NSC chair denies allowance delay as Super Falcons prepare for WAFCON final

Summary

• Shehu Dikko says Super Falcons’ allowances fully paid ahead of July 26 WAFCON final
• Payments approved by President Tinubu and disbursed via the NFF by July 23
• Any perceived delay attributed to bureaucracy, not deliberate withholding
• Policy reflects Tinubu administration’s broader support for female athletes, including D’Tigress

Abuja, Nigeria — Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has dismissed reports of unpaid allowances to Nigeria’s Super Falcons ahead of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Morocco on July 26, 2025.

Speaking on The Morning Brief programme on Channels Television on July 25, Dikko stated that all player and staff entitlements, match bonuses, training allowances, and official stipends, had been fully processed and released through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

He explained that the payments were approved by President Bola Tinubu and disbursed by July 23 to ensure the team remained focused and undistracted before the crucial match.

Dikko acknowledged that while government processes can be bureaucratically slow, the delays were not intentional. He reassured the public that the Tinubu administration remains committed to athlete welfare, noting that similar financial support had been extended to Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, ahead of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket.

The clarification comes amid speculation of administrative lapses in Nigerian sports, especially in relation to funding and treatment of female athletes. The prompt release of funds is seen as a shift towards more responsive and transparent sports governance in the country.