By Ayodele Oni
Each Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, is N100 million richer as the Federal Government gave Savings Bonds worth the amount in recognition of their historic achievement on the international football stage.
The presentation was made on Wednesday during a special reception organised in honour of the players and their technical crew at the State House in Abuja.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, received the team on behalf of the President Bola Tinubu, and announced the rewards, describing the recognition as an appreciation of the players’ outstanding performance and contribution to Nigerian sports.
Under the reward arrangement, each member of the Flamingos squad will receive a Federal Government Savings Bond valued at N100 million.
.The team’s head coach will also receive a savings certificate of the same value, while each member of the technical crew will be given N50 million in cash.
The gesture follows the team’s remarkable achievement of becoming the first African side to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, a milestone that has brought international recognition to Nigerian women’s football and placed the country in the history books of the competition.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, explained that the decision to reward the young players through long-term savings bonds rather than immediate cash payments was deliberate and intended to protect their financial future.
According to him, most of the players are still teenagers, and handing such substantial amounts of money directly to them could expose them to financial pressure and decisions they may not be adequately prepared to manage.
He explained that the five-year Federal Government Savings Bonds would provide annual interest returns estimated at between 12 and 14 per cent, allowing the players to benefit financially throughout the investment period.
Dikko noted that the arrangement would also ensure that the players have access to funds to support their education, football training and other personal responsibilities while continuing to develop their careers.
He said the investment approach was designed to give the players financial stability when they eventually become adults and are better positioned to make independent decisions about managing their resources.
“There is no need to flood them with money that can distort their career,” Dikko stated, emphasising that the government preferred to secure their future through a structured investment.
He further explained that the initiative was similar to a parent investing money for a child until the child reaches an age where they can responsibly manage the funds.
According to him, the President’s decision was an unprecedented gesture aimed at ensuring that the players benefit from their achievement beyond the immediate celebration.
On the future of the team and its coaching staff, Dikko said the National Sports Commission would assess the age eligibility of the players before deciding on the next steps.
He explained that players who remain within the age limit for the next FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup cycle could continue with the team, while those who have exceeded the age requirement may progress to higher national team categories.
Dikko added that the future of the coaching staff would also depend on the direction of the players, noting that maintaining the existing technical arrangement could be beneficial if a significant number of the players remain eligible for the next competition.
The development represents a major recognition of the Flamingos’ achievement and highlights the importance of investing in young sporting talents.
Beyond the financial rewards, the recognition is expected to encourage the players to remain committed to their football careers while pursuing their education and personal development
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