The players and officials of the Falconets arrived Nigeria on Thursday morning and were received by a representative of the Minister and the General Secretary of the NFF
The contingent to Costa Rica arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday and were received by Muhammad Sanusi, the General Secretary of the NFF and Toyin Ibitoye, the former Media Officer of the Super Eagles and representative of the Minister of Sports and Youth Development.
Photos of the players and officials of the team sleeping on airport floor in Istanbul, Turkiye had made the rounds on Wednesday, with Nigerians expressing utter displeasure with the images.
The NFF swiftly explained why the team faced those challenges but many hardly took their reasons in as it seemed like another round of excuses.
The Falconets players and officials, looking jaded and extremely worn from their long, quick-to-be-forgotten trip arrived the airport and were spoken to by Sanusi before they left.
“It (money) was approved for Super Falcons. It’s at the ministry being processed that we should pay you from there. We want to assure you that the same time the Super Falcons are going to be paid, you’re also going to be paid your bonuses (competition bonuses).
”We just want you to know that Nigerians appreciated all what you did but we are saddened by the fact that on your way back, you had to sleep at the airport. It is because of reasons beyond our control. The arrangement was done by FIFA and you knew what happened better than us.
“(The Minister) sent something. He said the coach and the 21 players,” Sanusi said.
Ibitoye representing Sunday Dare, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development said; “The honourable Minister from his pocket as he was travelling said Toyin go and represent me at the airport. He said don’t go empty handed, even if it’s the head coach and the players, give them something.”
Recall that the NFF paid the Falconets $50 training allowance instead of $100 and is yet to explain why it cut the expected allowance by half.