Tinubu celebrates with victorious Nigerian women's team following their Africa Cup triumph
In a thrilling display of resilience and determination, Nigeria's women's national soccer team, the Super Falcons, overcame a 2-0 deficit to win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against their hosts in Rabat. The 3-2 victory, which provided a temporary relief from Nigeria's ongoing crises, was met with jubilation back home.
President Bola Tinubu met with the Super Falcons after their victory at the presidential villa, announcing a cash reward of $100,000 for each player who represented Nigeria at the 2025 WAFCON. This significant financial recognition signaled a positive change in the team's financial circumstances, potentially addressing some previous issues of unpaid bonuses or delayed payments.
However, the Super Falcons have faced several episodes where they were not paid bonuses on time or had their earnings withheld, a longstanding grievance expressed by players and stakeholders in Nigerian women's football. Although the recent presidential reward is a positive change, the issue of unpaid or delayed bonuses has been a persistent challenge, contributing to tensions and public outcries in past years.
In contrast, the Super Eagles, Nigeria's male national team, have traditionally received higher pay and more consistent payment of bonuses. Despite occasional complaints about bonus delays for the Super Eagles, these have not been as publicly contentious or prolonged compared to the Super Falcons.
The Super Falcons' victory served as a momentary distraction from Nigeria's issues such as jihadist insurgency and spiralling inflation. Fans have called for the Super Falcons to be paid the same as the Super Eagles, reflecting a growing demand for pay parity between the two teams.
The Super Falcons' trophy win marked their 10th WAFCON title, symbolizing their years of dominance at the continental level. Despite the struggles they have faced at home, the Super Falcons' victory has 'drowned' the problems they have faced in a frenzy of celebration.
| Aspect | Super Falcons | Super Eagles | |----------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| | Pay parity with males | No; NFF President confirmed no parity[1] | Typically higher pay and bonuses | | Recent bonus reward | $100,000 per player for 2025 WAFCON[2] | Regular bonuses, generally higher amounts| | History of unpaid bonuses | Yes; multiple reports of delayed/unpaid bonuses historically | Less frequent and less publicly contentious bonus delays |
The government initially planned a citywide parade in Abuja, but ultimately scaled back the plans. Despite this, the Super Falcons' victory was widely regarded as a proper recognition of their accomplishments by many fans.
References:
[1] "NFF President confirms no pay parity between Super Falcons and Super Eagles." The Guardian, 1 July 2025.
[2] "President Tinubu rewards Super Falcons with $100,000 each for WAFCON win." The Punch, 22 July 2025.
- The Super Falcons, despite triumphing in the WAFCON final and securing a significant financial reward from President Tinubu, continue to struggle with the issue of unpaid or delayed bonuses, as has been the case in the past.
- As fans call for pay parity between the Super Falcons and the Super Eagles, the Tinubu administration has yet to confirm any plans for equalizing their bonuses, validating the persisting disparity in payments between the two national teams.
