Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has come to the defence of President Bola Tinubu’s financial reward to Nigeria’s women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, after their triumphant campaign at the just-concluded 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Onanuga criticised Nigerians who questioned the magnitude of the President’s gesture. He argued that the backlash was misplaced, especially when compared to the ₦150 million prize awarded to the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.
“President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry and the undying Nigerian spirit,” Onanuga wrote. “When you remember that Multichoice, the organiser of BBNaija, offers ₦150 million to a single winner, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons.”
His comments come a day after President Tinubu hosted the victorious Super Falcons at the Presidential Villa, where he lavished the 24 players with the naira equivalent of $100,000 each and gifted them three-bedroom apartments.
In addition to the monetary gifts, the President conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on each player for securing Nigeria’s record 10th WAFCON title. Tinubu hailed the team’s grit and performance as a testament to the strength of the Nigerian spirit.
Earlier on Monday, the Super Falcons were welcomed home by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu upon arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 2:26 p.m. aboard a chartered flight from Morocco.
The Falcons made history in Rabat by coming from two goals down to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in a thrilling final, securing their dominance with 10 wins in 10 WAFCON finals.
