By Olalekan Adetayo
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday
announced a gift of N1m each for the 23 Super Eagles players that came
third in the just-concluded African Nations Championship held in South
Africa.
Jonathan made the announcement during a
presidential reception held in honour of the players at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
The President also announced a gift of
N1.5m for the Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, and N1m each for the three
assistant coaches — Daniel Amokachi, Ike Shorounmu and Valere Houndinou.
The team Secretary, the team doctor,
physiotherapist, technical coordinator, the curator, psychologist, and
the media officer, got N.5m each.
Jonathan said ordinarily Nigerians would
expect that the nation should only celebrate when the team wins gold
but he decided to host the players because they displayed an uncommon
degree of resilience and discipline throughout the competition.
He said although the players did not win the tournament, they made the nation proud and won the hearts of Nigerians.
The President made a specific reference to the team’s match against Morocco during which they came from three goals down to win.
He said, “The match showed that although
we did not win the gold, we won the hearts of Nigerians. I am delighted
to receive the Super Eagles who did the nation proud.
“I am particularly proud of this team for displaying an uncommon degree of resilience and discipline throughout the tournament.
“I keenly followed your performance; you
displayed a never-say-die spirit. You may not have won, but you
performed gallantly and made Nigerians proud. Efforts being put in
sports by government are yielding results, although more need to be
done. You brought glory and honour to Nigeria and it is appreciated.”
Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, in
his opening remarks, said this period was the greatest moment for
sports in the history of the nation, saying Jonathan would be remembered
as the best President ever.
Abdullahi recalled that he was reluctant
to brief the Federal Executive Council about the team’s performance in
South Africa because he felt the President is now used to winning gold
and bronze was not enough for him.
He said the President however encouraged him to brief the council. This, he said, was a rare display of sportsmanship.
The reception was attended by
Vice-President Namadi Sambo, state governors, members of the National
Assembly and members of the Federal Executive Council among others.
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