Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, along with fellow billionaire, Abdulsamad Rabiu, have pledged to give Nigeria’s Super Falcons a total sum of ₦75 million ($207,000) for the team’s latest win at the just concluded 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations which held in Ghana. The Super Falcons defeated South Africa 4-3 on penalties following a goalless 120 minutes in the AWCON final match played last Saturday.

Dangote, who is group president and chief executive officer of the Dangote Group, pledged ₦50 million ($138,000) to the team while Rabiu, who is chairman of BUA company, added another ₦25 million ($69,000), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced in a statement.

This comes after the Nigerian women’s national team received a presidential welcome in Abuja, with Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), Abba Kyari, at the head of a Federal Government delegation along with top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation on Sunday evening. The Falcons were wildly cheered by Nigerians at the airport and responded gracefully before they entered the bus that conveyed them to their hotel in the Federal Capital.

The reigning African champions flew into the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport some minutes before 4 pm from Accra, and were received by Kyari, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar as well as other officials of the NFF. Addressing the team, Dr. Sanusi said, “On behalf of the leadership of the NFF, we are grateful for the support from the Nigerian Government which has seen the team excel at the Cup of Nations. The girls have promised to do their best to represent the country very well at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

With this much attention and monetary rewards coming to them at the moment, will the Super Falcons be inspired to perform well and reach the latter stages of the FIFA Women’s World Cup holding in France next year?