The former top scorer, who now resides in the United States, claimed she and her teammates, who have participated in four FIFA Women’s World Cups and won the Women’s African Cup of Nations four times, were not valued.
Years after giving their all for the nation, Avre claimed that several of her teammates are now facing severe financial difficulties as a result.
The former striker for Princess Jegede Queens FC of Lagos and Ufuoma Babes FC of Warri, whose generation was the first Super Falcons squad to advance to the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals, claimed the government had not paid them enough.
Incompetent government and NFF officials repeatedly plundered my generation. As we promoted in the Olympic Games, FIFA Women’s World Cup, and African Women Championship, the government authorized peanuts,” Avre stated.
“During President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, promises were useless, and coaches and a few NFF executives, led by Amaju Pinnick, sat on our meager bonuses and uniforms. Amaju has asked several of us to give our account information on multiple occasions without ever paying us.
“In addition to mysteriously reducing our allowances, some officials and coaches would seize our jerseys and souvenirs we should have taken home after major competitions,” she said, accusing them of failing to defend the players’ interests.
Avre, however, praised President Bola Tinubu for giving the present Super Falcons coaches and players who just won WAFCON in Morocco national trophies, apartments, and millions of naira.
“I commend the Falcons for continuing the tradition.” President Tinubu deserves praise for his revitalized hope program.
None of us received a national award or a million naira handout, even though we dominated African football and competed in the Olympic Games and FIFA Women’s World Cup,” she remarked.
“We never received the recognition we deserved during my thirteen years of service in Nigeria. Rather, we received N300,000, golden cards, golden handshakes, and hollow promises. We never received the landed estates that were promised to us.
The former striker, who was born in Delta, pleaded with the president to right the wrongs done to her generation.
“The majority of my coworkers are in pain. Therefore, the President ought to make amends for the wrong,” she said.
