Winning players promised a $ 100,000 award and apartment

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu welcomes the women’s national football team for their victory at the recent Africa Women’s Cup at a large holiday reception, where he promised them gifts and cash prizes.

Accept them at Aso Rock, the presidential residence, on Monday, Tinubu announced that each player would receive $ 100,000 (£ 75,000) plus a three -bedroom apartment.

The squad of 24 women cheered when the news heard, but in the past there was criticism that the awards promised by Nigerian governments did not come true.

Nigeria Super Falcons – As the team is known – beat the hosts of Morocco 3-2 on Saturday in a stunning return of the second half, classifying their 10th Wafcon title.

Tinu said the victory was “a triumph of courage, determination and consistency”, adding that at one point he “does not want to watch the match” because of stress.

“You returned home today as Africa champions,” he said. “We couldn’t be more gas.”

Upon arrival at the main airport in the capital Abuzha, the team was greeted by traditional dancers, drummers, journalists and civil servants. They were then escorted to the presidential residence in convoy.

Tinu has provided national honors, the officer of the Order of Niger, to all players and employees, saying that this is “on behalf of a grateful nation.”

Captain Racheyat Ajibade said the victory of her team was for “every young girl in our villages, cities and cities who dare to dream.”

She also outlined her vision for the Super Falcons to become the best team in the world, but said this could only happen with constant support from the football federation and the government.

Super Falcons have won 10 of the 13 Wafcon editions since he began in 1998. The president has defined the last victory as a “cornerstone in the history of sports.”

While the players celebrated additional gifts from the president, in the past, both men’s and female national football teams in Nigeria had repeated problems with the authorities due to delayed payment of bonuses and salaries.

The government has just failed to fulfill its three decade promise of new homes for the winning men’s team, the Super Eagles, which won the Africa Nations Cup in 1994.

Super Falcons have been involved in protests several times during major pay issues, including after running the World Women’s Women’s Cup in 2023.

There are also fears about pay differences, and in recent years fans have called for them to be paid the same as the Super Eagles.

Prior to his last game on Saturday, Tinubu approved the allowances and bonuses of the player match, including back payments, adding that this would be the standard practice in the future.