Tinubu gives each Flamingo ₦100 million — in savings bonds, not cash — at today’s Villa reception

Photo: First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and Flamingos captain Harmony Chidi at the Presidential Villa reception · Source: Voice of Nigeria (11 Nov 2026)

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, representing the President, announced ₦100 million in five-year savings bonds for each player at the Presidential Villa — the coach gets ₦100 million in cash.

The Flamingos landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 05:50 WAT on Monday aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight, two days after beating Japan 2-1 in Rabat to become the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Captain Harmony Chidi carried the trophy through the arrivals hall as Nigeria Football Federation officials and supporters welcomed the team with drums and dancing. Goals by Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku sealed the 2-1 final win, and Umejiaku was named player of the tournament.

Coach Hakeem Busari, appointed only seven months ago, led a squad that included Chidi, Tosin Rafiu, Queen Joseph, Precious Oscar and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi. The win is Nigeria’s first-ever global trophy in women’s football.

A parade is expected from Eagle Square and the Federal Secretariat through Julius Berger Roundabout and Wuse Market toward Maitama, Asokoro and Apo. President Bola Tinubu congratulated the team on Sunday, in a statement by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, and has ordered the players’ bonuses paid. Sponsor Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu has promised the team a $50,000 gift.

The homecoming took a political turn on Monday morning. Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, said he arrived at the airport at about 07:00 WAT to board a flight to Enugu and asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to arrange a greeting with the team — but was told NFF officials objected. He says the officials asked him not to approach, saying they would all lose their jobs if he did.

Obi posted the allegation on X on Monday in a statement titled “A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria”, citing a similar incident in Uyo on 25 March 2025. The NFF has not publicly responded to the allegation. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo accused Obi of seeking “photo ops”, the Presidency — through Dada Olusegun — called politicising national teams “distasteful”, and Bashir Ahmad said Obi “can’t welcome the team ahead of the President”.

The reception happened today. The Flamingos were received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday 11 Nov — at the Presidential Banquet Hall at about 13:00 WAT — where First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing President Bola Tinubu, announced ₦100 million in Federal Government Savings Bonds for EACH player.

The players' ₦100 million is in five-year savings certificates, not immediate cash, held in trust until the players turn 18 or the bonds mature, at about 14% annual interest. Head coach Hakeem Busari receives ₦100 million in cash and each technical crew member ₦50 million in cash. NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko said the bond structure was deliberate, to protect the long-term interests of players who are mostly teenagers.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio also received the team at the Senate today and said the win “signals Tinubu’s 2027 victory”. The Senate’s separate ₦100 million donation, agreed at Tuesday’s plenary, is a different reward — a collective donation to the team, not per player — and must not be confused with the President’s award. The $50,000 sponsor gift was described by the NSC on 9 Nov as already donated on the pitch in Morocco; no separate delivery confirmation exists.

The row escalated again late on Monday. National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade called Peter Obi a “pathological liar” in a WhatsApp group, disputing that Obi could have seen the players — the plane landed at about 05:30 WAT when it was still dark, no local flights were checking in then, and the team exited through the international terminal’s underground exit. Those timeline claims are Olopade’s account, not independently verified. Obi’s camp had not responded to Olopade at the time of writing.

The NFF itself has still not publicly commented on Obi’s allegation. The Nation’s Tuesday edition confirms the landing and NFF acting general secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme hailing the team (“history can’t be written without you”), and notes FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe separately told Ikpeme the triumph was no fluke.

The Senate pledged ₦100 million to the Flamingos on Tuesday, announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi (ADC, Bauchi Central) congratulating the team. The Senate also urged the Federal Government to reward the players at Super Eagles level and asked the NFF to keep the team together. The ₦100 million is a pledge, not money already paid.

NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko formally asked Peter Obi to apologise to the players, saying officials who received the team did not see Obi near the players or the international terminal. Dikko said two people in Obi campaign face caps requested a meeting and photographs, which was declined because the players had just arrived tired after a demanding tournament and there was no prior arrangement. Dikko’s account is his version of events — Obi’s account differs, and the NFF has not spoken.

NIS Director-General Philip Shaibu said on Channels TV’s Morning Brief that Obi “could have stood at the airport and waved at them like every other person did.”

Captain Harmony Chidi has said the opening 2-1 defeat to Poland inspired the team to fight back and win the World Cup. She told Brila Media the players rallied together after the loss: “Before the tournament, all of us were in high spirits and fired up to win the title. However, losing the first game, everyone was down but our coach prepped us to move on while we also encouraged one another.” Nigeria won their remaining six matches, including the 3-1 semi-final win over Brazil and the 2-1 final win over Japan. Oluebube Umejiaku won the Golden Ball.

Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno has congratulated Akwa Ibom-born Mary Dunstan Akpan — who scored Nigeria’s second goal in the 2-1 Round of 16 win over Mexico — and approved a reception for her and two other Akwa Ibom indigenes in the delegation (team secretary Arit Robert Effiong and physiotherapist Charity Etim Godwin). Senator Adams Oshiomhole also praised the team in the Senate debate.

Update, 11 Nov 2026 (evening): this article was updated after the Flamingos were received at the Presidential Villa — First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, representing the President, announced ₦100 million in five-year savings bonds for each player, ₦100 million cash for coach Hakeem Busari and ₦50 million cash for each technical crew member. The Senate’s ₦100m donation is a separate collective pledge. Obi has still not responded to the NSC’s apology demand.

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