LAST week, the Super Falcons of Nigeria did what they do best – they made us proud. Against all odds, they defeated host Morocco 3-2 to clinch their 10th Women’s African Cup of Nations title, cementing their status as the undisputed queens of African football.
For a moment, all Nigerians forgot their tribal and religious differences and celebrated as one people. It was beautiful.
Then President Bola Tinubu did something remarkable. On Monday, he hosted these heroines and announced national honours of Order of The Niger (OON), three-bedroom houses in Abuja, and a cash donation of $100,000 to each player.
My first thought? Finally! A Nigerian leader who understands the value of excellence and isn’t afraid to reward it appropriately.
But trust Nigerians to turn a moment of joy into a national debate. Instead of celebrating this historic gesture, the media space went into overdrive with unnecessary criticism. Some started asking “why will they give them that amount for playing for just three weeks?” Others went as far as saying “wetin the girls dey play sef?” – As if football is not a legitimate profession that requires years of dedication, training, and sacrifice.
The most annoying part was when people started posting pictures of soldiers struggling to eat at battlefronts, as if rewarding excellence in sports somehow takes food from our military’s mouth.
Others brought up teachers and civil servants who serve for 35 years without recognition. Some even compared the Falcons’ reward to professors’ salaries, conveniently forgetting that nowhere in the world do professors earn more than top athletes and entertainers.
My thoughts on this unnecessary drama? These critics are missing the point entirely, and their arguments are as shallow as a Lagos puddle during dry season.
First, let’s address the elephant in the room. The Super Falcons didn’t just “play for three weeks.” These women have dedicated their entire lives to representing Nigeria on the global stage. They’ve endured years of poor funding, inadequate facilities, delayed salaries, and sometimes even had to fund their own training.
They’ve brought more glory to Nigeria than most politicians will ever achieve in their lifetimes, yet some people are questioning if $100,000 is deserved?
Come to think of it, how much have our politicians spent on SUVs, private jets, and overseas medical treatments? How much do we spend on political rallies that achieve nothing but noise? Yet when we finally reward excellence, some people develop sudden economic consciousness. The hypocrisy is nauseating.
Those comparing sports rewards to other professions need to understand basic economics. Sports is entertainment, and entertainment pays premium globally. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo earn more in a week than most professors make in a decade. That’s not unfair – that’s how the market works.
The Super Falcons generate goodwill, national pride, and international recognition that no amount of money can buy. Their value transcends the pitch.
The argument about soldiers and teachers is particularly disingenuous. Yes, our security personnel and educators deserve better treatment, but that’s a separate conversation entirely. You don’t solve the problem of underpaying one group by underpaying another group that has excelled. That’s like saying because some people are hungry, nobody should eat well. It makes no sense.
If anything, the Falcons’ reward should be a template for how we treat excellence in other sectors. Instead of questioning why they got rewarded, we should be asking why our teachers, soldiers, and healthcare workers aren’t getting similar recognition when they excel. The problem isn’t that the Falcons got too much; the problem is that others are getting too little.
Let’s also be honest about something – sports is one of the few things that unifies Nigeria. When the Super Eagles or Falcons are playing, tribal and religious differences disappear. We all become Nigerians supporting our own. In a country deeply divided along ethnic and religious lines, anything that brings us together deserves massive investment, not criticism.
I also noticed that this backlash came mostly after female athletes were rewarded. When Anthony Joshua fought, Nigerians were calling him our own and celebrating him.
When our male footballers get bonuses, we rarely see this level of criticism. But when women excel and get rewarded appropriately, suddenly everyone becomes an economist questioning the value.
Some people asked why female basketball players won’t get the same reward if they win their ongoing FIBA championship. Simple answer – football is the number one sport in Nigeria and globally. That’s not discrimination; that’s reality. Even in America, basketball players earn more than baseball players because basketball is more popular. Market forces determine value, not wishful thinking.
The beauty of the Falcons’ achievement goes beyond the trophy. They showed young Nigerian girls that excellence pays. They demonstrated that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve greatness and be rewarded for it. That’s a powerful message in a society that often tells women to lower their expectations.
President Tinubu’s gesture also sends a strong message to the international community – Nigeria values and rewards excellence. This will encourage other athletes to give their best when representing the country. It’s an investment in future success, not charity.
For those worried about the $100,000 to each player, let me put it in perspective. The total amount, spread across the entire team, is probably less than what some politicians spend on a weekend trip to Dubai. It’s definitely less than what we waste on failed government projects every day. The Falcons brought glory to 200 million Nigerians – they earned every kobo.
Instead of this unnecessary debate, we should be asking harder questions. Why did it take this long to properly reward our female athletes? Why do our sports facilities remain in shambles? Why do athletes still struggle with funding? Why are we not investing more in sports development?
The Super Falcons have proven, once again, that they are Nigeria’s most consistent team. While our male footballers have been disappointing us for years, these women keep delivering. They deserve celebration, not criticism.
To the critics questioning this reward, I have news for you – excellence should be expensive. Mediocrity is what should be cheap. The day we start treating our champions like heroes is the day we’ll start producing more champions. The Falcons deserve every kobo, every honour, and every accolade coming their way.
Finally, to our dear Super Falcons – ignore the noise. You’ve made us proud, and you deserve every bit of recognition you’re getting. Keep soaring, because Nigeria is proud of you, and the sensible ones among us will always celebrate excellence whenever we see it.
- Nda-Isaiah is a political analyst based in Abuja and can be reached on jonesdryx@gmail.com. His syndicated column appears on News Point Nigeria newspaper on Saturdays.