Former Nigerian women’s football stars, united under the banner of United Ex-Super Falcons of Nigeria Worldwide, have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko for their renewed focus on recognizing and rewarding women’s football.
The praise, voiced during an online meeting on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, followed Tinubu’s conferment of national honours, three-bedroom apartments, and $100,000 cash awards to each of the 24 current Super Falcons players for their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory.
Legends like Kikelomo Ajayi, Prisca Emeafu, Patience Avre-Odeli, and Martha Tarhemba hailed the government’s gestures as a morale booster but urged recognition for past players who faced neglect despite their contributions to Nigeria’s nine previous WAFCON titles.
Ajayi, a former captain, described Tinubu’s rewards as a game-changer, stating, “The nation stands to gain from this initiative,” but emphasized the need to honor past heroines who laid the foundation for Nigeria’s dominance. Avre-Odeli, based in the United States, praised Dikko’s advisory role, noting his commitment to recommending honors for ex-players, saying, “It’s a new dawn for Nigerian sports.”
Emeafu, speaking from Ireland, lamented her generation’s lack of recognition, recalling a $40,000 personal expense for a career-threatening injury without government support. The group also appealed for medical assistance for struggling ex-players, with Tarhemba thanking First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her goodwill.
The commendation follows Tinubu’s reception of the Super Falcons in Abuja on July 28, 2025, where he awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and additional donations from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. Dikko described the team’s victory as a symbol of national unity, crediting Tinubu’s investment in sports development. The ex-Falcons hope Tinubu’s intervention will correct historical oversights and inspire future generations.
