Tinubu Praised by Gusau for Recognising Super Falcons’ Achievement

Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Musa Gusau has commended President Bola Tinubu for honouring the Super Falcons following their dramatic comeback in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final. He described the president’s gesture as a powerful motivation for Nigeria’s girl-child to pursue greatness through sports and legitimate pathways.

Gusau celebrated the announcement that each player and official would receive $100,000, a three-bedroom bungalow, and the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He described the rewards as an “elixir” that will draw young women into the fold of sports and help unify the nation.

Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, also praised President Tinubu, saying the victory and the recognition “proves Tinubu’s sports reforms are working” and driving institutional alignment across government sectors. Dikko highlighted that the administration fully paid all tournament bonuses prior to the final an unprecedented move in Nigerian sports history.

Editorial

We wholeheartedly support the view that President Tinubu’s recognition of the Super Falcons marks a watershed moment in Nigerian sports. By offering generous financial and housing rewards, coupled with national honours, the administration has sent a clear message excellence in women’s sport is both valued and vital to national unity.

As advocates for youth empowerment, we see Gusau’s praise of the president’s support as spot on. For many young girls across the nation, football has often felt inaccessible. The example set by the Super Falcons and the state’s affirmation of their worth may well encourage a new generation to dream and to act.

Similarly, Dikko’s observations underscore more than just celebration they reflect systemic progress. Fully compensating the squad ahead of the final, aligning multiple government institutions behind sports, and leveraging female success as a model for national cohesion point to a more strategic and inclusive vision.

This moment also challenges other sectors: if sports can unite and uplift, why shouldn’t arts, science and entrepreneurship? The precedent set here should ripple outward, shaping broader cultural shifts.

We maintain that these actions are not merely symbolic. They are catalytic. By investing in the Super Falcons, leadership has demonstrated how policy, recognition and practical support can converge to build national pride and inspire hope. The nation has spoken; now it must build on this momentum.

Did You Know?

1. Prior to President Tinubu’s announcement, Nigerian sports bodies had rarely awarded national honours to active female athletes en masse.
2. The last time a Nigerian women’s team received individual housing as part of their recognition was in 1999 for the U‑20 women’s squad.
3. The $100,000 reward per team member is reportedly the highest amount ever disbursed to African women’s football players following a continental tournament.
4. Shehu Dikko began his tenure as Chairman of the National Sports Commission in October 2024, shortly before the WAFCON triumph.
5. The Super Falcons’ 10th WAFCON victory broke their own record, solidifying Nigeria as the only nation to win the tournament double‑digit times.