The Super Falcons are still basking in glory after their record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph in Morocco, and now, a flood of rewards has followed.
One of the most notable gestures came from Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who teamed up with several Super Eagles teammates to show their appreciation with massive cash gifts.
The Falcons landed back in Nigeria on Monday to loud cheers and warm celebrations. Just hours after their arrival, Osimhen reached out to the players and then backed his words with money. He gifted each of the 24 players a personal cash donation.
Soon after Osimhen’s gesture, six other Nigerian stars followed suit.
Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina, team captain William Troost-Ekong, Southampton’s Joe Aribo, and veteran defender Leon Balogun all joined in.
Each player gave ₦1 million to every Super Falcons squad member. That means ₦24 million from each donor, with a total of ₦168 million donated by the seven players.
More Money, More Honour
These gifts from the Super Eagles came just hours after the Nigerian government rolled out its own huge reward package.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a state reception in Abuja, announced that each Super Falcons player would receive a three-bedroom house, the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), and a cash prize of $100,000.
The generosity did not stop with the players. The team’s coaching and backroom staff also got three-bedroom houses, national awards, and $50,000 each.
To top it all, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum stepped in to add another ₦10 million for every player and official.
NFF Reacts to Record Support
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau called the gesture “historic” and praised the government’s decision to reward the team so handsomely.
“No leader has ever done this for women’s football,” Gusau said. “This is a message to every girl-child in Nigeria: greatness is possible.”
The Super Falcons won the tournament with style and determination. They beat Tunisia, Botswana, and Zambia, defeated South Africa in the semifinal, and overcame hosts Morocco in the final to lift the trophy for the 10th time.
