The Super Falcons on Wednesday, December 14 took to the streets to protest the non-payment of their salaries and bonuses after winning the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.

Following the controversy, the NFF were heavily vilified with the Sports Minister .

After being silent on the issue, NFF president Pinnick on Tuesday, December 20 addressed the controversy.

"We feel bad about what happened regarding the Falcons, We hold our Women teams very highly," the NFF president said on .

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Pinnick claimed that the NFF requested for the funds from the Sports Ministry in July for the 2016 AWCON.

"We requested for funds as early as July, and another memo was sent to the Ministry after the game against Zambia (Super Eagles)," he added.

“The Minister was with me when we convinced the Vice President to come to the training sessions. He was aware of everything."

Pinnick also denied reports that the NFF neglected the girls at a hotel in Abuja where they had a sit-in protest.

“I was at the airport tarmac to welcome the Falcons from Cameroon and got our to receive them and give them some money,” he said.

“Claims of neglect are totally incorrect.

“In Abuja, the Falcons were received in Abuja by the NFF; I have immense regard for women.

“I never said the players should rot in the hotel. That is ridiculous."

Pinnick further lamented the subpar funding of the NFF revealing that the federation got just N1.1Bn from a proposed budget of N7Bn.