In a moment of national pride and historic recognition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has bestowed unprecedented honours and financial rewards on Nigeria’s Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions, the Super Falcons.
The reception, which was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, was not just a celebration of football excellence—it was a declaration of support for women in sports and a clarion call to the Nigerian girl-child.
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The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, expressed deep appreciation, describing Tinubu’s gesture as a game-changing motivation that will echo across generations. He stated that the rewards were not only timely but also symbolic of a shift in how female athletes are recognized and celebrated in Nigeria.
Unprecedented National Recognition
President Tinubu awarded each of the 24 Super Falcons players with the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), a three-bedroom apartment, and a cash reward of $100,000. The generosity extended to the team’s 11-person technical and administrative crew, each receiving the same national award, a three-bedroom apartment, and a financial reward of $50,000.
Gusau was visibly moved.
“I am overjoyed because Mr. President has done what no leader before him had done,” he said. “This is a magnificent day for women’s football and for Nigerian football as a whole. The President’s action will encourage the girl child to see sports as a legitimate and rewarding path to greatness.”
From Morocco to Abuja: Celebrating the Champions
The reception came just days after the Super Falcons returned from Morocco, where they claimed a record-extending 10th WAFCON title—cementing their place as the most successful women’s national team in Africa.
Beyond the federal recognition, the players and officials received an additional N10 million each from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, in another powerful display of national appreciation. The generosity didn’t stop there. Six Super Eagles players—William Troost-Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, and Joseph Aribo—also showed solidarity by gifting each of the 24 Falcons players N1 million.
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Legacy in Motion
The widespread acknowledgement and rewards signal a pivotal moment for women’s football in Nigeria. As Gusau noted, football remains the strongest unifying force in the country, bridging divides and offering hope.
“This pronouncement by Mr. President will show every girl in Nigeria that greatness is within reach through sport, education, or any noble profession. It’s a message that resonates beyond football.”
The event marked not just the honouring of a team but the awakening of a national conversation about investment in female athletes, empowerment of the girl-child, and the power of sport as a vehicle for national unity and development.
