Sports Minister offers Super Eagles $100,000 for final ticket

The Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Sunday promised to give the Super Eagles 100,000 dollars if they secured a final ticket at the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

A statement issued by Julius Ogunro, the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, said the incentive was government’s way of motivating the players to give their best and triumph.

The statement quoted the minister as saying that the country would extend its dominance of African football if the boys qualified for the final and went ahead to win the trophy.

The minister, however, urged the team not to be carried away by its victory against Morocco but to focus on the ultimate prize, which is the CHAN trophy.


He said the team had shown passion, discipline and commitment, which were hallmarks of the Nigerian spirit.
“With the kind of overwhelming joy that followed the victory across our country, one cannot but feel that perhaps, these players are destined to win the trophy.

“They can be confident that a grateful nation will remember for a long time to come that they, with typical Nigerian grit and determination, have extended our dominance of African football.

“I have no doubt in my mind that, with the Almighty God on our side and with the same commitment and will to succeed, the home-based Super Eagles will continue to excel,” the minister said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Sports Commission (NSC), which Abdullahi heads as Chairman, had earlier offered the team an incentive of 100,000 dollars.

The money was for the team to beat Morocco and qualify for the semi-final, which they did in a dramatic manner on Saturday with a 4-3 victory after extra time.

The statement also quoted the minister as saying the team would get the money promised before their next match on Wednesday.