Nigeria’s Super Falcons players have received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each, while their coaches and officials got $50,000 each, completing the cash component of President Bola Tinubu’s reward package for winning the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The National Sports Commission announced the payment in a statement on Monday, saying the Federal Government had fulfilled the President’s financial commitment to the team following their record-extending 10th WAFCON title.

The players had earlier received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and certificates of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger.

The Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, thanked Tinubu for fulfilling his promise and recognising the team’s achievement.

“The Super Falcons made Nigeria proud, and Mr President has honoured his commitment to them in full. This means a great deal to the team and to Nigerian sports. We sincerely thank Mr President for recognising their achievement and directing that they received everything promised to them in record time,” Dikko said.

The commission said the payment followed cooperation between the NSC and the Ministries of Finance, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development.

Dikko also said the fulfilment of the rewards marked a departure from previous experiences in which Nigerian athletes waited years to receive promised benefits.

“Some of our sports heroes endured years of waiting for promises to be fulfilled. President Tinubu has shown that things can be done differently.

“Our athletes can take encouragement from this and prepare to represent Nigeria with confidence that their efforts are appreciated and commitments made to them will be honoured,” he added.

The Super Falcons secured their 10th continental title in July 2025 after coming from two goals down to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final in Rabat.

Tinubu announced the rewards at a presidential reception for the team on July 28, 2025, promising each player the naira equivalent of $100,000, while members of the technical crew were to receive $50,000 each.

He also awarded them three-bedroom apartments and the OON national honour.

The latest payment follows a similar development involving Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, whose players received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each in September 2026, while officials received $50,000 each, after winning their fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title in 2025.

The team had also received three-bedroom apartment documents and OON certificates earlier in February 2026.

In December 2025, the Federal Government also presented housing title documents, confirmation of land allocations in Abuja and national honours to members of the Super Eagles following their silver-medal finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

PUNCH Online had reported at the time that the housing and cash rewards promised to the Super Falcons and D’Tigress were ready for collection, following the presentation of the Super Eagles’ rewards.

Source: punchng.com

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Lionel Messi continues to rewrite football history, taking his extraordinary career tally to 937 goals and 428 assists after delivering a goal and an assist in Inter Miami’s 2–1 victory over New England Revolution.

The Argentine superstar once again demonstrated his remarkable influence, playing a decisive role in Inter Miami’s comeback victory on November 1.

According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on X, “Lionel Messi reached 937 career goals and 428 career assists by delivering a goal and an assist for Inter Miami overnight.”

Messi provided the assist for Germán Berterame’s equaliser in the 69th minute before finding the back of the net himself in the 83rd minute to complete the turnaround and secure all three points for Inter Miami.

The performance added another remarkable chapter to the 39-year-old’s legendary career, taking him closer to the historic 1,000-goal milestone.

With 937 career goals already to his name, Messi is now just 63 goals away from reaching 1,000, while his 428 assists further underline his extraordinary contribution as both a goalscorer and a creator.

Even at this stage of his career, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to deliver decisive performances and demonstrate why he remains one of football’s greatest-ever players.

At 937 goals and counting, the question is no longer whether Messi has achieved greatness, but just how many more records he can break before calling time on his remarkable career.

Source: punchng.com

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China’s state broadcaster CCTV has refused to air a Real Madrid match despite an apology from French striker Kylian Mbappé over his controversial remarks about the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, according to the BBC on Monday.

The decision came on Sunday as Real Madrid faced Racing Santander in a La Liga fixture, which they won 3-0, with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande finding the net.

China Media Group (CMG), CCTV’s parent organisation, had announced last Tuesday that it would suspend broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches following widespread backlash over Mbappé’s comments.

The controversy erupted after the French forward reportedly said during an appearance on French talk show, The Bridge, that the meme that made him laugh the most was one showing his face superimposed on the image of a Chinese dictator resembling Mao.

His remarks sparked anger across China, where Mao remains a highly sensitive historical and political figure.

Mbappé later apologised, admitting that his comments were ill-judged and acknowledging that they had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world.

China’s foreign ministry said it took the apology seriously, while Real Madrid and La Liga also issued apologies over the incident.

CMG had previously demanded apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga, describing them as an absolute prerequisite for resolving the controversy.

Although the broadcaster has acknowledged the apologies, it has yet to announce when La Liga coverage will resume.

The incident has also reportedly led to several Chinese brands dropping Mbappé from their promotional campaigns.

Mao, who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 after leading the Communist Party to victory in the civil war, died in 1976. His rule included the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, periods associated with mass famine, political persecution and widespread violence.

China has previously taken similar action against international sports organisations over political controversies.

In October 2019, Chinese broadcasters suspended NBA coverage for about a year after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressed support for Hong Kong protesters in a social media post.

Morey later sought to clarify his remarks, saying he had listened to other perspectives and had never intended to offend Chinese fans or sponsors.

The latest dispute highlights the potential commercial consequences international sports figures and organisations can face when their public comments clash with China’s political sensitivities.

Source: punchng.com

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