AFCON 2025
The Federal Government has rewarded Nigeria’s Flamingos with N100 million each in Federal Government Savings Bonds after the team became the first African winners of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu announced the reward on Wednesday at the State House in Abuja. She received the players and their officials on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
The team’s head coach Kareem Bysa free collected N100 million in cash. Each member of the technical crew received N50 million in cash.
National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko explained why the players got bonds instead of cash. Most of the squad are teenagers, and he wants the money to protect their futures. “There is no need to flood them with money that can distort their career,” he said.
The bonds run for five years and are expected to pay annual interest of between 12 and 14 per cent. That gives each player a steady income while her capital stays secure.
The package adds to the rewards already flowing in. The players received $50,000 in cash in Rabat from NSC sponsor Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, and the Senate pledged a collective N100 million.
Tinubu has also directed the NSC to clear every outstanding bonus owed to the squad since the qualifying rounds. FIFA pays no prize money at this tournament, so the Flamingos’ rewards have come entirely from Nigerian sources.
Dikko also addressed the team’s future. He said the coaching crew’s next steps will depend on how many of the winning squad remain eligible for the next U-17 tournament.
