MISSION X ACCOMPLISHED: Super Reward for Super Performance
By Jerry Adesewo
In what can only be described as a fairytale ending to a dazzling tournament, Nigeria’s Super Falcons clinched their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in style at the 2024 edition hosted in Morocco. The team’s journey to glory was a masterclass in resilience, brilliance, and unyielding national pride—one that has now been met with an equally historic gesture of appreciation from the Nigerian presidency.
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From the group stages to the final, the Super Falcons displayed dominance and discipline, dispatching rivals with a blend of tactical finesse and raw talent. With seasoned names like Asisat Oshoala and emerging stars like Esther Okoronkwo, Rasheedat Ajibade, Michelle Alozie and Esther Demehin, the Nigerian side proved once again why they are the undisputed queens of African football.
Tough Group, Topnotch Perdormance
Their path to the trophy was no walk in the park. Grouped alongside Tunisia, Bostwana, and Algeria, the Falcons fought their way through tense fixtures. A defining semifinal showdown with South Africa ended in a hard-fought victory, setting the stage for an epic final clash against the Moroccans in front of a thunderous home crowd in Rabat. Unfazed, the Falcons soared. With a 3:2 win that sent millions of Nigerians into jubilation, having fallen to two early goals in the first half.
The mission was complete: Mission X Accomplished.
But perhaps the most significant celebration came not on the pitch, but back home in Abuja.
The Bumper Reward
In a remarkable show of appreciation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, July 28, 2024, hosted the triumphant Falcons and stunned the nation by announcing an unprecedented reward package. Each player will receive $100,000, while each member of the technical crew will pocket $50,000. In addition, every member of the contingent has been awarded a three-bedroom flat in the newly launched Renewed Hope Housing Estate. To crown it all, the entire team—players and officials alike—have been decorated with national honours of the Order of the Niger (OON).
This is the first time in history that the Super Falcons, despite their long-standing dominance of women’s football in Africa, are being honoured with such grandeur by a Nigerian president. Not even in their previous nine title-winning campaigns did they receive such comprehensive recognition from the nation’s leadership.
A Reward Like Never Before
Speaking at the reception, Aisha Falode, a prominent voice in Nigerian women’s football and a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), noted emotionally: “The Super Falcons have never had it so good—until today. This is not just a reward; it is a statement. President Tinubu has told the girls and every young Nigerian that excellence will be celebrated.”
Indeed, this is more than a celebration of victory; it is a renewed promise that Nigerian athletes—especially women—are not forgotten or undervalued. President Tinubu’s gesture sends a strong message: under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria’s sporting heroes can and will be honoured for their service and glory to the nation.
The triumph in Morocco was not just a win on the pitch. It was a reclamation of pride, a reaffirmation of dominance, and now, a turning point in how Nigeria celebrates her champions. The Super Falcons have etched their names in gold. And finally, Nigeria has responded in kind.
Mission X Accomplished—and for once, the rewards match the performance.
MISSION X ACCOMPLISHED: Super Reward for Super Performance