Dollar Scandal Clouds Nigeria’s Female Basketball Olympic Feat, Officials Allegedly Use $1/N1.68 Conversion Rate

The successful run of Nigeria’s female basketball team in the Paris Olympics, D’Tigress has been clouded by a scandal over payment bonuses to coaches and players with Abi, daughter of Nigeria’s most prominent basket ball player, Akeem Olajuwon in centre court.

GWG.ng reports that the scandal was blown open after Abi Olajuwon, who was an assistant coach to the D’Tigress fumed over the refusal of the Ministry of Sports to pay the coaches and players their entitlements. Where some were paid they were reportedly under paid according to Abi Olajuwon, herself a retired basketball player.

In a shocking development, it was disclosed that the United States-based players were being paid on a conversion rate of N1.68 to 1US$.

The controversy was first exposed when Abi Olajuwon fumed over the delay in the payments saying that her efforts to address the issue within the team’s platform had been left unanswered.

Going to her Instagram page, “abiolajuwon34 she wrote:

Nigeria, @dtigressofficial @fiba @olympics @espnw. To go to the Olympics and experience something my Father did with the USA was a dream. I wanted to be at the Opening Ceremony since I was 8 at the Atlanta Olympics, but Nigeria denied women’s basketball and then had the Minister tell us we are young enough to go to the next one. Assistant Coaches put blood sweat and tears to making sure players accomplished history. Assistants coaches scouting Germany, Serbia, Japan, Australia, France, Canada, and USA losing by 14 now (not 60 in February)helped @_coachre Rena Wakama get coach of the year with @fiba. To now lie and not pay your coaches for their work and want to keep my money for the 3 games before the Olympics because I work in the @wnba is sad. It sad players (the one who got paid) got less then what was promised by the Ministry. It is Also sad that the Assistant coaches aren’t getting our money (that was promised) at all and are now being Ignored. We made history… Give what was Promised.

Following her continued questions on the payment, Abi Olajuwon revealed that she was removed from the group’s chat platform by the head coach, Rena Wakama

In an update late on Wednesday, she disclosed:

Asking for updates for over two weeks about payment of Allowances and being Ignored privately and in the group text…. Is the solution to Pay your assistant coaches there “Allowances” for there work???? Nope! Have the Head Coach remove you from the group chat. @fiba #yourcoachoftheyear. I’m ok with speaking up when others are scared too. They said I should receive confirmation of what was allotted for staff l, but I guess they will let me know a different way.   

The Federal Ministry of Sports is yet to respond to the latest development which follows the scandal of returning from the Olympics without a medal.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG