According to a report by The Punch on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, President Bola Tinubu has rewarded Nigeria’s historic U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their remarkable achievement as the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The team received a grand reception at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday afternoon, where First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu welcomed the players and celebrated their historic accomplishment. The Federal Government also announced significant financial rewards aimed at securing the players’ financial futures and supporting their development.

As part of the reward package, each player received a Federal Government Savings Bond worth N100 million. The team's head coach was also presented with a savings certificate valued at N100 million, while each member of the technical crew received N50 million in cash.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, explained that the decision to reward the young footballers through savings bonds rather than direct cash payments was intended to protect their financial interests and encourage long-term planning.

Dikko noted that giving large amounts of money directly to teenage athletes could affect their focus, personal development and professional careers. He explained that the government therefore opted for a five-year Federal Government savings bond that would provide regular returns while preserving the value of their rewards.

According to him, the bonds are expected to generate annual interest of approximately 12 to 14 per cent, translating into monthly earnings of more than N1.1 million for each player.

He added that the arrangement would allow the young footballers to receive financial support for their education, training and other personal responsibilities while continuing to develop their football careers.

Meanwhile, the National Sports Commission is also considering the future of the historic squad following the tournament victory.

Dikko disclosed that officials would assess the players' ages and eligibility to determine who could remain in the next U-17 cycle and who might progress to higher age-grade teams, including the U-21 category.

The move is expected to help preserve the team's progress and provide opportunities for the young champions to continue representing Nigeria at international competitions.