President Bola Tinubu has applauded Nigeria’s women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, following their victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The President hosted the team at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday, where he announced generous rewards, including $100,000 and a three-bedroom apartment for each of the 24 players.
The announcement was met with cheers from the team, who recently defeated host nation Morocco 3–2 in a dramatic second-half comeback to secure their 10th WAFCON title. President Tinubu described the win as a “triumph of courage, determination, and consistency,” admitting that he found parts of the match too tense to watch.
“You have returned as champions of Africa,” he said. “We could not be prouder.”
The team received a warm welcome at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with traditional drummers, dancers, and government officials in attendance before being escorted to the Presidential Villa in a celebratory convoy.
In recognition of their achievement, President Tinubu conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on all players and staff, saying the award was presented “on behalf of a grateful nation.”
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade dedicated the victory to “every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream,” and expressed hopes of building the Super Falcons into the world’s best team. She emphasized the need for continued support from both the football federation and the government to achieve that goal.
Despite the celebratory mood, past controversies involving delayed payments and unfulfilled promises to Nigerian football teams cast a shadow. The Super Falcons have staged sit-ins during major tournaments to protest unpaid bonuses, including after their performance in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The men’s team, the Super Eagles, only recently received housing rewards promised for their 1994 Africa Cup of Nations win. Fans and advocates have also called attention to pay disparities between the men’s and women’s teams.
Ahead of Saturday’s final, President Tinubu reportedly approved match bonuses and backdated allowances for the Super Falcons, pledging that prompt payments would become standard moving forward.
