On Monday, a visibly overjoyed Nigerian president hosted members of the Super Falcons to a lavish reception at the Presidential Villa — and made the kind of grand pronouncements we’ve come to expect at moments like this.
Let’s be honest: many Nigerians were not expecting what came out of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mouth. And as soon as the words landed, so did the debates.
Sure, we all expected that he would gift the team some money — that’s now routine after a major win. But not many imagined the players would be walking away with $100,000 each — that’s approximately ₦150 million at today’s exchange rate. Nor did we expect that members of the technical crew would each receive $50,000.
And that’s not all. The president also announced the award of three-bedroom homes to every player and coach, along with national honours: the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
This is a big deal. While monetary gifts and national honours have become expected for male teams that win continental or global tournaments, this is the first time such a gesture has been extended to the women’s team. It’s long overdue. But trust Nigerians — the moment the news broke, the argument started.
Should He or Shouldn’t He?
Nigerians are a complicated people — and proud of it. For every person applauding the gesture, another is questioning its legitimacy.
One group wants to know where the money is coming from. “Which budget was this part of?” they ask. Others insist the president shouldn’t be praised at all. “It’s not his money — it’s public funds,” they argue. And then, of course, there’s the group that’s suspicious of the whole thing — “Isn’t this just audio money?” they say, referring to promises made with fanfare but never fulfilled.
And honestly, they might have a point.
History Repeats Itself?
A quick look at Nigeria’s track record shows this skepticism isn’t unfounded.
Take the Super Eagles team of Tunisia ’94. Back then, President Sani Abacha announced that each player would receive a house for their AFCON win. But those houses were not handed over until 2025 — a full 31 years later. Yes, you read that right.
Or let’s rewind to February 2013, when Nigeria won the AFCON in South Africa. President Goodluck Jonathan hosted the victorious Super Eagles in Abuja. Coach Stephen Keshi got ₦10 million; assistant coaches and players received ₦5 million each; and non-technical officials were given ₦2 million apiece. Each player was also promised a plot of land in the FCT. National honours were conferred: CON for Keshi, OON for the assistants and captain, and MON for the rest.
But while the awards were given swiftly, did the players get the money and land just as fast? Your guess is as good as mine.
Later that same year, in November 2013, the U-17 national team won the FIFA World Cup. They too were hosted at the Villa. Players received ₦2 million each, the head coach ₦3 million, assistants ₦2.5 million, and other staff were awarded various sums.
So again — promises were made. But the question always lingers: Would they get it? Or wouldn’t they?
The Tinubu Test
This is where President Tinubu has an opportunity to set himself apart.
The money and national honours? Those are relatively easy to deliver. They usually are. The challenge lies with the housing. That’s where bureaucratic bottlenecks show up — long processes, missing files, ministries dragging their feet. But Tinubu can choose to be different.
Remember: it was his administration that finally delivered on the 1994 Super Eagles’ housing promise. That counts for something. So why not make good on this housing promise in record time? Imagine if the Super Falcons received the keys to their homes within a month. It would silence the cynics — at least for a while.
Let’s Be Honest…
At the heart of this whole debate lies a larger issue: respect and recognition. The Super Falcons have consistently made Nigeria proud. They’ve qualified for every Women’s World Cup. They’ve won more WAFCON titles than any other nation. Yet, they’ve been treated like an afterthought.
So maybe this gesture isn’t excessive. Maybe, just maybe, it’s what they’ve always deserved — and are finally getting.
Whether this ends up as yet another case of “audio largesse” or an example of true follow-through is something only time will tell.
But for now, let’s allow the Super Falcons to celebrate. They’ve earned it.
