that the NFF has not paid him his agreed salary for months.
Even though the NFF is still reportedly owing the American tactician salary arrears, Waldrum is currently pushing the Falcons to break their quarter-final jinx in the ongoing 2023 Women’s World Cup.
They are currently topping Group B with four points in two games, thanks to a superior goal difference from second-placed Canada. They are condemned to beat the Republic of Ireland on July 31 to guarantee their place in the round of 16.
