By Emeka Blast 
WAFCON: Tinubu Says He Skipped Final Due to High Blood Pressure
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confessed he initially skipped watching the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final due to fears of high blood pressure, as Nigeria’s Super Falcons staged a dramatic 3-2 comeback to defeat hosts Morocco on Saturday, July 26, at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Speaking at a vibrant reception for the team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, July 28, Tinubu shared, “Honestly, I didn’t want to watch the match. I didn’t want high blood pressure. But people came into my room and turned on my TV to that channel. When it was 2-0, I got very restless and very offended. But I was still there watching.”
The Super Falcons, trailing 2-0 at halftime, turned the tide with a penalty from captain Rasheedat Ajibade, a long-range strike by Michelle Alozie, and a decisive goal from Asisat Oshoala, clinching their 10th WAFCON title. Tinubu, visibly moved, praised the team’s “indomitable spirit of resilience, determination, and courage,” noting how their performance lifted the nation’s spirits. “When we scored 2-1, my spirit was lifted, and I believe that of the nation too,” he added, recounting how First Lady Oluremi Tinubu abandoned cooking his dinner to join the excitement, shouting, “We have won!”
The president honored all 24 players and the 11-member technical crew with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), awarded each a three-bedroom flat under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, and granted ₦153 million ($100,000) to each player and ₦76 million ($50,000) to each coach. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, led by Kwara’s AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, added ₦10 million per person, totaling ₦360 million. Tinubu lauded the team’s sportsmanship, particularly their hospital visit to South Africa’s injured player Gabriela Salgado, calling it a “simple act of compassion” reflecting African values.
Social media buzzed with reactions, with @NGSuper_Falcons tweeting, “Tinubu celebrates our 10th WAFCON title with honors and rewards!” while @MobilePunch noted, “President Tinubu’s BP almost spiked, but the Falcons delivered!” Captain Ajibade, named Player of the Tournament, dedicated the victory to Nigerian girls, saying, “This is for every dreamer out there.” First Lady Oluremi Tinubu predicted a World Cup win, stating, “I told Mr. President this morning you’re going to win the World Cup, and Ajibade seconded that!”
