Nigerian President Bola Tinubu hosted the triumphant Super Falcons at Aso Rock on Monday, celebrating their dramatic victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The president hailed their achievement as a “milestone in the history of sport” and announced generous rewards $100,000 and a three bedroom apartment for each of the 24 squad members.
The team earned their 10th WAFCON title with a thrilling 3–2 comeback against host nation Morocco, cementing their dominance in African women’s football. As they arrived at Abuja’s international airport, traditional dancers, drummers, and cheering officials greeted them, leading to a convoy procession to the presidential residence.
Tinubu described the win as a “triumph of courage, determination and consistency,” confessing he found watching the match so stressful he nearly turned it off. He awarded the players and staff the Officer of the Order of the Niger honor, declaring it “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 emphasized the need for continued investment and support to elevate the Falcons to global elite status.
Despite the celebration, long-standing issues linger. Nigerian football teams both men’s and women’s have faced repeated disputes over delayed payments and broken promises. The government only recently fulfilled a three decade old pledge to the Super Eagles for their 1994 Africa Cup win, and the Falcons have staged sit in protests over unpaid bonuses, including after their 2023 World Cup run.
Fans and players continue to push for equal treatment, calling for parity in pay and respect between the Super Falcons and the Super Eagles. Ahead of Saturday’s final, Tinubu reportedly approved backdated allowances and pledged to make timely payments a standard practice moving forward.
