Tinubu Splashes ₦100m On Each Flamingos Star After World Cup Glory
By Saheed Afolabi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rewarded Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, with ₦100 million each following their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The rewards were announced on Wednesday by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who represented the President at a special reception held in honour of the world champions at the State House, Abuja.
Under the presidential reward package, each Flamingos player will receive a ₦100 million Federal Government Savings Bond, while head coach Hakeem Ishola Busari will receive ₦100 million in cash. Members of the technical crew will also receive ₦50 million each in cash in recognition of their contributions to the team’s historic achievement.
Explaining the decision to reward the players through savings bonds rather than immediate cash payments, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, said the arrangement was designed to protect the financial future of the young footballers, most of whom are still teenagers.
According to Dikko, the players’ ₦100 million rewards will be invested in five-year Federal Government Savings Bonds, expected to attract annual interest rates of between 12 and 14 per cent.
He explained that the investment could generate approximately ₦1.1 million in monthly interest for each player, allowing them to benefit financially while their ₦100 million principal remains invested until maturity.
How the Flamingos Players Can Access Their ₦100m Rewards
Unlike an outright cash gift, the savings bond arrangement means the players will not immediately have access to the full ₦100 million awarded to each of them.
The certificates, reportedly arranged through GTBank and held in trust for the beneficiaries, are designed to preserve their money until they reach adulthood.
Under the arrangement explained by government officials, the players will benefit from the interest generated by their investments during the five-year period, which can help support their education, football development and other personal needs.
The principal investment will remain protected until the bonds mature, with the players expected to have access to the full funds in line with the bond’s maturity conditions and applicable trust arrangements.
The structure is intended to ensure that the young champions do not lose control of their financial future by receiving substantial amounts of money at an early age.
The presidential reward follows the Flamingos’ remarkable campaign in Morocco, where they defeated Japan 2-1 in the final on November 7 to become the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku secured Nigeria’s maiden title after the team recovered from a 2-1 opening defeat to Poland to record six consecutive victories.
Their historic triumph also made them the first African women’s team to win a FIFA World Cup title at any level.
