Six Super Eagles players have jointly donated N1m each to all 24 members of the Super Falcons squad that won the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The contributors are captain William Troost-Ekong, reigning African Player of The Year Ademola Lookman, Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun and Joe Ayodele-Aribo.
The gesture was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation yesterday (Monday), where the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, also lauded the collective windfall showered on the African champions as an inspiration to Nigeria’s girl-child.
According to the NFF, the players’ gesture complements a string of financial rewards announced at the Aso Rock reception in Abuja, including a national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, a three-bedroom apartment in the Renewed Hope Estate, and $100,000 cash for each of the 24 players, as announced by President Bola Tinubu.
“The outpouring of goodies for the Super Falcons also included the sum of N10m to each of the players and their 11-person technical and administrative crew by the Governors’ Forum,” the federation added.
“Also, a financial gesture of N1m to each of the 24 players by six players of the Super Eagles: captain William Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo,” it added.
NFF President Gusau described the gestures as unprecedented and transformative, calling it a “magnificent day for women’s football”.
He said, “Mr President has done what no leader before him had done. This action will serve as a fillip to draw out the girl-child in our country to seek greatness through legitimate ways.
“With this pronouncement, the girl-child will now see that they can achieve greatness by doing sport and indeed any other noble profession or vocation.”
Nigeria won a record-extending 10th WAFCON title on Saturday in Rabat, defeating hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final.
