Patience Avre Odeli, a former star striker for the Nigerian Super Falcons, has voiced a powerful indictment of past Nigerian governments and football federation officials, accusing them of systematic exploitation and neglect of the generation of players who propelled Nigeria to international football prominence. Avre, now residing in the United States, alleges that the players who secured four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles and competed in four FIFA Women’s World Cups were consistently denied proper compensation and recognition for their achievements, leaving many of her former teammates struggling with financial hardship years later.
Avre’s accusations paint a stark picture of broken promises and misappropriated funds. She claims that the government consistently approved paltry allowances for their participation in major tournaments, including the WAFCON, Olympic Games, and FIFA Women’s World Cup. She specifically points to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, characterizing promises made during that era as worthless. Furthermore, Avre alleges that officials within the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), particularly under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick, withheld bonuses and even confiscated player kits and souvenirs that rightfully belonged to the athletes. She recounts instances where she and her teammates were repeatedly asked to provide their bank details under the pretense of receiving payments, which never materialized.
The former striker, who played for prominent Nigerian clubs like Ufuoma Babes FC and Princess Jegede Queens FC, emphasizes the historical significance of her generation. They were the first Super Falcons team to reach the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a milestone achievement in Nigerian football history. Yet, despite this accomplishment, Avre asserts they were denied the financial rewards and national recognition commensurate with their success. This stands in stark contrast to the recent accolades bestowed upon the current Super Falcons team, who were awarded millions of naira, apartments, and national honors by President Bola Tinubu following their victory at the WAFCON in Morocco.
Avre’s criticism extends beyond mere financial discrepancies. She accuses officials and coaches of actively working against the players’ interests, alleging that they would inexplicably reduce allowances and confiscate jerseys and souvenirs that the players should have been allowed to keep as mementos of their achievements. This practice, she argues, further diminished the players’ sense of value and recognition. The contrast between the treatment of her generation and the current Super Falcons team highlights a perceived injustice that Avre believes needs to be rectified.
While acknowledging and celebrating the success of the current Super Falcons team and commending President Tinubu for recognizing their accomplishments, Avre underscores the disparity in treatment. She points out that despite dominating African football, competing in the Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, none of the players from her generation received a financial reward approaching a million naira, nor were they bestowed with national awards. She recalls a career spanning thirteen years of national service, marked by empty promises, symbolic gestures like “golden handshakes” and “golden cards,” and insignificant sums of N300,000, a stark contrast to the substantial rewards given to the current generation. Even promised land allocations, she claims, never materialized.
Avre’s appeal to President Tinubu is a plea for justice and recognition. She implores him to address the historical imbalance and acknowledge the contributions of the generation that paved the way for the current team’s success. She emphasizes the financial hardship faced by many of her former teammates, urging the President to rectify the injustice and provide them with the compensation and recognition they deserve. This appeal is not just about financial recompense; it is about acknowledging the legacy of a generation of players who dedicated their careers to representing Nigeria on the world stage and whose contributions have, until now, been largely overlooked.
