President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has raised the bar for national recognition of athletes by rewarding the Super Falcons with a combination of national honours, luxury housing, and substantial cash awards.

On Sunday, July 28, 2025, the President hosted the reigning African champions at the State House in Abuja, where he announced that each member of the 24-player squad, along with their technical crew, would receive the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), a three-bedroom flat, and a cash reward of $100,000 (in Naira equivalent).

This is a feat never seen in the history of women’s football in the country.

For decades, Nigeria’s female footballers, despite their unmatched dominance on the African continent have been largely overlooked when it came to national reward systems.

In previous administrations, players were either ignored, inadequately compensated, or in some cases, forced to protest for their entitlements.

In 2016, for instance, the Super Falcons staged a public demonstration in Abuja after winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON), over unpaid bonuses and allowances.

The then administration reluctantly awarded them ₦1 million each (about $2,700 at the time).

No national honours were given. No housing was promised.

Similarly, under the Jonathan administration, the Falcons’ 2014 AWCON victory fetched each player ₦1 million, approximately $6,000 at the time without any formal recognition or ceremony at the Presidential Villa.

Prior to that, under Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, rewards for the team were sporadic, modest, and often overshadowed by more generous packages given to their male counterparts.

However, Tinubu’s administration has now created what many are calling a “corrective legacy”, offering the Super Falcons not only financial appreciation but symbolic respect through national honours and housing.

The players themselves were visibly emotional during the Presidential reception, with some seen shedding tears of joy as they were called forward to receive their awards.

By conferring OON titles; a rank usually reserved for top government officials and business moguls, President Tinubu has elevated the status of the Super Falcons beyond the realm of sport and into national leadership recognition.

The 2025 reward to the Super Falcons is not just better than previous efforts, it is a new gold standard.