Nigeria is a country with a rich football history and culture. While the focus has often been on men’s football, the women’s game in Nigeria is emerging with incredible talent and potential.

The national women’s football team, the Super Falcons, have been the dominant force in African national team football, winning 11 of 13 championships. Despite the domination, the Super Falcons are underfunded, threatening their continued success.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has allocated only a fraction of its budget to the women’s game, leading to insufficient training, development, and infrastructure resources. However, with the proper support and investment, there are opportunities for the sport to grow and thrive.

Super Falcons’ call for better funding

Women’s football in Nigeria faces many challenges that hinder its development, but the most significant issue is funding. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has allocated only a fraction of its budget to the women’s game, leading to insufficient training, development, and infrastructure resources. Super Falcon’s striker Ifeoma Onumonu opened up about the team’s conditions after the loss to England.

In August, NFF stated that it does not have the money to pay the Super Falcons’ 2019 allowances. NFF President Ibrahim Gusau said that no funding was released for participation in the tournament but that FIFA provided $960,000 to all 32 qualified countries as preparation money.

He added that the NFF usually gets funded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA but that it received no payment from the Federal Government for its staff and officials.

“The Confederation of African Football provides $250,000 per annum as a subvention fund. We can’t use this money to pay outstanding allowances for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said the NFF President.

NFF also declared its commitment to transparency in handling the $1.7 million allocated by the Federal Government for the Super Falcon’s participation in the Women’s World Cup. The money is to be used to cover daily allowances for the players, winning bonuses and estacode for the coaches and other technical officials, as well as money for medical expenses.

Despite the grants, the fact remains that the Super Falcons are underfunded for training and salaries. A report suggests that there may be fund misappropriation dating back to 2014. The global players’ union, FIFPRO, confirms their support to assist the players in getting their contractual rights and outstanding payments settled.

Growth and funding potentials

Despite its challenges, there are more opportunities for women’s football to grow and thrive in Nigeria. One of the most significant opportunities is the growing popularity of the sport. More and more girls and young women are getting involved in football, and the number of women’s football clubs and leagues has increased since the 1970s.

The success of the Super Falcons is also helping to popularise the sport. The Super Falcons dominate the football scene with 11 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. As one of the most successful women’s football teams, they have inspired girls and young women all over Nigeria to get involved in football.

Another opportunity for women’s football in Nigeria is the potential for sports betting to generate revenue. Sports betting makes around N730 billion or $917 million annually. For the youth, betting represents a form of empowerment while recognising their awareness of addiction risks.

Due to their popularity, the sports betting industry has the potential to develop women’s football in Nigeria. They will have access to more financial resources available in the industry, from sponsorships, partnerships, and advertisements.

Betting on women’s football matches can increase the sport’s popularity. More fans will follow the games closely, attend matches, and engage with women’s football through various media, further boosting its visibility. The betting variety would give more options for the spectators to support their favourite teams and players.

For example, sports betting with crypto is gaining popularity due to its advantages over traditional betting. The advantages include faster transaction speed, lower betting fees, more privacy, and more betting options.

As women’s football gains popularity through sports betting, it becomes an attractive proposition for sponsors and investors. These financial injections can help improve facilities, training, and infrastructure, benefiting players and the sport.