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“You lifted the nation” – President Tinubu salutes Super Falcons
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered a light-hearted yet emotional tribute to the Nigeria’s senior women’s national team during a reception held in their honour following their historic Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2024) victory.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to watch the match. I didn’t want to have high blood pressure,” he joked.
“But people came in and changed the channel to the game. When it was 2–0, I got very offended and restless.”
Despite the early tension, the President praised the team’s resilience and fighting spirit:
“I kept watching with the spirit of resilience, determination, and courage. After that penalty, my strength was lifted—and I believe the strength of the entire nation was lifted too.”
In a humorous aside, President Tinubu also recalled how the excitement nearly interrupted dinner at the Villa:
“You almost made me angrier because your mother—the First Lady—was in the kitchen, nearly abandoning my dinner! She doesn’t usually watch football, except when the girls are playing.”
He concluded with a note of national pride:
“At the final whistle, there was joy all over the country. You made Nigeria proud.”
The Super Falcons defeated hosts Morocco 3–2 in a thrilling final to claim a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title.
