Nigeria Assures Super Falcons of Delayed WAFCON Rewards

Shehu Dikko, Chairman of Nigeria's National Sports Commission, has assured the Super Falcons that they will receive the promised cash rewards, houses, and national honors following their 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph. He attributed the delay to standard government processing procedures, expressing optimism that the rewards could be disbursed before the team's participation in the upcoming WAFCON tournament.

The Super Falcons are still awaiting the fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu's promise of $100,000 cash rewards, housing allocations, and national honors, which were announced after their record-extending 10th continental title last year. Dikko explained that the rewards are currently with the finance ministry and the Accountant-General's Office, undergoing processing. "It has to be provided in the budget and what have you," Dikko stated, as relayed by journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, adding that the President had approved the payments in August 2025.

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It’s a government process. Those things are off-budget. It has to be provided in the budget and what have you. But the President approved their payment since August 2025. It is with the finance people and the Accountant-General’s Office. They are processing it and they are working very hard on it.

Despite the delay, Dikko insisted that the team will eventually receive their due rewards, with payments to be made directly into their bank accounts. This assurance comes as the Super Falcons intensify preparations for the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco. However, the prolonged wait has raised concerns among former Nigerian internationals. Members of the United Ex-Super Falcons Worldwide have cautioned that the government's failure to fulfill its promises could potentially affect the team's morale as they aim for an 11th WAFCON title and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Nigeria, the record 10-time champions, are drawn in Group C for the 2026 WAFCON, facing Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi in Rabat. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists securing automatic berths and the four losing quarter-finalists entering intercontinental playoffs.

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The Minister of Finance is working on it to make sure that money would drop, hopefully before the WAFCON. But it doesn’t matter whether the money drops before then or later, they’ll get it. It will be paid to their account; it won’t be paid to anyone else.