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By Myke Agunwa
Elated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has bestowed the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on the Super Falcons and the entire technical crew to appreciate their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) that ended on Saturday in Morocco.
The Nigerian President also allocated three-bedroom apartments in Abuja to each of the players and the technical crew at the Renewed Hope Estate, as well as the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each of the 24 players and $50,000 to each of the 11-man technical crew.
Tinubu made the pronouncement during a reception in honour of the players and the coaching crew of the 10 times West African champions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.
He said, “I hereby conferred on the players, the 11-man technical team with national honours of the Officer of the Order of the Niger.
“Additionally, I have I directed the allocation of three bedroom apartments in the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.
“Then there is the cash award of the naira equivalent of $100,000 US dollars each to the 24 players and the naira equivalent of $50,000 to the 11-man technical crew.”
The President said he didn’t want to watch the WAFCON final because he didn’t want to have high blood pressure.
“Honestly, I did not want to watch the match. I didn’t want high blood pressure.
“But people came into my room and turned on my TV to that channel.
“When it was 2-0, I got very restless and very offended. But I was still there watching.
“I was impressed by the indomitable spirit of resilience, determination and courage of the team,” he said.
Also appreciating the victorious team, the Nigerian Governors Forum represented by its Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq, gifted a sum of 10 million to each team member.
Earlier, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, received the Super Falcons at the Presidential Villa.
The coaster buses conveying the players and coaching crew arrived at the forecourt of the Aso Rock around 04:36 p.m. local time.
In a post-match video call on Saturday night after their victory, President Tinubu praised the captain and tournament’S Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rasheedat Ajibade for her resilience.
He also praised the team for their rally from a 2-0 half-time deficit to claim the WAFCON title.
Over the past decade, the Super Falcons have won four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2024, bringing their total wins to 10.
The team came from two goals down to defeat the host country 3-2 in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and Jennifer Echegini were the goal scorers for the Falcons in the dramatic triumph.
Rasheedat Ajibade and Chiamaka Nnadozie present WAFCON trophy to the President.