"We Won 5 WAFCON Titles, Got Nothing" - Ex-Super Falcons Captain Plead For National Recognition

"We Won 5 WAFCON Titles, Got Nothing" - Ex-Super Falcons Captain Plead For National Recognition 

By Niyi Busari 

Former Super Falcons captain Kikelomo Ajayi has made a heartfelt appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the Nigerian government to extend recognition and rewards to past players who laid the foundation for the team’s current success in women’s football, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In an interview from her base in the United States, Ajayi, a key figure in Nigeria's early dominance in African women's football, lamented that her generation of players received little to no support or compensation despite bringing glory to the nation.

“We won five consecutive titles for Nigeria, yet we were given nothing for our efforts,” she stated. “We were making the country proud, winning continental trophies, and qualifying for World Cups and the Olympics, but all we got were empty promises.”

Ajayi, a native of Ondo State and one of the most decorated female footballers from the region, captained the Super Falcons during several major tournaments, including the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Olympic Games. She led the team to multiple WAFCON titles and historic international appearances that helped place Nigeria on the global women’s football map.

Her appeal follows recent rewards from President Tinubu to the current generation of female athletes, including members of the Super Falcons and the national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, for their international achievements. Each player was awarded cash gifts and national honors, a gesture Ajayi says is both commendable and long overdue — but one that should also include past heroes.

“We are not bitter. We’re proud of the strides the current generation is making. But it’s painful that many of my teammates who gave everything for Nigeria now struggle to survive. Some are unemployed and rely on the goodwill of those of us in the diaspora,” she added.

Ajayi emphasized the importance of acknowledging past players not only as a matter of justice but also to inspire future generations and instill a sense of national pride.

“This is not just about money,” she explained. “We want our children to know that we truly served Nigeria and that the country remembers us. President Tinubu has shown he understands the value of sports. We believe he will also remember those who built the foundation.”