President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rewarded the victorious Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, with ₦100 million for each player following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, when she received the players, coaches and other members of the delegation at a special reception at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Under the presidential reward package, each player will receive a savings certificate worth ₦100 million, while the team’s head coach, Hakeem Busari, will receive ₦100 million in cash. Other members of the technical crew are also expected to receive ₦50 million each.
The First Lady explained that the decision to place the players’ rewards in savings certificates was intended to safeguard their financial future, considering that most of the footballers are still teenagers.
She described the team’s achievement as a remarkable milestone for Nigeria and African football, praising the players for their determination, discipline, teamwork and outstanding representation of the country on the international stage.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, also explained that the savings arrangement was designed to provide long-term financial security for the young footballers rather than expose them to the challenges of managing substantial sums of money at an early age.
According to reports, the investment arrangement is expected to generate returns that could support the players’ education, football development and other personal needs.
The Flamingos secured their maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title on Saturday, November 7, after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final played in Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria took the lead through Awawu Bashiru in the 39th minute before Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the advantage shortly after the restart in the 47th minute.
Japan mounted a late challenge and pulled one goal back through Fuki Ito in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian girls held on to secure a historic victory.
The triumph made Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since the competition was introduced in 2008. It also marked the first time an African women’s national team had won a FIFA World Cup title at any level.
The team’s journey to the championship was particularly impressive, as the Flamingos recovered from an opening 2-1 defeat to Poland to record six consecutive victories, including a convincing 3-1 semi-final victory over Brazil.
President Tinubu had earlier congratulated the team, describing their achievement as a proud moment for Nigeria and a major breakthrough for African women’s football.
The Senate has also proposed a separate ₦100 million reward for the team in recognition of its historic accomplishment.
The Flamingos’ remarkable performance has renewed calls for greater investment in grassroots football, women’s sports development and the identification of young talents across the country.
Beyond the financial rewards, the team’s victory represents a significant achievement for Nigerian football and an inspiration to millions of young girls who aspire to compete and succeed on the global sporting stage.