AFCON 2013: Super Eagles Get Cash, National Awards

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday night conferred on members of the victorious Super Eagles national Honours for winning the African Cup of Nations, AFCON 2013, nineteen years after Nigeria attained that feat.

This was in addition to cash donations of ten million naira for the Head Coach, Stephen Keshi and five million naira each, to the assistant coaches and the twenty three players that took part in the AFCON 2013 championship.

In a well attended ceremony at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, the President also announced that each member of the team including the technical crew will be allocated a plot of land in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

President Jonathan conferred Coach Stephen Keshi with the honour of Commander of the order of Niger (CON) while the assistant coaches and captain of the team, Joseph Yobo were conferred with Officer of the Order of Niger (OON). Other members of the team were conferred with Members of the Order of Niger, (MON).

Donations from other Nigerians including $1million from Mike Adenuga (Jnr) to the players and $200,000 to Stephen Keshi while Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote donated five million naira to each of the players.

Other cash donations announced by President Jonathan include $500,000 each from Emeka Ofor, Jim Ovia and Tony Elumelu.

President Jonathan told members of the team that their victory in South Africa that, “Your victory is a good indication that there is victory for us as we work hard to transform Nigeria. We will continue to give sports its pride of place. The major lesson of your victory is that no matter the number of people who doubt you, never doubt yourself”.

For coach Stephen Keshi the president told him ” you have my full support” adding that the “qualification of the team for the 2014 world cup in Brasil is your next agenda and you must not fail"

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