PA of Sports Minister says captain of Nigeria’s Women’ U-20 knelt out of respect

Dalung faced backlash on social media after a video emerged online showing Famudit kneeling to collect money from him after their 4-0 win over an Austrian side in a friendly game.

The Sports Minister had paid the girls a visit and gave them N2.4m ($7000) after he learnt that they have not been paid their match bonuses and camp allowances for six qualifying World Cup games.

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Out of respect

The video wasn’t well received by observers on social media but Nneka has come out to defend Dalung by saying that the captain knelt down out of respect.

“Please take note that this meeting took place in a tiny dressing room. You saw that most of the players were sitting on the floor. Others sat on the chair while those who found no chairs sat on the floor or stood. I stood too!,” Nneka who is the Personal Assistant to the Sports Minister said in a long post on Facebook.

“So.... the minister brought out his PERSONAL MONEY and gave the captain to count out $5000 for her and her mates. Please also note that hitherto, the players including the captain were sitting on the floor...just by the minister’s feet!.

“So respectfully, this 20 year old (or less) captain gets up from the floor where she was sitting and kneels to collect a GIFT from a Minister of Sports.”

Nneka went on to hint that the criticisms have come from people who already have ‘a mindset about Solomon Dalung’.

“As old as I am, if I got a gift of even $500, I will still kneel down to my benefactor,” Nneka added.

“What is wrong in kneeling down to collect a monetary gift from a minister or anyone for that matter? The Yorubas amongst you...how do you say good morning to your elders and thank you for a gift?,” she asked.

“Did the player tell anyone that Dalung forced her to kneel down to receive or count the money? Was it Dalung’s media aide who posted the video?”

Nneka response didn’t come in an official capacity and she is yet to respond to enquires about the video.