“Sometimes We Shared Beds”: Super Falcons Star Opens Up on Treatment at FIFA Women’s World Cup

• Ifeaoma Onumonu was an important member of the Super Falcons squad at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Nigeria crashed out of the tournament in the Round of 16 after losing to England Women via penalties
• Onumonu has narrated the challenges the squad faced while camping in Australia

Super Falcons star Ifeoma Onumonu disclosed that she and her teammates had to share beds in Australia during their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.

Having finished the preliminary rounds unbeaten, the Nigerian women were knocked out of the competition in the Round of 16 by England women.

The intense encounter had stretched beyond 90 minutes after it ended goalless during regulation time.

After another 30 minutes of extra time, both sides were still inseparable as the encounter was eventually decided by a penalty shootout, with England winning 4-2.

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Football

Before the commencement of the tournament, the coach of the side Randy Waldrum had blasted officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, demanding accountability of funds to the team.

Following Nigeria’s exit from the tournament, Onumonu disclosed that sometimes, the squad members had to share beds.

She told The Guardian:

“I’ve seen what [resources] England have access to. In Nigeria we don’t have access to much. Our training fields aren’t great. Where we sleep isn’t great. Sometimes we share beds.

“It’s not good enough. In terms of recovery, we don’t have much of any of that. We don’t have access to a gym in camp in Nigeria.

“There’s a lot that needs to be done. Hopefully more people start to talk about it. Coming here it’s hard to adjust. We do what we can because we love playing for our country but hopefully they make it easier for us to do our best.”

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FIFPRO warns NFF

Sports Brief earlier reported that the world union of professional footballers, FIFPRO, warned that it will ensure all Super Falcons players are paid full bonuses, allowances and entitlements.

Days before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kick-off, the Nigerian women's team threatened to boycott their first game against Canada over unpaid wages.

NFF scribe Aisha Falode then stated that FIFA could only pay players through the federation, but now FIFPRO has stepped forward to ensure the Nigerian women's team is paid.