Nigeria Sports Commission boss Bukola Olopade has refuted claims about the Super Falcons not receiving their bonuses after winning the WAFCON 2024 tournament in Morocco last month, Soccernet.ng reports.
Justin Madugu's side secured five wins from six games to be crowned African Champions for the 10th time.
Ajibade was the WAFCON 2024 Player of the Tournament and gave a speech during the trophy unveiling with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the NFF to invest in facilities that would help elevate the level of football to a higher standard, enabling the Super Falcons to compete on the World Stage.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Nigeria’s Super Falcons $1,000,000 for winning the 2024 WAFCON, doubling the $500,000 awarded to the WAFCON 2022 winner.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu then announced that each player will receive $100,000 (in Naira equivalent, approximately ₦153 million), while 11 technical crew members will receive $50,000 (~₦75.6 million).
However, Ajibade recently revealed that none of the promises made by the President have been fulfilled, away from their WAFCON bonuses, which they were still being owed.
NSC boss refutes Ajibade's claim, states Super Falcons were paid
In an interview with Arise TV, Mr Olopade made it clear that Ajibade's speech was taken out of context. Instead, he mentioned that the African Champions have been paid their bonuses, while the promises made by President Bola Tinubu are in the works.
“I've spoken to Ajibade, and I have messages on my phone between Ajibade and the chairman of the Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, where she vehemently denied saying that the bonuses have not been paid.”
“I know authoritatively that all their bonuses have been paid without going into the figures. I've confirmed with the NFF and Ajibade.
“Apart from a few whose accounts had issues with the CBN, these players have been paid their bonuses. To then say Ajibade mentioned they've not been paid, I don't think it's true.
“I don't want us to put the young lady in a position where she has to accept or deny something she didn't say when, in the real sense, the money is there.”
Mr Olopade further insisted the NFF are very intentional about erasing the mistakes of the previous tenure that owed players.
“On the promises of the President, even my own daughter, when I make promises to her, she has to wait for me to go through the system for about two to three weeks and orchestrate the payment, and it'll get to her. It will be paid.”
“A few days ago, Mallam Shehu Dikko was still speaking to the minister for housing, and work has started on how the players will get their houses in time. We're in a government that fulfills promises.
“We don't deny athletes their remuneration; we're there to credit them for the good work they've done,” the NSC representative concluded.
WAFCON 2024: All Match Bonuses Due to the Super Falcons Have Been Paid – Olopade
I have messages on my phone between Ajibade, the Falcons’ captain, and the NSC Chairman, in which she clearly denied ever claiming that their bonuses had not been paid. I can state authoritatively… pic.twitter.com/dMpcPsSHn3
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) August 15, 2025
Nigerians will be hopeful that the statement made by the NSC boss is true, as there are still doubts about the state of the remuneration promised by the government.
