President Bola Tinubu has rewarded the players of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, with Federal Government Savings Bonds valued at ₦100 million each, following the team’s historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The team’s coach also received a savings certificate worth ₦100 million, while every member of the technical crew was handed ₦50 million in cash.
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, announced the rewards on Wednesday, November 11, when she received the players and their officials on behalf of the president at a reception held at the State House in Abuja.
A Historic World Cup Win
The Flamingos earned their place in the record books by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, defeating Japan 2:1 in the final staged in Rabat, Morocco.
Why Savings Bonds Instead of Cash
Speaking at the State House, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, explained that the decision to reward the players with savings bonds rather than direct cash payments was designed to protect their long-term financial interests, given that most of them are still teenagers.
Dikko said the bonds would run for five years and attract annual interest of between 12 and 14 per cent, giving the players regular returns to support their education, training and other needs.
“There is no need to flood them with money that can distort their career,” he said.
He added that the arrangement would allow the players to access their investments once they become adults and are able to make independent financial decisions. According to Dikko, the rewards will provide financial support for the players while they continue their education and sporting careers.
Senate Follows With ₦100 Million Donation
The presidential reward came a day after the Senate announced a ₦100 million donation to the Flamingos in recognition of their historic achievement.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the donation on Tuesday during plenary while presiding over a motion moved by Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi Central, to congratulate the team.
The motion was adopted by the Senate, which also urged the Federal Government to adequately reward the players and called on the Nigeria Football Federation to sustain the team and develop the young footballers for future competitions.
The Senate noted that the victory was particularly significant because the Flamingos defeated established football nations, including Brazil and Japan, to win the competition.
A Pattern of Rewarding National Teams
This is not the first time President Tinubu has rewarded Nigerian athletes. The president has previously honoured national teams with money and national honours following their successes in international competitions.
In August 2025, he conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger on the 12 members of the country’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, following their victory at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. Each player received $100,000 and a plot of land, while members of the coaching crew received $50,000 each.
The Super Falcons also received national honours, $100,000 each and plots of land following their victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
What the Flamingos’ Reward Means
The savings bond model represents a deliberate shift in how young Nigerian athletes are rewarded for major achievements. By tying the players’ rewards to five-year instruments with annual interest, the government aims to give the teenagers a financial cushion that grows over time rather than a lump sum that could be quickly spent.
For the Flamingos, the rewards cap a remarkable campaign that saw them overcome some of the strongest youth football nations in the world. The recognition from both the presidency and the Senate underscores the significance of their achievement, which stands as a landmark moment for Nigerian and African women’s football.
