President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has bestowed the prestigious National Honours of Officer of Order of Niger (OON) on Nigeria’s Super Falcons following their triumphant victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The President announced the honours during a reception ceremony for the victorious team at the Presidential Villa on Monday evening, where he also revealed substantial financial rewards for the continental champions.
Each of the 24 Super Falcons players will receive a three-bedroom apartment and a cash award of $100,000, while members of the technical team have been awarded $50,000 each. The generous package demonstrates the federal government’s appreciation for the team’s historic achievement in securing Nigeria’s 10th WAFCON title.
The celebration was further enhanced by an additional ₦360 million contribution from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, with each of the 36 states contributing ₦10 million to honor the team’s success.
The ceremony reached its peak when Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and vice-captain Chiamaka Nnadozie formally presented the WAFCON trophy to President Tinubu and First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu at the State Banquet Hall.
Led by captain Ajibade and head coach Justin Madugu, the champions arrived at the Presidential Villa at 4:35 p.m. to an enthusiastic welcome from the President and assembled dignitaries.
During his address, President Tinubu shared a candid account of his emotional experience while watching the final match against Morocco, revealing how the team’s dramatic comeback victory affected his household.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to watch the match. I don’t want high blood pressure, but our people came in and tuned my TV to that channel,” the President disclosed with characteristic humor.
He continued: “When it was 2-0, I got very offended and restless, but I was there watching the resilience of the team. What you almost did was make me hungrier because your mother, the First Lady, was in the kitchen almost abandoning my dinner, and she kept running, ‘We have won.’ I said, ‘You have not won.'”
The President’s personal account highlighted the dramatic nature of Nigeria’s comeback victory against the host nation Morocco, which saw the Super Falcons overcome a two-goal deficit to claim their tenth continental championship.
The comprehensive reward package, combining national honours, property gifts, substantial cash awards, and additional state contributions, represents one of the most generous recognitions ever accorded to a Nigerian national team, reflecting the significance of the Super Falcons’ achievement in maintaining Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s football.
