President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled his financial reward promise to Nigeria’s Super Falcons, with each player receiving the naira equivalent of $100,000 following the team’s historic triumph at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Members of the coaching crew and other team officials have also received the naira equivalent of $50,000 each, completing the cash component of the presidential reward package announced after Nigeria won its record-extending 10th continental title.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed the payments on Monday, November 2, 2026, describing the development as the fulfilment of the President’s financial commitment to the national women’s football team.
The payment brings an end to the outstanding cash component of the reward package, which Tinubu announced during a presidential reception held in honour of the team on July 28, 2025.
Following their historic achievement, the President had promised each of the 24 players the naira equivalent of $100,000, while members of the 11-person technical team were to receive $50,000 each.
He also conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on the players and technical crew and approved the allocation of three-bedroom apartments in Abuja to members of the team.
The housing documents and national honours certificates had earlier been presented to the beneficiaries, leaving the cash payments as the outstanding component of the presidential pledge.
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Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, commended Tinubu for honouring his commitment, describing the fulfilment of the reward package as an important development for Nigerian sports.
Dikko said the Super Falcons had made the country proud and deserved recognition for their achievement, adding that the timely delivery of the promised rewards would strengthen confidence among Nigerian athletes.
He also acknowledged the cooperation between the NSC and the Ministries of Finance, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development in ensuring the delivery of the presidential commitments.
According to him, the development represents a departure from previous experiences in which Nigerian athletes sometimes waited several years for government promises made after major international competitions to be fulfilled.
Dikko urged Nigerian athletes to draw encouragement from the development and remain committed to representing the country, assuring them that their sacrifices and achievements deserved recognition.
The Super Falcons earned the historic reward after producing a remarkable comeback against hosts Morocco in the final of the 2025 WAFCON.
Nigeria had fallen two goals behind but fought back to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory in Rabat in July 2025, reclaiming the continental crown and extending its record as the most successful country in the history of the women’s African football championship.
The victory marked Nigeria’s 10th WAFCON title and further cemented the Super Falcons’ dominance in African women’s football.
Tinubu’s fulfilment of the promise follows a similar development involving Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, whose players received the naira equivalent of $100,000 each in September 2026 after winning the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket championship.
The basketball players also received three-bedroom apartment allocation documents and OON national honours as part of their presidential reward package.
The latest development reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to recognising sporting achievements and rewarding Nigerian athletes who bring international honours to the country.
Editorial note: The reports give different estimates of the naira equivalent of the $100,000 reward. The article therefore retains the officially stated dollar-equivalent amount without presenting an unconfirmed naira figure as the exact payment.
Chelsea compounded Manchester United’s difficult start to the season with a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, leaving manager Michael Carrick under mounting pressure as the Red Devils’ winless run stretched to nine matches in all competitions.
Goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer secured the victory for Chelsea, who moved provisionally into fourth place on the Premier League table with 16 points from nine matches.
Manchester United, meanwhile, remained in 16th position with seven points, just one point above the relegation zone, after suffering another damaging defeat.
The result further intensified scrutiny of Carrick, whose side have now gone nine games without a victory, recording six defeats and three draws during the run. It is the club’s longest winless sequence in all competitions since the 1988-89 season.
Despite the final scoreline, Manchester United began the encounter with some attacking promise and created opportunities to take the lead.
The visitors thought they had broken the deadlock through Matheus Cunha, but the effort was ruled out for offside. Chelsea also had a first-half goal from young forward Estêvão Willian disallowed for the same reason.
United continued to threaten, with Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Cunha involved in promising attacking moves, but they failed to convert their opportunities.
Chelsea eventually took control shortly after the restart when Rogers produced an impressive individual effort to put the hosts ahead in the 50th minute.
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The forward collected a pass from Roméo Lavia, drove towards the United defence and worked his way past Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez before lifting the ball over goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The goal shifted the momentum in Chelsea’s favour, while Manchester United’s task became considerably more difficult when Martínez was sent off in the 63rd minute.
The Argentine defender received a second yellow card following an incident in which he appeared to elbow Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana. The decision followed a review by the match officials.
Chelsea were awarded a penalty from the incident, and Palmer converted from the spot in the 64th minute to double the hosts’ advantage.
The goal effectively ended United’s hopes of mounting a comeback, particularly after they were reduced to 10 players.
Chelsea continued to search for more goals, with Estêvão having another effort ruled out for offside. Manchester United also threatened late in the encounter, but Bryan Mbeumo struck the crossbar during stoppage time.
The victory provided Chelsea with a much-needed boost after consecutive defeats in the league and cup, while strengthening their position among the early contenders for a top-four finish.
For Manchester United, however, the defeat raised further questions about the team’s direction and Carrick’s ability to halt the alarming decline.
With the club struggling to turn performances into victories, pressure is expected to increase on the manager as the season progresses.
Chelsea will next travel to face Sunderland on November 8, while Manchester United are scheduled to visit Aston Villa on the same day.
Liverpool have booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after defeating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw at Anfield.
The encounter on Wednesday saw both teams battle for control, with the contest eventually decided by a penalty shootout that ended Chelsea’s hopes of progressing in the competition.
Chelsea moved ahead through a penalty converted by Morgan Rogers after Ryan Gravenberch fouled Moisés Caicedo. Liverpool responded with a spot-kick of their own, converted by Cody Gakpo after Wesley Fofana handled the ball inside the penalty area.
The two sides continued to search for a winning goal, but neither could find a breakthrough before the end of regulation time. Goalkeepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Mike Penders made important saves to keep their teams in contention.
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The tie consequently went to penalties, where Liverpool held their nerve to secure a 6-5 victory. Joe Gomez converted the decisive kick for the hosts, while Fofana sent his effort over the crossbar, sealing Chelsea’s elimination.
The result sent Liverpool into the last eight of the Carabao Cup, keeping their hopes of winning the domestic knockout competition alive.
Liverpool will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals, where they are scheduled to face Bournemouth in the week commencing December 14, 2026.
The dramatic victory underlined the fine margins in knockout football, as Liverpool advanced after a closely contested encounter that could not be settled during normal time.
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