President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday November 11, 2026, rewarded Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, with Federal Government Savings Bonds worth N100 million each following their historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph.
The rewards were announced by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu during a reception for the team at the State House, Abuja, on behalf of the President. The Flamingos’ coach also received a savings certificate of the same value, while each member of the technical crew was given N50 million in cash.
The team earned the honour after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat, Morocco, becoming the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and the first African women’s side to win a FIFA world title at any level.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, said the choice of savings bonds over direct cash payments was deliberate. He explained that the decision was intended to safeguard the long-term financial future of the players, most of whom are teenagers.
He said, “There is no need to flood them with money that can distort their career.
“So we are now giving them what we call an FGN savings bond for like five years. That savings bond comes at like 14, 12 per cent interest annually, meaning each of them will be adding like N1.1m plus monthly for the next five years, which is enough to look outside their education, to look outside their training, and then by the time those bonds mature, they are already adults.
“They can make a clear decision of what to do with their own money.”
He added, “I don’t think there is any father that wants to give his 16-year-old, 15-year-old, N100m at this age.
“But you can invest for your 16-year-old so that at 20 they will have money to set their life.
“That’s basically what the president has done at this moment, which is unprecedented.”
Dikko said the girls would not go without monthly income during the bond period, noting that the annual returns would provide a steady stream of funds to cover their education, training and family needs while they remained active in football.
On the future of the team and its coaching staff, Dikko said decisions would be made based on the age eligibility of players for the next U-17 cycle.
“We have to look at how many of these girls are still available for the next U-17.
“If more are still under that age, they can play the next one; better you keep the coach at this level. If they are moving to the U-21, better they go with their coach to do that,” he said, among other things
A reward for history
The Flamingos’ victory marked a major milestone for Nigerian and African football, ending Africa’s long wait for the U-17 women’s world title.
President Tinubu had earlier congratulated the team, describing their achievement as a defining moment for Nigerian sports and African football.
The reception in Abuja followed the team’s return from Morocco, where they were welcomed as world champions after their landmark win.
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