₦airaland Forum

Joebie:
you still have to win on the pitch by merit.

Sure. You'd agree that they played good football in that final. It could have gone either way. Happy we won. But I'd be happy to let them chew on the kolanut small.

Goke7:
Nigeria has hosted Afcon on home soil and lost in the finals, hosted the World U-17 World Cup and lost in the finals too. Morocco should take a chill. I still find the walking out in the APOTY ceremony, where Lookman won, so irritating and childish. They need to show they are indeed a strong soccer nation, but acting like that portrays them as a weak developing soccer nation, and it stinks to the high heavens.

Well, I think as they continue to host they'd learn to be more accommodating. In the meantime CAF needs to set a hard line on the laser thing. It's unacceptable

Samueltemi337:
As a Nigerian you will be happy if morroco wins your country in a Final?

10-1. It won't scratch me.

toluxe0075:
Then they should prove themself on the pitch. Other countries desire what they desire too, so it can’t be handed to them just because they choose to host.

No where in my posts did I say it should be handed to them. Appearing in Two finals is no mean feat. I only expressed my desire that I'd be happy if they win. And God willing they will.

mostob:
The Law, I would rather South Africa or even Ghana disgrace Nigeria in the final (which won't happen anyway) than to see Morocco win that cup.

I understand the angst against them but consider that they will be hosting U-17 in September, then Afcon in December, then WAFCON next year. They should have something to show for all these hostings

Truidstarr:
My brother, I am not talking from the position of the taker of the set piece. I am talking from the position of the coordination. The super falcons moved as one unit and beat the offside trap on almost all occasions. That is evidence of good coaching. That’s what I am advocating for in the SE.

I agree. definitely coaching contributed

Danielnino00:
It isn't always about coaching... the player's technique also matters... At the WAFCON, aside Esther, other players like Ijamilusi, Ordega, Payne, Babajide and I think Plumptree also took set pieces... Only Esther and Babajide's set pieces resulted in goals....
IMO, not many players in the SE have good set pieces technique.... Simon has been taking set pieces for the team since god knows when and not up to 5 have resulted in goals

Gbam

Truidstarr:
Whoever was the Super Falcons set piece coach should be drafted to assist Eric Chelle. The long balls were timed to perfection while beating the offside trap.

I don't think it's about coaching. Esther has a unique way of playing her free kicks. She rolls it, like the ball floats in the air, giving her team mates opportunity to sync with the ball.

I don't want naija to win the next Wafcon. Make Morocco win an. Them don try.

Odogwujayy:
Omohh you see that world cup qualification eh, e go hard gan.. Make tell ourselves the truth, chances slim die

It was easier for Falcons to come back from 2-0 than for eagles to qualify from where we presently stand in the qualifiers.

We lost the moment for a shift in energy when we allowed Zimbabwe to equalize.

AndSunGorilla:
Learned man no sabi

God forbid that a lawyer should know all the law - Lord Denning, MR.

😂😂😂
Next!

junnyjake:
you choose not to.

How I go take sabi wetin I no sabi 😂😂

junnyjake:
So, we expend borrowed funds on celebration.

I no sabi that one oo.

lovewins:
Thing is, what I suggested is government's primary responsibility. The reward for a good outting however we like it just isn't. Also, you are comparing apples and oranges with your reference. The window used her personal money for the perfume purchase, The president used our commonwealth. If Dangote, Otedola and Olumelu for instance made these donations then the conversation would be different, however this is about use of public funds for the greater good.

What the president has done is set an unsustainable precedence. The D'tigress have won the last 4 Afrobasket. They are currently in Ivory coast hoping to win their 5th. Should that happen (very likely will) will they also get $100k each? Mind you, theirs is even a lot more impressive cause that's 5 championships back to back. They've also been treated badly by the Nigerian government as if you remember, they were withdrawn from participating at the last World cup due to the ministries incompetence. So they share similar sentiments as the falcons. Treating them differently from the Falcons is what is known by law as discrimination. In a litigious society like the USA, should they not be rewarded the same way they have a claim against the government and will win.

I believe you get my point. I love this for the girls and rest happy they cashed out, [/b]but this doesn't solve anything. They'll likely still have logistics issues at the next callup, have issues with payment of bonuses etc. We should learn as a country to not just throw money at problems but solve them

BTW, this is the UK government doing exactly as I suggested for growth women's sports after a successful tourney. That's systems thinking.

The bolded is the thrust of my using the story of Jesus and the woman with the Alabaster jar.

That money was not given to solve a problem, just as the oil was not lavished on Jesus to solve a problem. Both gifts were given as a mark of honor, of gratitude and appreciation.

But just like you, Judas (again this is just an extrapolation) wanted it to be used for problem solving. Jesus said ogbeni free this woman. You can always solve the problem of the poor if you really want to. So in the same way, we can always solve the problems associated with our sports if we want to, without decrying grand gestures of appreciation lavished on the players.

So it's immaterial whose money it is. Whether government funds or individual money - the principle remains the same. The essence of the story is about motivation, about intent.

It's not about whether what the President has done is sustainable, it is not about whether police, D'tigress, or any other person or group of person is left languishing.

If we want to address those problems, it is not 3.2 billion given to the falcons that will stop us.

junnyjake:
At what/whose cost?

There's no cost even. Some things are priceless.

Goke7:
Guy let’s not pretend we are a corrupt nation, you hand any money to any committee? e go waka even with the so called heroes or honourable people that’s how terrible it is. We are not people that believe in any sustainable anything ours is to wack it now and party hard, yes that’s who we are. The president himself knows this reason he rewarded the girls themselves so they can have fond memories of their success. We should even pray that they get the 3 bed flat on time and it doesn’t take years perhaps the president sef is aware hence the huge cash to lift their spirits. We are a unique nation in our own way may be when we evolve better as a people then we can talk about sustainable planning. The main super eagles sef is not sustainable talkless of super falcons!

Spot on.

Goke7:
Thank you o! Honestly am blown away with the way the girls are being celebrated, especially with our bad reputation of not honoring our sportsmen adequately. My own be say make those girls spend their money well and do lots of investments, I no wan hear story tomorrow say I was abandoned o, that money and all the cash they are getting is enough to create long-lasting wealth if they manage it well and invest accordingly.

Yes it's a beautiful thing the President has done. If na me ehn the celebration go too much.

Nobody mumu like that again oo. I trust that they will use the money, not just the money but the good will wisely.

lovewins:
Shared this at the Falcons thread. For extra context these are my thoughts

Extremely happy for the girls but this is about how we steward public funds and in my opinion this isn't the way to go. Yes the girls deserve to be commended but this isn't sustainable. Let me break it down.

The president just gave the entire crew about $3 Million Dollars. For context, that's

3 times the WAFCON prize money
3x what they got at the last FIFA world cup after tax
3 years salary for an average female footballer player.

If they have that kind of funds to give, how to help the super falcons will be to put that money in a trust exclusively for the Falcons managed by a team of a neutral committee of heroes high net worth women absent the NFF. That initial fund can change the phase of female footbal in this country for a long time. If you put $3M in a low yield low risk investment of say 10% a year, that's $300k (which is the amount the ladies will get from their CAF winnings) in returns yearly that is enough to handle issues of bonuses and allowances. $300k means you can easily gift winners of future WAFCON a $10k prize money without issues. The only thing the NFF will likely need to take care of will be logistics.

Now imagine it's a $10M fund, that sets women's football apart for generations to come. That's how to think future and development while also being appreciative of the present. Sadly we are a money driven society and just throw money at every problem and then get suprised when they repeatedly happen again.

Your suggestions are wonderful in fact they are necessary but still all that you suggested can be done in addition to the monies given to the team. Or rather it doesn't stop the government from doing what you suggested.

When the prostitute lavished her very expensive oil on Jesus, judas said ohh my, what a waste. This oil ought to have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus told him, you will always have the poor with you. Meaning opportunities and needs full ground if we really want to address them.

I'm not insinuating that you are Judas oo but what Jesus struck at in his response is that, in situations just like this, it is not for us to attack what has been given no matter how lavish, it is for us to summon the will to attend to the existing need on ground. Jesus is teaching that pouring expensive oil will not stop anyone who wants to, from attending to the needs of the poor.

So drawing from that story I say that what is lacking to address the needs you highlighted is not money. It is the will, the political will, the determination to create a system and structure for sports. It has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with what the President just did for the girls.

"Judas said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a THIEF, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it ..."

If that structure is not in existence, it is not this lavish gift of the President that has stopped it from being created. Our sports administration simply lack vision. Even if you give them the money them go chop am.

lovewins:
What a time to be a Super Falcons Player.

President Bola Tinubu has announced a cash reward of $100,000 to each Super Falcons player who represented Nigeria at the just concluded 2025 WAFCON tournament in Morocco.

In addition, each player will also get a three-bedroom apartment at the Renewed Hope Housing estate in Abuja, and they will also be conferred with National Awards, receiving an OON (Order of the Officer of the Niger).

These doesn't seem like a wise use of public funds in my opinion, but I'm extremely happy for the girls. I'll just rather we do something that's sustainable in the long term than create a precedence for the purpose of political jamboree that frankly isn't sustainable.

I agree with all that you said except as regards the use of public funds. In the grand scheme of things how much is 150m or 3.6 billion? Money wey people dey steal yapata steady steady.

We must learn to lavishly celebrate our heroes. We are very poor at doing that. This occasion will be the inspiration for many magical moments in the future. You won't know the secret spark that has been ignited in the hearts of many young girls.

In ancient Rome, their national ethos was simple and straightforward: Glory. Whatever it takes, whatever it cost. And that spirit made the Roman army a fearsome, formidable war machine.

What Tinubu gave to those girls is not money. It is glory, it is honor, it is hope. These are the things that strengthen the human spirit. Tomorrow if they are on the pitch, they will be ready to die on that pitch.

Truidstarr:
They are co-host of the 2030 World cup with 2 other European nations. It is to keep their facilities busy and also test run what it will be like to host big events. Recall they are to host the Afcon in December this year.

Massive boost for their tourism

do4luv14:
Something seems to be wrong with this CAF president,

Not even his own country, but Morroco, and 3times in a role, what is he not saying, cos I know very well it's not Only Morroco that had the infrastructure to host the AWFCON

Let them continue to host. It's good. They have the resources and the facilities.

lovewins:
Algeria and Morocco have an ongoing diplomatic dispute. This is just politics (a dispute over territories) that has sadly filtered into sports.

In this tournament for instance, Algeria refused to include in their promotion anything that had any semblance of Morocco in it, and CAF is currently investing and they could be sanctioned. Last year, Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane refused to come over out of the dressing room for a CAF champions's league game after their kits were confiscated by the Algerians.

Also, Algeria gymnastics withdrew from the African championship holding in Morocco because they didn't get approval to attend. In 2023, Morocco had to pull out of a CHAN tournament because Algeria refused to approve a direct flight to Algiers.

Not sure when this political tussel will be resolved, but I hope CAF brings both nations to the table to at the very least dial down the animosity during sporting events because I see this spiral into violence one day if it isn't contained.

They really are at each other's throats but sports should be off limits for such bad blood

Goke7:
If you know how SA and Ghana for pepper us if we lose Omo you sef go hide so allow our people to celebrate and pepper their papa! Up super falcons!

They would have because we are loud boastful and arrogant.

Algerians are congratulating us. Obviously they didn't want their neighbor to win.

semid4lyfe:
If I wasn't Nigerian I wouldn't support Nigerian teams because tell me why Nigeria defeated Morocco, and Ghana and South Africa are being trolled?

Sometimes, Nigerians do too much.

I don't like that pettiness from our people. First time, it was fun but now it's becoming stale. Which one be Ghana come outside

semid4lyfe:
The final wan be like 2022 World Cup Final, Argentina vs France

It had goals, standout performances and big officiating moments.

I'm glad we were on the winning side.

Definitely. That 2022 world cup final is the best world cup final. Even football pundits acknowledge it to be so.

This one yesterday is up there too. It had everything.

orriyomi33:
What did the coach tell the players before they came out for the 2nd half?

Like, every of their pass was lit, from defence to attack.
We could have scored up to 5 goals.

Congratulations 🎉 to the coach.

In the first half, our girls were overwhelmed by the occasion. Unlike her usual self assured presence, Plumptre was off, team play was frazzled and the team had no rhythm. This affected Ihezuo and Esther upfront.

In the second half Echegini brought stability to the midfield and the team having taken their measure of the Moroccans, revved up their engine and like true falcons, they went for the kill - ruthlessly, purposefully and timeously.

This was a beautiful final. I like finals that are memorable - the suspense, the joy, the triumph.

Odunayaw:
Okoronkwo takes over the soft spot I had for Ordega

That Ordega fine sha. 🫣🫣

Kog45:
The things wey Chuckwueze supposed dey do for eagles na Okoronkwo dey do it for falcons.... Okoronkwo na baller.

Her calmness and poise in front of goal to square that pass to Ijamilusi is extraordinary. My God!

That assist is 9/10th of that goal. A lesser player would have panicked and lost that moment.

This victory is so sweet.

BankyGee:
I've been saying this too, we even used like our second XI for that game. In this competition, we might just PSG-Inter them if it was them we were going to meet in the final.

They are not our match. Even Morocco are not our match but they have the boisterous home support. When we met them in 2022, even with 9 players they couldn't beat us. It was via penalties that we lost.

But I pray they don't experience what SE experienced at the last Afcon. We beat SA and lost to the host.

QueenJazz:
I still think Ghana remains our number one rival. So much history there. I know for sure this final would have been more highly anticipated if Ghana had scaled through.

South Africa has possibly surpassed Cameroon in my eyes sha. At least within the last couple of years.

But then again, you could argue it's still a one-sided rivalry because we almost always end up winning somehow. It's just like our beef with Argentina. Our games with them are mostly tight but they end up squeezing a victory over us somehow.

I feel like Nigeria is to South Africa now what Argentina has been to us.

What it means is that they might throw off the yoke of our dominance soon just as we did Cameroun who were a thorn in our flesh in the 80's and 90's.

If Super Falcons had met Ghana, they'd beat them squarely. We beat them enroute WAFCON by 3-1.

It seems that the biggest rival that Nigeria has now in African football is South Africa. In the 80's and 90's, it was Ghana and Cameroon, in the 2000's, Cameroun. Now it's undoubtedly South Africa. Our meet ups generate a lot of smoke and the games are usually tight with slim goal margins