PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has rewarded members of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, with Federal Government Savings Bonds worth ₦100 million each following their historic victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The team’s coach also received a savings certificate worth ₦100 million, while each member of the technical crew was given ₦50 million in cash.
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, announced the rewards on Wednesday, November 11, when she received the players and their officials on behalf of the president at a reception held at the State House in Abuja.
The Flamingos made history by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Japan 2:1 in the final in Rabat, Morocco.
Why government chose savings bonds
Reacting to the development at the State House, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, said the decision to reward the players with savings bonds rather than direct cash payments was intended to protect their long-term financial interests, as most of them are still teenagers.
Dikko explained that the bonds would run for five years and attract annual interest of between 12 and 14 per cent, providing the players with regular returns to support their education, training and other needs.
“There is no need to flood them with money that can distort their career,” he said.
He added that the arrangement would allow the players to access their investments when they become adults and make independent financial decisions.
Dikko said the rewards would provide financial support for the players while they continue their education and sporting careers.
Senate earlier donated ₦100m
The presidential reward comes a day after the Senate announced a ₦100 million donation to the Flamingos in recognition of their historic achievement.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the donation on Tuesday during plenary while presiding over a motion moved by Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi Central, to congratulate the team.
The motion was adopted by the Senate, which also urged the Federal Government to adequately reward the players and called on the Nigeria Football Federation to sustain the team and develop the young footballers for future competitions.
The Senate said the victory was particularly significant because the Flamingos defeated established football nations, including Brazil and Japan, to win the competition.
Tinubu’s previous rewards for national teams
The ICIR reports that this is not the first time Tinubu has rewarded Nigerian athletes, as the president had rewarded national teams with money and national honours following their successes in international competitions.
In August 2025, the president conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (OON) on the 12 members of the country’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their victory at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
Each player received $100,000 and a plot of land, while members of the coaching crew received $50,000 each.
The Super Falcons also received national honours, $100,000 each and plots of land following their victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M