Breaking: Tinubu items N100 million every to Flamingos for World Cup triumph

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rewarded every member of Nigeria’s victorious U-17 girls’s nationwide staff, the Flamingos, with ₦100 million following their historic triumph on the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The President additionally accepted ₦100 million for the staff’s head coach, whereas members of the technical crew are to obtain ₦50 million every.

The rewards have been introduced by First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 when she acquired the gamers and their officers on the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on behalf of the President, blueprint stories.

She mentioned the nation was pleased with the younger champions, including that the cash can be saved in belief for the gamers in designated banks.

The announcement represents a serious monetary reward for the staff following its historic 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s ultimate in Rabat, Morocco.

The Flamingos turned the primary African staff to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, including one other milestone to Nigeria’s file in worldwide age-grade soccer.

First Lady receives champions at Aso Villa

The reception on the Presidential Villa supplied a possibility for the Federal Government to have fun the gamers, who returned to Nigeria after a formidable marketing campaign in Morocco.

The First Lady congratulated the staff for his or her willpower, resilience and self-discipline, describing their achievement as a supply of nationwide satisfaction.

She additionally recommended the teaching crew and officers for his or her contributions to the historic outing.

The President’s reward comes along with different monetary incentives already introduced for the staff by private and non-private people following their victory.

Senate earlier declares N100m donation

Before Tinubu’s newest announcement, the Nigerian Senate had pledged a collective ₦100 million donation to the Flamingos in recognition of their achievement.

The pledge was introduced on Tuesday throughout plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following a movement sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District.

The lawmakers congratulated the staff and urged the Federal Government and related sports activities authorities to maintain funding in girls’s soccer.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, additionally known as for measures to assist the gamers’ training and future past soccer.

The Senate’s ₦100 million pledge is separate from the President’s newest reward of ₦100 million for every participant, the pinnacle coach and members of the technical crew.

Private sponsor offers staff $50,000

The Flamingos have additionally acquired a $50,000 money present from Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, a non-public sponsor of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The donation was introduced throughout a particular reception organised for the staff in Rabat following their victory.

The occasion was hosted by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, with Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, additionally in attendance.

President Tinubu had equally directed the settlement of excellent bonuses and allowances owed to the staff all through its qualifying marketing campaign and participation within the competitors.

Obi’s airport allegation sparks controversy

The celebrations have been, nevertheless, overshadowed by an argument involving former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, who alleged that officers of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting the returning champions on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Obi, in an announcement on Monday, November 9, mentioned he had arrived on the airport to journey to Enugu when he seen the Flamingos coming back from Morocco with the World Cup trophy.

He mentioned he instructed his protocol officer to search out out whether or not he may method the gamers and congratulate them however was knowledgeable that NFF officers had refused the request.

According to Obi, he was additional instructed that the officers feared dropping their jobs in the event that they allowed him to satisfy the gamers.

The former governor described the event as one other manifestation of what he known as poisonous politics, expressing concern that political issues may intervene with atypical acts of nationwide celebration.

NSC DG disputes Obi’s account

However, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko rejected Obi’s account, insisting that officers who acquired the staff didn’t see the previous governor across the gamers.

Dikko defined that two people carrying Obi’s marketing campaign face caps and different campaign-related supplies had approached officers to request a gathering and {photograph} session with the gamers.

He mentioned the request was declined as a result of it was sudden, had not been communicated upfront and concerned campaign-related supplies.

The NSC chairman additional defined that the Flamingos arrived at about 5:30am by means of the worldwide terminal after a demanding journey and wanted to finish their arrival preparations.

He additionally questioned Obi’s account of the encounter, noting that the previous governor was travelling to Enugu, whereas the Flamingos arrived by means of the worldwide terminal.

Dikko maintained that there was no proof that Obi was bodily current across the gamers or that any official threatened to sack personnel over the matter.

He subsequently demanded an apology from the previous governor, insisting that the gamers’ historic achievement shouldn’t be overshadowed by political disagreements.

The NSC additionally defended its place on safeguarding protocols, stressing that the gamers are minors and that entry to them have to be correctly coordinated.

How Flamingos made historical past

The Flamingos’ triumph adopted a formidable restoration from their opening 2-1 defeat to Poland within the group stage.

Nigeria subsequently defeated Puerto Rico 2-0 and defending champions Korea DPR 3-1 to advance to the knockout rounds.

The staff defeated Mexico 2-1 within the spherical of 16 earlier than overcoming Venezuela 1-0 within the quarter-finals.

In the semi-finals, the Nigerian women produced a exceptional efficiency to beat Brazil 3-1 and safe their first-ever look within the ultimate.

Against Japan, Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring within the thirty ninth minute earlier than Oluebube Umejiaku doubled Nigeria’s benefit shortly after the restart.

Japan pulled one purpose again within the eightieth minute by means of Fuki Ito, however the Flamingos held on to safe a historic 2-1 victory.

The triumph made Nigeria the primary African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and additional strengthened the nation’s status in worldwide age-grade soccer.

The newest presidential reward, alongside the Senate’s donation and private-sector assist, has introduced the younger champions vital recognition, with expectations mounting that the NFF and NSC will maintain funding of their growth and supply a pathway to the senior nationwide staff.