President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has showered lavish praise and financial rewards on Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, following their remarkable triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. Each player was gifted a whopping sum of $100,000 by the President in appreciation of their outstanding performance and for bringing home the country’s 10th continental title.
The reward was officially announced during a special reception hosted at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the team was also decorated with national honours. President Tinubu commended the Falcons for their exceptional commitment, discipline, and unwavering patriotism, stating that their victory serves as a source of pride for every Nigerian, both at home and in the diaspora.
The Super Falcons, led by coach Randy Waldrum, defeated the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in a tense final that went down to penalties, sealing their record-extending 10th WAFCON title. The tournament, hosted in Morocco, saw the Nigerian ladies display tactical brilliance, mental fortitude, and unity of purpose, dispatching strong opponents including Cameroon and Morocco en route to the final.
President Tinubu, who described the team as “true ambassadors of Nigeria’s greatness,” said their efforts went beyond just winning a football title — they inspired a nation and rekindled hope in the future of women’s sports. In addition to the cash gifts, the players and technical crew were also promised housing allocations and other welfare packages as part of the government’s broader commitment to supporting sporting excellence.
This generous gesture marks one of the highest individual rewards given to a Nigerian sports team in recent years, reinforcing the Tinubu administration’s pledge to recognize and reward exceptional achievements. The President noted that national service through sports, particularly when crowned with victory, deserves not only applause but tangible appreciation.
The Super Falcons have now cemented their place in African football history, holding more WAFCON titles than any other nation since the competition’s inception. Their latest win has reignited national conversations around increased investment in women’s football, player development, and the importance of sustained government support for female athletes.
With the morale-boosting reward, the Super Falcons will now turn their focus to upcoming international fixtures, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers. The expectation is that this renewed support from the highest levels of government will propel them to even greater heights on the global stage.
