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• First Lady urges champions to remain humble, disciplined
• NSC: Players to receive 12–14% annual interest, monthly returns to support education, training and welfare
• Dikko promises to keep victorious team together, considers retaining coach for next age-grade competition
President Bola Tinubu has rewarded each member of Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, with a N100 million five-year savings bond following their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The reward, announced at a presidential reception for the team at the State House Banquet, Abuja, on Wednesday, by First of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu is designed to secure the young players’ financial future while preventing them from being overwhelmed by sudden access to large sums of money.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, said the Federal Government savings bonds would attract between 12 and 14 per cent annual interest, with each player expected to receive about N1.1 million monthly over the five-year period.
He explained that the arrangement would enable the players, many of whom are still minors, to meet their educational, family, training and other welfare needs while preserving the principal until they attain adulthood.
According to Dikko, the decision was deliberate to ensure that the young champions do not become distracted by immediate access to huge sums of money at an early stage of their careers.
“These are young kids, under 17. There is no need to flood them with money. That can destroy their career. So we are now giving them what we call an FGN savings bond for like five years,” he said.
He added that by the time the bonds mature, the players would have attained adulthood and would be in a better position to make informed decisions about their finances.
“By the time those bonds mature, they are already adults. They can make a clear decision on what to do with their own money,” Dikko said.
The reward followed the Flamingos’ historic achievement in Morocco, where they became the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the first African women’s team to win a FIFA World Cup title at any level.
The team secured the title after winning six consecutive matches, recovering from an opening defeat to Poland to overcome every opponent thereafter.
In his remarks delivered on his behalf by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, President Tinubu described the victory as a defining moment in Nigerian and African sports.
He said the players had elevated Nigerian football, inspired millions of young girls and opened a new chapter for women’s football on the continent.
“Through perseverance, strong determination and teamwork, you won six consecutive matches and ultimately made history as world champions,” the President said.
He specifically celebrated Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku, whose decisive goals secured victory for Nigeria in the final, with Umejiaku also emerging as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, winning the Golden Ball award.
Tinubu urged the players to remain humble, disciplined and focused despite the attention and celebrations surrounding their achievement.
“I commend your humility even after this historic victory. It speaks volumes about your character. I urge you to remain humble, disciplined and focused, and always remember that Nigeria believes in you,” he said.
The President also commended head coach Akeem Busari, his technical crew, medical personnel, administrators and officials for their dedication, while acknowledging the contributions of parents, guardians and fans.
Dikko, who described the victory as unprecedented, said the team had demonstrated the benefits of sustained investment in sports development and improved preparation for international competitions.
He disclosed that the sports budget had increased by 600 per cent between 2024 and 2026, adding that the administration had also introduced measures to improve funding and provide more predictable financing for sports programmes.
He said President Tinubu had approved a one-year sports infrastructure development bond and directed the commission to work with commercial banks to mobilise additional resources for the sector.
The NSC chairman further disclosed that the commission was working to ensure that the victorious players remained together and continued to develop rather than allowing the team to disintegrate after the competition.
Speaking on plans for the players, Dikko said 11 members of the squad were still eligible for the next Under-17 competition, while others could progress to the Under-20 level.
He said the commission and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would monitor their development to ensure they remained focused and did not lose the momentum gained from the World Cup victory.
On the coaching arrangement, he said retaining the present coach with the players would be considered, particularly if a significant number of them progressed to the next age-grade category.
“If these girls are moving to the Under-20, better they go with their coach, who knows them like the back of his hand,” he said, adding that the final decision would depend on the number of players eligible to remain at the Under-17 level.
Dikko also disclosed that corporate organisations, including sponsors of the NFF, had indicated interest in hosting the team in recognition of its achievement.
The Flamingos’ captain, speaking at the reception, Chidera Chidi expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the First Lady for recognising the team’s efforts, describing the reception as a moment the players would cherish throughout their lives.
She pledged that the team would remain focused after the celebrations and work towards winning more trophies for Nigeria.
“We are so happy that His Excellency and our First Lady are here to recognise us. It is something that can never be forgotten in life,” she said.
The captain added: “After the celebration, we will keep our heads down and work hard for us to win more trophies for Nigeria.”
Head coach Busari attributed the team’s success to patience, discipline and merit-based selection, saying players were identified from across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
He said the achievement should encourage more confidence in indigenous coaches, stressing that Nigerian coaches could compete successfully at the highest international level when given the opportunity.
The presidential reception was attended by government officials, members of the National Sports Commission, football administrators, representatives of the Presidential Campaign Council’s women organisations and other dignitaries.
