Tobi Amusan won silver at the World Championships silver in Tokyo

Following her impressive silver medal win at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Nigerians have taken to social media to call on President Bola Tinubu to financially reward track star Tobi Amusan with a $100,000 gift, mirroring the gesture extended to the Super Falcons and D’Tigress.

The outcry gained momentum with a viral post stating: “Facts only! Tobi Amusan put Nigeria on the global stage. If footballers get dollars & honours, why can’t our track queen get the same? She carries the flag with speed, dignity & records. Pay her respect AND her worth.”

The sentiment reflects a growing demand for equitable recognition of athletes across all sports in Nigeria.

Tobi Amusan wins Silver in Tokyo

Amusan won a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing with a time of 12.29 seconds.

This silver medal follows her historic 2022 season where she broke the world record in the 100m hurdles semi-final with a blistering 12.12 seconds, going on to win gold in the final.

In 2023, she finished sixth in the final in Budapest amidst a provisional suspension that was later overturned, but her performance in Tokyo has once again solidified her status as one of the world’s best.

She also holds the Commonwealth and African titles in the event.

Super Falcons and D’Tigress set a precedent

The calls for Amusan to be rewarded with $100,000 are directly linked to recent precedents set by the Tinubu administration.

In August, President Tinubu showered the victorious Super Falcons and D’Tigress with a reward package that included $100,000 for each player.

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The Super Falcons were honored for their record-extending tenth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory in Rabat, Morocco.

Similarly, the D’Tigress were celebrated for their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, a historic achievement that cemented their dominance in African basketball.

The President’s gesture was widely praised as a move to recognise and motivate female athletes who have brought glory to the nation.

A call for parity

Nigerians are now arguing that Amusan’s individual accomplishments on a global stage, where she competes against the world’s best and has even held a world record, are on par with, if not greater than, the team victories of the Super Falcons and D’Tigress.

The debate highlights a critical issue in Nigerian sports: the perceived disparity in treatment and financial rewards between football and other sports. While footballers, both male and female, often receive lucrative bonuses and public acclaim, athletes in track and field, wrestling, and other individual sports frequently compete with minimal support.

As the clamour for recognition grows, all eyes are on the presidency to see if Tobi Amusan’s latest triumph will be met with the same level of appreciation and reward as her fellow female athletes in other sports.