Nigeria’s Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick has hit back at the country’s female football team claims that the board is yet to pay them bonuses that date as far back as two years and allowances.

Following their exit at the ongoing FIFA Women’s world cup on Saturday, the Super Falcons refused to vacate their hotel in protest against unpaid bonuses and allowances. The players claimed they are yet to be paid bonuses from the friendly games played against Gambia and Senegal two years ago, while they are also yet to receive five days allowance during their stay in France.

According to ESPN, the NFF has only paid half of the bonuses reported to be in the range of 2 million Naira (about $5,600) and the players are not ready to leave France unless they receive the balance.

“They paid us 1 million [naira] and said that is all. We want them to pay the balance,” one player told ESPN. “Part of that money is from two years ago, the other is from three years ago. And they are also owing us five days’ daily allowance here in France.

“Before the World Cup, we asked them for a meeting so that we could discuss our World Cup bonuses as they did with the men’s team last year. They ignored the letter and nobody said anything about it until now.” However, NFF president, Amaju Pinnick has denied those claims, stating the board has settled all financial obligations it owes the team except the five extra days camping allowance.

Speaking to popular journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, Pinnick said:  “We are not owing the Super Falcons any money, except the five extra days camping allowance.  our financial consultant has already paid out the FIFA World Cup bonuses for the South Korea match”.

If only five players have received the money, it is not because the NFF have not paid it. It is now a bank-to-bank transaction. It is no longer from us. With regards to the 30% World Cup payment, they want it in advance. But cannot pay them until FIFA pays us.”

“All bonuses from 2016 have been paid. The problem is that the players wanted to receive bonuses for home matches in US Dollars when they were paid in Naira. They demanded Dollar payments. That is not the rule.”

During the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana, the team were getting $10k as a match-winning bonus. Were they not paid? I think the players should be fair to us. As at this moment, we have not received a penny from the Federal Government for the World Cup. We are facing a lot of challenges.”

It’s not the first time accusations of unpaid bonuses and allowances will be levelled against the country’s football federation. In 2016, when the Super Falcons won the AWCON title, the returned home to stage a public protest over unpaid allowances.

While just this year, the Flying Eagles refused to leave their hotel after they were eliminated from the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland due to unpaid allowances of over 1.5m naira per player.