Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the reward structure given to the Super Falcons and their coaching staff, suggesting that the team’s technical officials deserve equal or greater recognition than the players.
Speaking during his sermon on Sunday, August 3, Pastor Adeboye commended President Tinubu for honouring the Super Falcons following their historic comeback victory at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. The President had awarded each player $100,000 and a three-bedroom house, while members of the technical team were promised $50,000 and the same housing benefit.
While acknowledging the generous gesture, Pastor Adeboye emphasized the often-overlooked role of coaches in securing victories on the pitch. Drawing from his own background in sports, the 83-year-old cleric argued that the players would not have achieved success without the strategic guidance of their coaches.
“I appreciate our President for rewarding our girls,” he said. “But I believe the coaches deserve more — or at least as much. No matter how good the players are, if the coaches don’t tell them how to win, they might not achieve anything.”
Pastor Adeboye stressed the importance of wisdom and leadership in achieving success, not just in sports but in life. “You need a coach to win,” he said. “Coaches have the knowledge and wisdom required to win. If you don’t know how to win, you will lose.”
He concluded by drawing a broader lesson from the Super Falcons’ triumph: “To be part of a winning team in life, you must know how to win. You need wisdom. Wisdom is better than strength.”
The Super Falcons’ victory has sparked national celebration, and Adeboye’s comments are likely to further conversations around fair recognition for all contributors to sporting success.