As the Super Falcons prepare to face Morocco in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, President Bola Tinubu has sent a strong message of encouragement to the team.
President Tinubu lauded the team’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament, stating they have already “represented the country with pride, honour, and strength.”
He commended their display of true sportsmanship, highlighting their compassionate visit to injured South African player Gabriela Salgado as a testament to their empathy.
Tinubu praised the Super Falcons’ impressive unbeaten run in the group stages, their victories in the knockout rounds, and conceding only one goal in the semi-finals.
He also emphasized their remarkable record of triumph in all nine of their previous WAFCON final appearances.
Expressing his unwavering confidence in the team’s ability to secure the championship, President Tinubu announced that he has dispatched a high-level delegation to the final in Rabat.
The delegation, which includes several ministers and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, will convey the full support of the Nigerian government and its people to the Super Falcons.
“Tonight, you stand at the cusp of history as you face the host nation, Morocco, in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
“On behalf of a grateful nation, we are rooting for you and praying for your resounding success tonight, as you strive to achieve the crowning accomplishment of lifting a record tenth continental title.
“I have sent a presidential delegation to attend the final in Rabat to convey the full support of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to cheer you on to victory. Nigerian history books,” the president said.
Full text of President Tinubu’s message:
My beloved Super Falcons,
Tonight, you stand at the cusp of history as you face the host nation, Morocco, in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
Your performance at this tournament over the past three weeks has been awe-inspiring. You have represented our country with pride, honour, and strength.
In the pitch and off the pitch, you have demonstrated true sportsmanship.
I was delighted to see photographs of your visit to the injured Gabriela Salgado of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana following the semi-final match. That simple act of compassion reflects our shared humanity, empathy, and sisterly affection, which we Africans hold in high regard.
If statistics alone win matches, you are already champions. Unbeaten in the group stages, victorious in the knockout rounds, and conceding only a goal in the semi-finals. Apart from this, you have emerged triumphant in all your previous nine finals.
On behalf of a grateful nation, we are rooting for you and praying for your resounding success tonight, as you strive to achieve the crowning accomplishment of lifting a record tenth continental title.
I have sent a presidential delegation to attend the final in Rabat to convey the full support of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to cheer you on to victory. Nigerian history books
The delegation comprises the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite; the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, among others.
I thank the families of the Super Falcons team, coaches, friends, the Nigerian Community in Morocco, the Nigeria Football Supporters Club and the Nigerian Mission in Morocco for their steady support throughout this competition.
Nigerian history books
You will finish strong by the Grace of God. Go for the tenth! Bring the trophy home. Your fellow countrymen and women, young and old, are rooting for you.
I look forward to receiving the team, the trophy, and the officials in Abuja.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
July 26, 2025
Leave a comment