Nigerian President Bola Tinubu praised the women's national football team for their victory at the recent Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) during a grand celebratory reception, where he promised them both gifts and cash rewards.
At the event held at Aso Rock, the presidential residence, on Monday, Tinubu announced that each player would receive $100,000 (£75,000) along with a three-bedroom apartment.
The 24-member squad erupted in cheers upon hearing the announcement, though there has been past criticism that prizes promised by Nigerian governments have often not been delivered.
The Super Falcons, as the team is known, triumphed over host nation Morocco with a 3-2 victory on Saturday in a thrilling second-half comeback, securing their 10th Wafcon title.
Tinubu described the victory as a "triumph of courage, determination, and consistency," admitting that at one point, he "didn’t want to watch the match" due to the stress.
"Today, you returned home as champions of Africa," he said. "We could not be prouder."
Upon their arrival at Abuja's main airport, the team was warmly welcomed by traditional dancers, drummers, journalists, and government officials. They were then escorted to the presidential residence in a convoy.
Tinubu conferred the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) national honour on all players and staff, stating it was "on behalf of a grateful nation."
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade dedicated the victory to "every young girl in our villages, towns, and cities who dares to dream." She also expressed her vision for the Super Falcons to become the best team in the world, but emphasized that this would require ongoing support from both the football federation and the government.
The Super Falcons have won 10 out of the 13 editions of Wafcon since its inception in 1998. The president called their latest win a "milestone in the history of sport."
While the players celebrated their extra gifts from the president, both the men's and women's national football teams in Nigeria have faced recurring issues with the authorities over delayed bonuses and salaries.
It was only recently that the government fulfilled its three-decade-long promise of new homes for the victorious men's team, the Super Eagles, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Falcons have also staged multiple sit-in protests during major tournaments over pay issues, including after their 2023 Women's World Cup run. There have been concerns about pay disparities, and in recent years, fans have called for them to receive the same pay as the Super Eagles.
Ahead of their final match on Saturday, Tinubu reportedly approved players’ match allowances and bonuses, including backdated payments, promising that this would be the standard practice moving forward.