AWCON 2016 champions – Super Falcons are protesting at National Assembly entrance on Thursday morning.
The African champions are protesting backlog of salaries and match bonuses owed them long after they brought the trophy home since December 3, 2016.
The Minister for Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung had excused the federal government from paying the accrued debts.
While doing that, he had said that the government could not pay because they had not expected the gallant girls to win the tournament.
The Nigerian side Super Falcons had defeated the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 1-0 to grab the AWCON 2016 trophy on December 3.
Desire Oparanozie scored the only goal that saw the Falcons beat the Indomitable Lionesses in a nervy final match.
The final match was played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Omnisports Stadium in Yaoundé, a forty thousand capacity stadium.
An 86th minute goal from Desire Opranozie for the Super Falcons was enough to dash the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon’s hope of wining their first AWCON title
Meanwhile, the coach of the Super Falcons, Flowrence Omagbemi made history as the first person to win the AWCON as a player and a coach.
The win saw Nigeria secure their eight African title even as Coach of the Nigeria team, Florence Omagbemi, made history to become the first individual to win the AWCON as a player and a coach.
The Super Falcons has dominated this competition, winning all but two of the 10 editions played so far.
In a repeat of the 2014 final, Cameroon finished as runners-up again despite enjoying massive home support.
In front of Cameroon president, Paul Biya, the hosts had the best of the first half, with a number of chances for Aboudi Onguene.
But the Indomitable Lionesses failed to make the most of their opportunities, even with the Falcons looking like an average team and not the defending champions.
In the second half, Oparanozie, who also scored Nigeria’s winner against South Africa in their semi-final, hit the decisive goal again when she broke the deadlock seven minutes from time.
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