Super Falcons’ WAFCON Victory Validates Tinubu’s Sports Reforms, Says Dikko, NSC Chairman
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has described the Super Falcons’ recent victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing sports reforms.
He said the team’s triumph not only demonstrated athletic excellence but also reflected a new era of government-wide collaboration and accountability in Nigerian sports management.
Dikko made the remarks during an interview with Arise News shortly after the Falcons were honoured at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Nigeria’s women’s national team clinched their historic 10th WAFCON title after a dramatic comeback victory against Morocco, winning 3-2 in a thrilling final.
According to the NSC chairman, the win was not accidental but the product of coordinated efforts by the Tinubu administration to reposition Nigerian sports through structural reform, financial transparency, and leadership alignment across ministries and agencies.
“This is what sports reform looks like in action,” Dikko said. “Everyone was aligned — from the presidency to the ministers, to the administrators. You could see female ministers, the First Lady herself, and others rallying behind the team. That motivation made a difference.”
He also highlighted that all players and officials received timely payments of bonuses and allowances throughout the tournament — a departure from the past, when financial disputes often overshadowed Nigeria’s major tournament appearances.
In recognition of their achievement, President Tinubu conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on each of the 24 players and 11 technical crew members. Each player also received a Naira equivalent of $100,000 and a three-bedroom home under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme. Technical staff members were awarded $50,000 each.
Dikko said these gestures were not merely rewards but a signal that the government is serious about respecting and uplifting its athletes.
“We’re building a system that respects athletes’ contributions and gives them dignity,” he stated. “That is a shift from the past.”
Beyond the celebration, Dikko stressed the broader significance of the Falcons’ victory, saying it offered a blueprint for how sports can unite the country and serve as a tool for national development.
He noted that the women’s consistency in international football now serves as a challenge to the men’s teams to match their success and discipline.
Looking ahead, Dikko confirmed that plans are underway to further improve sports infrastructure in the country. This includes the development of a FIFA-backed technical centre for national teams and continued reforms in grassroots sports development.
The Super Falcons’ WAFCON victory is now being seen not just as a football achievement but as a validation of a larger vision—where sports are positioned as both a national pride and a catalyst for governance reform.
