Governor Otu awards ₦50 million, land to WAFCON 2024 winning star Miracle Usani

By Dayo Awoniyi

 Cross River State Governor, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, has honoured Super Falcons forward Miracle Usani with a ₦50 million cash reward and a plot of land, in recognition of her outstanding performance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The gesture came during an official reception at the Government House in Calabar, where the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Agnes Atsu, led the football star—recently conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)—for a formal commendation by the state government.

Governor Otu described Usani as “a beacon of hope and a role model for young Cross Riverians,” lauding her contributions to Nigerian football and her role in the Super Falcons’ success at WAFCON.

In a symbolic moment, the visibly emotional Usani placed her WAFCON medal around the Governor’s neck—a gesture that drew wide applause.

First Lady, Her Excellency Bishop (Mrs.) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, praised Usani’s humility and determination, calling her “a true definition of grace and discipline,” and urged young Nigerians to pursue their God-given talents to uplift their communities.

Commissioner Atsu, popularly known as “Mama Sports,” praised Usani’s discipline and consistency, officially inducting her into the Great Women of Nigeria and the Great Women of Cross River State.

She thanked the Governor for his continued support of sports development and pledged to strengthen infrastructure and athlete empowerment across the state.

The event, attended by coaches, sports administrators, and government officials, marked a milestone in Cross River’s sporting history, positioning Miracle Usani not only as a football icon but as a symbol of resilience and inspiration for the next generation.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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