Queens yet to receive bonus

Warri (Nigeria) - Even though the Black Queens are already through to the semi final of the ongoing African Women championship in Nigeria, they are yet to be paid their bonuses.

The Queens who defeated defending champions and host nation Nigeria by a lone goal on Tuesday were supposed to have been given their bonuses last Saturday after they beat Mali 2-0 as promised by the team officials. Yet, with that bonus unpaid, the Queens proceeded with Tuesday's encounter with zeal, beating the dreaded Nigerian Falcons.

Unlike the Queens, the Super Falcons received 750 Naira each for winning their opening game against Ethiopia and would have received higher bonuses if they had beaten Ghana on Tuesday.

The non-payment of bonuses to the Queens is creating anxiety among them as there were no indications regarding when the monies would be paid. Sources close to the team quoted the leader of the delegation, Sylvester Mansah, as telling the players to expect the bonuses before their last group encounter against Ethiopia, which is slated for the Oghara City Stadium on Friday. "At the moment, we do not even know the amount of money we are entitled to as bonuses," the source added.

Despite the anxiety over the non-payment of bonuses, morale is still very high in the Queens' camp with most of the players looking forward to winning the other matches and have countered claims that their victory over the Falcons, the first in an international encounter, was a flash in the pan. They express the belief that the team has come of age and that the time has come them to dominate women soccer on the continent.