Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie has demanded that Nigeria’s women’s team is paid the same as their male counterparts.
The Super Falcons are the continent’s most successful national side with nine titles and remain the only African team to have played at all eight Women’s World Cup finals.
Her side takes US$3,000 for a win and $1,500 for a draw at major tournaments, while the men’s team receives $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
“We are the most successful female team in Africa, yet we have the largest disparities between men’s and women’s pay,” Oparanozie said at the 2019 Ladies In Sports (LIS) Conference in Lagos.
“I think we deserve equal pay. This big gap tells a different story and a proper rethink of this mode of payment could also help the women’s game.”
Oparanozie, who plays professionally in France with En Avant Guingamp, believes the women’s team is on the right track in their quest for treatment that reflects their achievements and contributions to the sport.
“We have done the nation proud and I think the results over the years are there for all to see,” she added.
The team’s impressive run at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France was marred by a sit-in protest at their hotel over unpaid bonuses and allowances following a last-16 defeat by Germany.
Her demands reflect those of the USA women’s team who began legal action against the US Soccer Federation over equal pay in March, four months before retaining the World Cup. –BBC
