Flamingos N100m: Ex-Super Falcons Captain Hails Tinubu, Urges FG To Reward Past Heroines

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist Since 1991

Former Super Falcons captain Kikelomo Florence Ajayi who won five Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles with Nigeria, has praised the federal government for the financial largesse showered on the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup winning Flamingos yesterday in Abuja, saying that the N100 million gifted to each player of the team in Savings Bond is a step in the right direction.

This is even as the dependable defender called “Mama Yaro” during her active years has also made a heartfelt appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the Nigerian government which he leads to extend recognition and financial rewards to former international players who laid the strong foundation for the current successes Nigeria’s Flamingos, Falconets and Super Falcons are enjoying.

Ajayi who was part of the dominant Nigerian squad that claimed five consecutive continental championships in  1998, 2000, 2002,  2004 (as captain) and 2006 (as captain) before her retirement from international football, insists that Wednesday’s award of N100 million each to the Flamingos is very commendable.

The announcement was made by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who received the players and crew on behalf of the President Tinubu who was unavoidably absent at a reception held in their honour at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Said she: “The Flamingos no doubt made history by being the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after beating Japan 2-1 in the final last weekend in Morocco. I am proud of the achievement of our young girls, every Nigerian should be also hence it is right for the federal government to reward them adequately to encourage other players at every level to put in their best when they put on the national colours”.

But Ajayi wants the federal government’s recognition of National Awards and financial rewards to go beyond the current squad of Flamingos, Falconets and Super Falcons, arguing that players who won many titles for Nigeria in the past should be recognised in the spirit of “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain”, as captured in Nigeria’s former National Anthem.

“It is sad that former Super Falcons players especially my generation that won five consecutive WAFCON titles before any other African nation won the cup got nothing for our sweat and blood. Tragically, some Ex-Super Falcons have died while others are still struggling with injuries sustained playing for Nigeria. They deserve national honours too”, Ajayi who is currently undergoing coaching training abroad posited.