Nasarawa Governor Splashes N45 Million On Women’s FA Cup Champions

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Friday approved a total cash package of N45 million for the Nasarawa Amazons following their dramatic penalty-shootout victory over Heartland Queens in the 2026 Women’s Federation Cup final, a reward that comes as the state faces mounting public scrutiny over recurrent expenditure cuts.

At a reception held at the Government House in Lafia, the governor broke down the incentive structure: N25 million designated for the playing squad, N15 million allocated to the technical and managerial staff, and an additional N5 million earmarked for the team’s supporters’ club in recognition of their mobilisation efforts throughout the campaign.

In a move that deviated from the standard flat-rate bonus system often seen in Nigerian football, the state executive also authorized individual dollar-denominated bonuses for standout performers. Hembafan Ayatsea, who clinched the Most Valuable Player award for the tournament, and her teammate Udoka Unachukwu, honored as the Best Goalkeeper, will each receive $1,000 personally from the governor’s coffers. The remaining 34 players on the roster are set to collect $500 apiece.

The Amazons clinched the coveted title in Asaba after a nail-biting finale that ended 1-1 in regulation time, before edging out their Owerri-based opponents 6-5 in the subsequent penalty shootout—a victory that secured the club’s first major silverware in four seasons.

While the governor lauded the team’s resilience and discipline as a unifying force for the state, the announcement has drawn mixed reactions from local civil society groups, who have questioned the timing of the lavish payout given the administration’s recent directive to slash allowances for civil servants and freeze capital project releases for the third quarter of the fiscal year.