Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been honored with over ₦4.9 billion in cash and gifts from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors, and other well-wishers following their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph.
The Falcons secured the landmark title on Saturday in Morocco after a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over the host nation at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini turned the tide after Nigeria had gone two goals down.
Presidential Rewards and National Honours
On Monday, the team was hosted at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where President Tinubu conferred the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) honour on all 24 players and 11 technical crew members.
In addition to the national awards, the president gifted each player a three-bedroom apartment in the Renewed Hope Estate in the Federal Capital Territory. He also pledged $100,000 (₦152 million) to each player and $50,000 (₦76 million) to each technical crew member. In total, Tinubu’s financial package amounts to ₦4.48 billion — ₦3.648 billion for the players and ₦836 million for the officials.
Governors and Super Eagles Add Support
Further recognition came from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which announced a ₦10 million reward for each of the 35 players and officials, totaling ₦350 million.
In a touching show of unity, six members of the Super Eagles also contributed a combined ₦24 million to their female counterparts. The donors were William Troost-Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) praised the gesture, describing it as a commendable display of support and solidarity.
Nigeria’s Dominance in Women’s Football
With this victory, Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in African women’s football. The Super Falcons, who first won the WAFCON in 1998, remain the most successful team on the continent. After missing out on the podium in the 2022 edition, where they lost to Zambia in the third-place match, this win marks a powerful comeback.
Only Equatorial Guinea (2008, 2012) and South Africa (2022) have managed to break Nigeria’s dominance in the competition’s history.
The Super Falcons’ latest triumph not only cements their legacy but also highlights the growing support and recognition for women’s football in Nigeria.
