President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle); Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady (sixth right), and Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President (fifth right) flanked by the victorious Super Falcons, 10-time Africa Women Cup of Nations Champions and their coach, during President Tinubu’s reception for the Super Falcons at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.

…Governors Splash N10m Each On Players

ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu has conferred national honours on all 24 players and the 11-member technical team of Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team, the Su­per Falcons, following their historic victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Na­tions (WAFCON) in Morocco.

At the presidential recep­tion held in their honour, President Tinubu awarded each player and technical crew member the title of Of­ficer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

He also directed the allo­cation of one three-bedroom apartment to each player and technical crew member in the government’s Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.

The president approved a cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each of the 24 players, and $50,000 equivalent to each technical team member.

“You have inspired mil­lions, especially young girls who now see proof that their dreams are valid and achiev­able.

“You have inspired me, too. And it’s great for a nation to have assets that are the hope of today, tomorrow, and the day after. You represent that hope. You ignited that hope. And we will continue to en­courage you, the next gener­ation, and other generations after you,’’ President Tinubu said amid cheers from the ju­bilant team.

The president recounted the emotional moments of the final match, noting how the team’s performance lifted the nation’s spirits and united Nigerians from all walks of life.

“Your victory represents more than a sporting accom­plishment. It is a triumph of courage, determination, disci­pline, and consistency.

“Honestly, I didn’t want to watch the match. I didn’t want to have high blood pres­sure. But people came in and turned my TV on that chan­nel. When it was 2-0, I got very offended and restless.

“But I was still watching with the spirit of resilience, determination, and courage. And after that penalty, my strength was lifted, and I be­lieve that of the nation was lifted too.

“But you almost made me angrier because your moth­er (the First Lady) was in the kitchen, nearly abandoning my dinner.

‘’She doesn’t watch the game except when the girls are playing. And at the end of the final whistle, it was joy all over the country,’’ he said.

The president assured the team of his administration’s continued support and com­mitment to sports develop­ment, pledging that the gov­ernment would invest further in women’s football and youth talent development across the country.

“Your story is a story of hope. And in this era of Re­newed Hope, we celebrate you not just as champions of Africa, but as champions of the Nigerian dream.”

In a further show of ap­preciation, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Ab­dulRahman AbdulRazaq, also announced a donation of N10 million to each of the players and technical team members on behalf of the 36 state gov­ernors.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, described the Super Falcons as role models and shining examples of courage and excellence.

She congratulated the team for their exceptional performance and unwaver­ing spirit, describing their journey as “a testament to resilience, teamwork, and de­termination.

“You played with passion, confidence, and an unshake­able belief in yourselves— that it is not over until it is over.

“The zeal you displayed on the pitch was nothing short of inspirational. You never wa­vered and reminded the world why Nigeria remains a pow­erhouse in African women’s football.”

The First Lady prayed for the team’s continued success and shared an earlier conver­sation with President Tinubu about the team’s bright future as world champions.

“I told Mr. President this morning that you are going on to win the World Cup, and he thought I was too ambi­tious. But Ajibade, the team captain, just seconded that, and that is possible,” he said.

Super Falcons Captain Ra­sheedat Ajibade said the victo­ry was for the team and for ev­ery Nigerian girl who dreams of achieving greatness.

“Today, I stand before you not just as the captain of the Super Falcons, but as a proud daughter of Nigeria, carrying the dreams, resilience, and spirit of our great nation,” she said.

“On behalf of my team­mates, coaches, and techni­cal staff, I express our heart­felt gratitude for this warm reception and the unwaver­ing belief you have shown in us.”

Emphasising the signifi­cance of their 10th WAFCON title, the team captain said: “This victory is not just a tro­phy. It is a testament to the un­yielding spirit of Nigeria. It is a celebration of every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream… This 10th title is for you, Mr. President, for Nigerians, for Super Falcons, and for every young child who believes and dreams to be on this stage someday.”

Ajibade called for contin­ued support from the govern­ment and stakeholders to ele­vate Nigeria’s global standing in women’s football.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, described the team’s victory as a symbol of nation­al unity, inspiration, and the triumph of belief, courage, and excellence.

Dikko credited President Tinubu’s administration with investing in sports de­velopment and women’s em­powerment.

“The Super Falcons’ tri­umph is a fruit of your un­wavering support for sports and women. You have always believed that sports can unite us, heal us, and uplift our spir­its as one of the major drivers of the economy. And today, we have seen it happen,” he stated.

He commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinu­bu, for her “constant support for our women in sports.

“This win goes beyond sports. It is a powerful sym­bol of our national unity and cohesion. In those 90 minutes, Nigerians everywhere from the north, south, east and west held their breath, prayed to­gether, cheered the team, and finally celebrated together.

‘’That is the power of sports, and indeed the power of our women in sports,” he said.

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