Edo Queens’ N50m Reward: Celebration, But Is It Enough?

They did it again. For the second time in two seasons, Edo Queens are champions.

First, they conquered Nigeria to win the 2025/26 Nigeria Women’s Football League.

Then they crossed the border and conquered West Africa, lifting the 2026 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League title after a 2-2 draw and a 4-1 penalty shootout win over Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies.

But, is the 50 million naira encouraging enough to keep the team morals together for more of such competitive laurels in the feature?

On Tuesday September 11, 2026, Governor Monday Okpebholo hosted the victorious team at the Festival Hall, Government House in Benin City. And yes, there was a 50 million reward announced.

GOV. OKPEBHOLO CLIP: “For me, this cup matters to Edo people and it matters to the country. I must commend the players for their doggedness. I also want to thank the coaching crew and other officials. I want to reward the team with the sum of N 50 million.”

Fifty million naira. A big announcement. Cheers filled the hall.

The Chairman of the Edo Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, called it grit, unity, and an unshakeable belief.

Bendel Insurance Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, called the Queens warriors ready to conquer Africa.

The Governor also praised the goalkeeper’s composure during the shootout, and commended EBS for televising the match live so Nigerians could celebrate with the team.

But just hours after the celebration, a different conversation started around the festival hall while the event was still on, in the streets, in club houses, and among sports writers. Is N 50 million enough?

That’s the question many stakeholders are asking.

Let’s break it down. N50 million for the entire Edo Queens team and all that made it happen.

Considering what they have achieved, it is not good enough!

That includes the outfield players, the goalkeepers, the coaching crew, backroom staff, the management, SWAN, and others.

And what about the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Edo Chapter, and other media partners who took the story to every home?

Sources within the team say the mood is mixed. Yes, there is gratitude, but there is a question of why not give more?

The girls and officials are thanking Governor Okpebholo for recognizing their sacrifice.

After all, winning two major trophies in one season is no small feat.

But there is also concern. Concern that the amount, when shared or disbursed, may be too small to truly change lives or keep the team together.

Let’s do the mathematics.

First, Compare. Other states have rewarded their champions far higher.

When Bayelsa Queens won the NWFL, their governor announced N60 million just for the players alone.

When Rivers United won the NPFL, the rewards ran into hundreds of millions, plus houses and cars.

Even at the national level, the Super Falcons got hundreds of millions of dollars after winning WAFCON.

So the question being asked in Edo is: if our girls just won both the national league and a regional continental ticket, shouldn’t their reward reflect that standard?

This 50 million has been given to few individuals in the state who never achieved so much like the football teams in the state

Beyond the money, there’s a bigger worry: retention.

Right now, the morale of the entire team is high, but also fragile.

The transfer window is open.

Scouts from bigger clubs in Nigeria and abroad are already calling. If Edo State does not move fast to “tie down” these players with better welfare, bonuses, and contracts, we risk losing the same girls we just celebrated to other clubs.

Governor Okpebholo must do everything to keep this team intact.

Because if Edo Queens is scattered after winning WAFU-B, then the victory becomes bittersweet.

And this goes beyond football. It speaks to the Governor’s bigger promise: youth empowerment.

During his campaign, Governor Okpebholo told Edo youths that sports, skills, and opportunities would be at the center of his administration.

He even spoke of delivering 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Nigeria’s youthful population is set for its biggest electoral test yet, as fresh figures from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, show that young people account for 67.4 per cent of all new voters registered ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the latest data from the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise, 2,003,183 of the 2,970,957 new voters registered so far are aged 18 to 34.

This represents 67.43 per cent of the total.

The data also shows that 645,651 middle-aged people between 35 and 49 registered, representing 21.73 per cent. 294,444 elderly voters aged 50 to 69, making up 9.9 per cent, also registered. While 27,680 voters aged 70 and above, or 0.93 per cent, were captured.

The figures have heightened expectations that the country’s largest demographic group could significantly influence the outcome of the 16 January 2027 elections.

The development has renewed focus on whether Nigeria’s youth population can translate its numerical strength into meaningful political participation through voter registration, collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, issue-based campaigns and active involvement in the electoral process.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan said the commission had redesigned its voter education materials to engage young Nigerians on digital platforms. He urged them to participate actively, stressing that higher voter turnout remains critical to credible elections.

INEC also disclosed that about 90 per cent of its presiding officers for the 2027 general elections would be members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

This underscores the central role young Nigerians will play not only as voters, but also in conducting the elections.

Mr. Governor, your campaign for youth empowerment must reflect in how you treat these young women.

These are Edo youths who have put the state on the map.

They are role models for thousands of girls in Oredo, Egor, Ovia, and across the 18 LGAs who now believe that football can be a career.

Jarrett Tenebe said it well during the presentation: meaningful engagement of youths will solve 85 percent of security challenges.

If we invest properly in these Queens, we are investing in peace, in pride, and in the future.

To be clear, this is not to reject the N50 million reward. The team is grateful. Edo people are grateful.

But this is a call for more. More support. More investment. More structure. 50 million rewards is like a fair handshake offered by the Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is famously associated with the “presidential handshake” as a symbolic reward for victorious or performing athletes, a practice that often drew public and critical commentary for lacking substantial material or financial backing.

Sports figures and politicians often criticized the administration for offering handshakes instead of cash incentives or robust training grants.

Mr. Governor, please increase the reward to reflect the double triumph and to match what other states are doing.

Carry everyone along – the players, the coaching crew, the medical team, the kit managers, and yes, SWAN and the media who amplify the victory.

When sporting families are happy, it could be the magic for promoting your administration as one of the biggest achievments.

Since you appointed the Chairman of the sport commission, Amadin Enabulele, he lifted the face of your administration, adding up to 40% of the achievements outside the infrastructure you have embarked upon in real time.

In that commission, they have been so committed particularly winning the sport festival hosted sometime ago by the state.

These sacrifices should not be neglected.

Secure the players with improved contracts so they don’t leave for greener pastures.

Let youth empowerment be practical, not just speeches. Let the girls and everyone that contributed see it in their bank accounts, in their training facilities, and in their future to boost their morals.

Edo Queens and everyone that played a key role in the success recorded have done their part. They fought. They won. They brought the cup home.

Now it is the turn of the government to match that energy.

As Governor Okpebholo said, “this cup matters to Edo people.” Let the reward and the follow-up actions matter just as much.