By; Tunji Okunlola
The National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officially handed over the Federal Government’s promised rewards to the Super Falcons on Tuesday, in recognition of the team’s 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph. The handover took place in Rabat, Morocco, just ahead of Nigeria’s tournament opener against Malawi at the 2026 WAFCON, where the reigning champions kick off their bid to defend the title. According to a post on the NFF’s official X account, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi carried out the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government.
Each player was awarded $100,000 in cash along with a three-bedroom apartment under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Estate scheme, with the technical crew expected to receive comparable rewards. President Bola Tinubu first unveiled these incentives shortly after Nigeria’s 2025 WAFCON win, at the same time the players were honoured with national awards. The housing component, however, took roughly a year to materialise, held up by administrative processes.
Dikko explained last week that the timing of the formal presentation as the squad assembled in Morocco for the new tournament was deliberate and meant to lift the team’s spirits heading into competition. He also confirmed that every player had by now received their full $100,000 payment following the completion of the necessary administrative steps.
Nigeria enters the 2026 tournament as both defending champions and the competition’s most decorated side, having won the title ten times. Their campaign opens against WAFCON debutants Malawi in Group C, followed by matches against Zambia and Egypt. Running from July 26 to August 16 in Morocco, this year’s tournament doubles as Africa’s qualifying route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists qualifying automatically and one further spot decided through intercontinental play-offs.