Latest news with #BolaTinubu
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Mismanagement, poor funding, corruption: Nigerian women's team rises above challenges to win WAFCON 2024 title
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu on Monday hosted and splashed gifts on the triumphant national women's football team, which overcame poor preparations and missing payments to win its record-extending 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations title. The Super Falcons' comeback 3-2 victory over host Morocco in Saturday's thrilling final was applauded by Tinubu and many in Nigeria, a football-loving nation where passion and hard work often triumph over institutional challenges. Nigeria's forward #15 Rasheedat Ajibade poses with her Woman of the Tournament trophy on the podium after the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final football at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on July 26, 2025. | Photo Credit: AFP The continental success, analysts say, papers over the mismanagement of the women's team by the country's authorities. The success of the country had come in spite of the country. 'They have been able to dominate even though the Nigerian football authorities do not put as much funding, care, attention, and planning into the way the women's national team is run,' Solace Chukwu, a Lagos-based football analyst, told The Associated Press. The team had been owed match bonuses for years, once resulting in a training boycott in 2022. Even as it triumphed on the way to the finals in Morocco, the backlog of payments was only approved by the President days before Saturday's final. The Falcons also could not hold competitive friendly matches, and their training kits were said not to have been available. It is a common problem in Nigeria where sporting competitions are often dogged by issues of underfunding, corruption, and mismanagement that have led to high-profile scandals, resulting in athletes choosing to represent other countries in protest. Women's teams are affected the most, partly because of how women have always been viewed in Nigerian society, according to Oluwashina Okeleji, a sports analyst with a focus on Africa. Nigeria's midfielder #02 Rinsola Babajide celebrates with a national flag after winning the Women's Africa Cup of Nations final football match against Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on July 26, 2025. | Photo Credit: AFP 'The argument from the (Nigerian) federation is that the men bring more money than the women, but the truth is the women bring most prestige, honours, and titles to Nigeria,' Okeleji said. A spokesperson for the Nigeria Football Federation, the country's governing football body, declined to respond to the allegations. The Nigerian women's team has exercised a near-total dominance in African football, which is partly credited to a head start in the women's game. Nigeria created the first football league for women in 1978, years before their counterparts on the continent. ALSO READ: Women's Copa America - Colombia beats Argentina on penalties to reach final, books LA2028 Olympics spot However, the gains have not catapulted the team to similar achievements on the global stage in what analysts say is a failure of the authorities to capitalise on this early advantage. 'The men's team is huge generally within the administration of Nigerian football as the cash cow,' Chukwu said. The gifts now promised by the president, including money and property, have not convinced the fans. 'This one-time payment and apartment do not make any sense. For what? What they need is investment in the facilities, the staff, and payment. The lack of investment in women's football is one of the reasons why it is not as high quality as the men's,' Funmi Obasa, a football fan in Abuja who follows the women's team, told AP.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nigeria's victorious women footballers promised $100,000 each
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu hailed the women's national football team for their victory at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) at a grand celebratory reception where he promised them gifts and cash rewards. Hosting them at Aso Rock, the presidential residence, on Monday, Tinubu announced each player would get a $100,000 (£75,000) plus a three-bedroom apartment. The 24-woman squad cheered when they heard the news, but there have been criticism in the past that prizes promised by Nigerian governments have not materialised. Nigeria's Super Falcons - as the team is known - defeated hosts Morocco 3-2 on Saturday in a stunning second-half comeback, clinching their 10th Wafcon title. Tinubu said the victory was a "triumph of courage, determination and consistency" adding that at some point "didn't want to watch the match" because of the stress. "Today, you returned home as champions of Africa," he said. "We could not be prouder." On their arrival at the main airport in the capital, Abuja, the team had been welcomed by traditional dancers, drummers, journalists and government officials. They were then escorted to the presidential residence in a convoy. Tinubu conferred national honours, the Officer of the Order of the Niger, to all the players and staff, saying this was "on behalf of a grateful nation". Captain Rasheedat Ajibade said that her team's victory was for "every young girl in our villages, towns and cities who dares to dream". She also outlined her vision for the Super Falcons to become the best team in the world but said this can only happen with continued support from the football federation and government. The Super Falcons have won 10 of the 13 editions of Wafcon since it began in1998. The president described the latest win as a "milestone in the history of sport". While the players celebrated the extra gifts from the president, in the past, both the men's and women's national football teams in Nigeria have had repeated issues with the authorities over delayed payment of bonuses and salaries. The government has only just honoured its three-decade promise of new homes for the victorious men's team, the Super Eagles, which won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Falcons have several times been involved in sit-in protests during major tournaments over pay issues, including after their 2023 Women's World Cup run. There has also been concerns over pay disparities, and in recent years, fans have called for them to be paid the same as the Supee Eagles. Ahead of their final match on Saturday, Tinubu reportedly approved players' match allowances and bonuses, including backdated payments, adding that this would the standard practice in the future. You may also be interested in: What we learned from Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 Wafcon winner will stay in my heart forever - Echegini Watch: The Wafcon star who is also a doctor Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Nigeria Wafcon: Victorious players promised $100,000 cash award and apartment
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu hailed the women's national football team for their victory at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) at a grand celebratory reception where he promised them gifts and cash them at Aso Rock, the presidential residence, on Monday, Tinubu announced each player would get a $100,000 (£75,000) plus a three-bedroom 24-woman squad cheered when they heard the news, but there have been criticism in the past that prizes promised by Nigerian governments have not Super Falcons - as the team is known - defeated hosts Morocco 3-2 on Saturday in a stunning second-half comeback, clinching their 10th Wafcon title. Tinubu said the victory was a "triumph of courage, determination and consistency" adding that at some point "didn't want to watch the match" because of the stress."Today, you returned home as champions of Africa," he said. "We could not be prouder."On their arrival at the main airport in the capital, Abuja, the team had been welcomed by traditional dancers, drummers, journalists and government officials. They were then escorted to the presidential residence in a conferred national honours, the Officer of the Order of the Niger, to all the players and staff, saying this was "on behalf of a grateful nation".Captain Rasheedat Ajibade said that her team's victory was for "every young girl in our villages, towns and cities who dares to dream".She also outlined her vision for the Super Falcons to become the best team in the world but said this can only happen with continued support from the football federation and Super Falcons have won 10 of the 13 editions of Wafcon since it began in1998. The president described the latest win as a "milestone in the history of sport".While the players celebrated the extra gifts from the president, in the past, both the men's and women's national football teams in Nigeria have had repeated issues with the authorities over delayed payment of bonuses and government has only just honoured its three-decade promise of new homes for the victorious men's team, the Super Eagles, which won the 1994 Africa Cup of Super Falcons have several times been involved in sit-in protests during major tournaments over pay issues, including after their 2023 Women's World Cup has also been concerns over pay disparities, and in recent years, fans have called for them to be paid the same as the Supee of their final match on Saturday, Tinubu reportedly approved players' match allowances and bonuses, including backdated payments, adding that this would the standard practice in the future. You may also be interested in: What we learned from Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024Wafcon winner will stay in my heart forever - EcheginiWatch: The Wafcon star who is also a doctor Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Al-Ahram Weekly
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Nigeria women soccer team rises above poor management to clinch continental trophy - Africa
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu on Monday hosted and splashed gifts on the triumphant national women's soccer team who overcame poor preparations and missing payments to win their record-extending 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations title. The Super Falcons' comeback 3-2 victory over host Morocco in Saturday's thrilling final was applauded by Tinubu and many in Nigeria, a soccer-loving nation where passion and hard work often triumphs over institutional challenges. The continental success, analysts say, papers over the mismanagement of the women's team by the country's authorities. The success of the country had come in spite of the country. 'They have been able to dominate even though the Nigerian soccer authorities do not put as much funding, care, attention, and planning into the way the women's national team is run,' Solace Chukwu, a Lagos-based soccer analyst, told The Associated Press. A difference in treatment The team had been owed match bonuses for years, once resulting in a training boycott in 2022. Even as they triumphed on the way to the finals in Morocco, the backlog of payments was only approved by the president days before Saturday's final. They also could not hold competitive friendly matches and their training kits were said to not have been available. It is a common problem in Nigeria where sporting competitions are often dogged by issues of underfunding, corruption, and mismanagement that have led to high-profile scandals resulting in athletes choosing to represent other countries in protest. Women's teams are affected the most, partly because of how women have always been viewed in the Nigerian society, according to Oluwashina Okeleji, a sport analyst with focus on Africa. 'The argument from the (Nigerian) federation is that the men bring more money than the women, but the truth is the women bring most prestige, honours, and titles to Nigeria,' Okeleji said. A spokesperson for the Nigeria Football Federation, the country's governing soccer body, declined to respond to the allegations. Victims of success The Nigerian women's team has exercised a near-total dominance in African soccer, which is partly credited to a head-start in the women's game. Nigeria created the first soccer league for women in 1978, years before their counterparts on the continent. However, the gains have not catapulted the team to similar achievements on the global stage in what analysts say is a failure of the authorities to capitalize on this early advantage. 'The men's team is huge generally within the administration of Nigerian football as the cash cow,' Chukwu said. The gifts now promised by the president, including money and property, have not convinced the fans. 'This one-time payment and apartment does not make any sense. For what? What they need is investment in the facilities, the staff, and payment. The lack of investment in women's football is one of the reasons why it is not as high quality as the men's,' Funmi Obasa, a football fan in Abuja who follows the women's team, told AP. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Bloomberg
19 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Nigeria Naira Bonds Beat EM Peers Amid Reforms
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's reforms are sparking the biggest bond rally in emerging markets, with naira-denominated bonds extending their 2025 rally. Tinubu's measures including eliminating fuel subsidies, a tax overhaul and boosting reserves have supported investor interest in the local market. Bloomberg TV's Jennifer Zabasajja reports. (Source: Bloomberg)
