Sequel to the revelation made by the captain of Nigeria’s women’s national team, Rasheedat Ajibade, that they have yet to receive the $100,000 cash gift and three-bedroom apartments promised by President Bola Tinubu to each Falcons player for their victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon Bukola Olopade, assured that the government was committed to fulfilling the promise and that discussions were ongoing to fast-track the process.
Speaking on Arise News TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Friday, Olopade said: “On the promise Mr President made, we need to stop playing politics and games with everything, it will be paid. A few days ago, Mallam Shehu Dikko was still talking to the Minister for Housing, and I sat down with the gentleman in charge of the Renewed Hope Homes, and work has already started on how they will get the apartments in record time,” he explained.
Olopade stressed that the Tinubu-led administration has a track record of honouring commitments to athletes, “Look, we are in a government that fulfills promises; a whole lot of things have changed. When we tell athletes ‘A’ will be given, they get ‘A’. We don’t play games with their remuneration, we don’t play games with them going for competitions. We are quick to say this is what we can do—go out and make the country proud.”
The President Tinubu had on July 28, 2025, hosted the Super Falcons at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to celebrate their record 10th WAFCON title, where he announced a $100,000 reward, a three-bedroom apartment, and national honours for each player.
However, in an interview on August 14, Ajibade was quoted as saying the team had yet to receive “any of the promises,” sparking public debate and criticism of the government’s commitment.
Good to hear the Falcons’ promised reward is “in progress,” but in Nigeria, such pledges often fade with time. Let’s hope this one turns into keys and cash, not just headlines.