Players of Confluence Queens Football Club have boycotted training sessions and are threatening to extend the action to official matches over unresolved welfare issues.
The players’ major concerns include the absence of a roadworthy vehicle to convey them to training sessions and league match venues. They described the current situation as unsafe, demoralising and unacceptable, especially for a team competing in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).
Despite continuing to represent Kogi State with dedication and pride, the players lamented that the team’s existing bus is uncomfortable and not roadworthy, posing serious safety risks during long-distance travels for league fixtures.
Beyond transportation challenges, the players are also demanding a salary increment, insisting that their current wages do not reflect the demands, risks and level of professionalism required at the top tier of women’s football in Nigeria.
In a collective appeal, the team called on His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, to urgently intervene by providing a standard Coaster bus and approving an improved salary package to boost players’ morale and performance.
The players stressed that their actions are not borne out of disrespect but represent a cry for help, warning that continued neglect could negatively affect the club’s progress and image in the league.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the club’s management nor government officials have issued an official response.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
