Tinubu Rewards Flamingos for Historic World Cup Triumph, Players Reportedly Get ₦100m Each

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hosted Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, in Abuja following their historic victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The presidential reception, held on Wednesday, November 11, was organised to celebrate the team’s achievement after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final to become the first African nation to win the competition.

Details of a reported presidential reward package indicate that each player is to receive a ₦100 million savings certificate with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).

Head coach Hakeem Busari is reportedly set to receive ₦100 million in cash, while members of the technical team are expected to share or receive a reported ₦50 million cash reward.

However, the individual reward breakdown had not been independently confirmed by the State House or other official sources at the time of publication.

The recognition follows the team’s outstanding performance in Morocco, where they recovered from an opening defeat to Poland to win six consecutive matches and claim the world title.

Nigeria secured the historic 2-1 victory over Japan through goals from Awawu Bashiru in the 39th minute and Oluebube Umejiaku in the 47th minute. Japan’s Fuki Ito scored in the 80th minute, but the Nigerian youngsters held on to secure the trophy.

The triumph marked the first time an African country had won the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the first FIFA women’s world title for an African national team at any level.

Before the presidential reception, the Nigerian Senate had also announced a ₦100 million donation to the team in recognition of its achievement.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the donation during plenary on Tuesday, following a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi, who called for adequate national recognition and financial rewards for the players.

The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to provide additional incentives and called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep the team together to strengthen its development ahead of future competitions.

The Flamingos’ achievement has attracted widespread congratulations from government officials, football administrators and Nigerians, with calls for sustained investment in women’s football and grassroots sports development.

The historic victory has also renewed discussions about supporting young female athletes beyond international competitions, particularly through education, professional development and improved sporting facilities.