Tinubu rewards Flamingos with N100m savings certificate for each player after U-17 World Cup win

President Bola Tinubu has rewarded each member of the Flamingos, Nigeria's Under-17 women's team, with a N100 million federal government savings certificate for winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, according to ThisDay and Punch.

The package was announced at the State House in Abuja, where the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, received the team on behalf of the president. The president directed that each player's N100 million be issued as a savings certificate so that the money is kept for the young footballers because of their age.

"Let me recall Mr President's promise to every Nigerian athlete: make Nigeria proud and come back to a grateful nation," Mrs Tinubu said. "In fulfilment of this promise, it is my pleasure, on behalf of the president, to announce the following rewards for the players, technical crew, and administrators of the Flamingos."

She told the players: "Mr President is awarding you a savings certificate of N100 million each. Each of you is getting N100 million." Explaining the arrangement to the excited girls, she asked: "Do you know what a savings certificate is? It is money, but it is in trust for you. You are still very young. Do you want to start handling N100 million now?"

For the head coach, the reward is N100 million in cash, and the other members of the technical crew will receive N50 million each, she said.

ThisDay reports that the team won the title last Saturday. Mrs Tinubu described the achievement as a remarkable moment in the history of Nigerian and African sport, saying the Flamingos made the country proud by becoming the first African nation to win the title.

She thanked the parents, guardians and fans whose support nurtured the young champions. "On behalf of Mr President and the good people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I congratulate you once again," she said. "You have made our nation proud, and we celebrate every one of you."

She added that the victory had lifted Nigerian football, would inspire millions of young girls and could open a new chapter for women's football in Africa.

The reports do not say when the certificates mature or how and when the players will be able to access the money. Details of the terms of the savings certificate, including any age or time conditions, were not given in the statement reviewed.

The size of the reward, N100 million for each player, has drawn quick attention, and the details of how the certificates will work are likely to be the next question.