The Nigerian women’s football team, the Super Falcons, have expressed their gratitude to the country’s government for rewarding them with US$10,000 (£7,800) each for reaching the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons finished second in Group B of the tournament, behind Australia, and were eliminated on penalties by England after a 0-0 draw.
According to BBC Sports Africa Defender Osinachi Ohale said the players were “grateful for this unexpected gesture” and that they had not been rewarded in this way before, despite winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) several times.
“We appreciate the federal government for their support and encouragement,” Ohale said. “And we also thank Nigerians for the remarkable support during the tournament.”
The Super Falcons are the most successful team in the history of the Wafcon, having won the tournament 11 times, but 9 were officially recorded. They are also the first African team to reach the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup. Despite their recent outburst with the NFF over blacklog of unpaid bonuses
The team’s performance at the 2023 World Cup has been a source of national pride, and the government’s reward is a recognition of their achievements.
The Super Falcons are expected to continue to be a force in women’s football in the years to come. With the support of the government and the fans, they have the potential to achieve even greater things.
