FG showers national honours, lands, houses on Super Eagles, officials
THE Federal Government, yeste rday, conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger ( MON) on all Super Eagles members in appreciation of their performance at the just concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations ( AFCON).
Earlier yesterday, the Federal Government, represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), Nyesom Wike, had also granted each member of the team a plot of land as well as a flat in a yet- to- be- announced location.
At yesterday’s reception held at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja, President Tinubu told members of the team: “I am ver y proud of you. This country is proud of you because you gave us great excitement. Your performance is a confirmation that we can achieve so much as a nation if we all come together and unite for positive purposes, despite our diversity.
“You worked very hard and navigated your way through to the final. You lifted our spirit; you made us proud, and you made us smile.”
The President then conferred National Awards of Member of the Order of the Niger ( MON) on all the players and their officials, as well as the president of NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, and the NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.
All the 25 players and their officials are now proud owners of a flat and a plot of land each in the Federal Capital
Territory. President Tinubu described defender and vice- captain, William Troost- Ekong, named Player of the Tournament, as a ‘ warrior’ and named Africa Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen as a ‘ Trojan horse’. He praised the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Nigeria Football Federation for their efforts in preparing the team for glory.
Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, described President Tinubu as the biggest sports- supporting president Nigeria has ever had, and lauded the NFF for ensuring that for the first time in a long time, Nigeria has returned from a major sporting competition without any crisis or complaints of any kind by the athletes.