PRESIDENCY DEFENDS $100,000 REWARD TO SUPER FALCONS, CITES NATIONAL PRIDE

The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s $100,000 reward to each member of the victorious Super Falcons team, following backlash on social media over the size of the incentive package.
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, took to X (formerly Twitter) to argue that rewarding excellence should never be controversial.
“It is ironic that people who cheer ₦150 million for a Big Brother Naija winner would frown at a national president honouring Africa’s greatest women’s football team,” Onanuga wrote.
He said Tinubu’s reward was a deliberate gesture to promote patriotism, excellence, and the unrelenting Nigerian spirit.
The Super Falcons secured their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title with a thrilling 3–2 win over host nation Morocco—further cementing their status as continental champions.
Despite online criticism, the gesture has drawn praise from sports analysts and cultural leaders who view the president’s move as a critical morale booster for women’s sports and youth development.