President Bola Tinubu has shared a humorous and heartfelt anecdote about how the excitement of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final match captivated even the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the point of abandoning her cooking to support the Super Falcons.
Speaking during a special reception held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday to honour the victorious team, President Tinubu highlighted how emotionally invested Nigerians were in the match including the First Family.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to watch the match,” the President said, drawing laughter from the audience. “I didn’t want to have high blood pressure. But they turned on the TV. When it got to 2-0, I became restless and upset.”
The President then recounted a moment that sparked applause and amusement: “You almost made me angrier because your mother, the First Lady, was in the kitchen and nearly abandoned my dinner. She doesn’t normally watch football except when the girls are playing. At the final whistle, there was joy all over the country.”
Tinubu praised the Super Falcons for their remarkable comeback and the unity their performance inspired across Nigeria, calling the win “a victory of hope, courage, and national pride.”
“You gave us joy, not heartbreak,” he told the team. “You’ve inspired millions, especially young girls, who now believe that their dreams are valid and achievable.”
The Super Falcons clinched their 10th WAFCON title after a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco on Saturday, further cementing their legacy as Africa’s most successful women’s football team.
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