AFCON 2025
Decades after etching their names in Nigerian football history, some former Super Falcons players are urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to acknowledge the sacrifices and victories that laid the groundwork for the nation’s continued success in women’s football.
Among them is former national team captain Kikelomo Ajayi, who led Nigeria’s women’s team during its early golden years. Now based in the United States, Ajayi expressed disappointment over the lack of appreciation for their efforts, recalling how they gave their all for the country with little or no reward.
“We played with passion, won titles for Nigeria, but received only promises that were never fulfilled,” she said in an interview. “Our generation fought hard to establish Nigeria’s name in African women’s football, but it’s as though we’ve been forgotten.”
Ajayi, a proud daughter of Ondo State, is widely regarded as one of the state’s most accomplished sportswomen. She was a commanding presence on the pitch, representing Nigeria in multiple Nations Cup tournaments, World Cups, and the Olympics.
Under her leadership, the Super Falcons won five continental titles and became a dominant force in African women’s football.
She is now calling on President Tinubu to not only reward the current generation of Super Falcons for their recent triumphs but to also remember the women who built the team’s foundation.
“We’ve seen what Mr. President has done for today’s athletes, and that gives us hope,” she added. “We’re appealing to him as a father figure who understands the importance of honouring those who served the country in their prime.”
Ajayi noted that many of her former teammates are now struggling financially and emotionally, with no official recognition or support to reflect their past heroics.
“Some of them are jobless, living without steady income, and rely on help from friends abroad. They gave everything to Nigeria and have nothing to show for it. All we’re asking is to be remembered—to be seen.”
