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Presidency explains why FG honoured Super Falcons
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The Presidency has defended the recent cash rewards and national honours conferred on Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following mixed reactions on social and traditional media platforms.
In a post shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, stated that the President’s gesture was a necessary act of gratitude from a nation celebrating excellence.
“President Tinubu’s action is a celebration of excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit,” Onanuga wrote.
“When you remember that Multichoice, the organiser of BBNaija, is offering N150 million to the winner of a reality show, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of the President’s rewards to the Super Falcons,” he added.
On Monday, President Tinubu announced the naira equivalent of $100,000 (approximately ₦153 million) for each Super Falcons player and $50,000 (₦75.6 million) for each member of the coaching crew, amounting to a total of ₦4.5 billion.
In addition to the monetary rewards, each squad member was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and allocated a three-bedroom apartment.
The President’s gesture followed the Super Falcons’ remarkable triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat, Morocco, where they claimed their 10th continental title—solidifying their dominance in African women’s football.
While many Nigerians and sports stakeholders praised the move as a milestone for the promotion of women’s sports in the country, others expressed concerns over the timing and economic implications of such a significant financial outlay amid national hardship.
Responding to the criticism, Onanuga emphasized that the President’s action reflects a broader commitment to recognizing merit and inspiring future excellence.
“This is not just about football; it’s about national pride and rewarding those who elevate Nigeria’s image on the global stage,” he said.
The presidency has consistently stated its intention to support sporting excellence as part of its wider agenda to empower youth and foster national unity through sport.
