Tinubu Rewards Super Falcons With ₦4.95 Billion, National Honours After WAFCON Victory

According to reports from iReporter Online, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has honoured Nigeria’s Super Falcons with a monumental ₦4.95 billion in cash rewards, national honours, and housing gifts following their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title win in Morocco.

The triumphant team, comprising 24 players and 11 technical staff, touched down at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday before heading to the Presidential Villa, where they were received in a grand celebration.

During the reception, President Tinubu conferred the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on each team member. He also directed the allocation of a three-bedroom apartment to each player and coach under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, alongside a generous financial reward of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each member of the technical crew.

The gesture, the president said, was to recognize the team’s resilience and national pride, especially after their stunning comeback victory in the WAFCON final, where they rallied from 2-0 down to defeat host nation Morocco 3-2 in Rabat.

President Tinubu emphasized that the Nigerian spirit is unyielding, calling the team’s performance “a crucial victory at a crucial time.” His remarks were met with thunderous applause from dignitaries and supporters present at the Villa.

In a further show of solidarity, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum collectively contributed ₦350 million to the total rewards, bringing the overall package to ₦4.952 billion.

The Falcons’ dominance throughout the tournament was emphatic. They finished the group stage unbeaten and without conceding a goal, crushed Zambia 5-0 in the quarter-finals, edged past South Africa 2-1 in the semi-finals, and sealed the trophy with a dramatic win over Morocco.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade was named Player of the Tournament, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie took home the Best Goalkeeper award, and Coach Justin Madugu was celebrated as the Best Coach of the tournament.

With this latest achievement, Nigeria cements its position as the undisputed powerhouse of African women’s football, adding a 10th continental title to previous wins in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018.