Abuja, Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu has conferred national honours on each of the members of the national team, Super Eagles players.
Tinubu met with the Super Eagles on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa where he announced the national honour of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) to each of the players.
Alongside the honours, the president also gifted flats located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a piece of land to the players.
Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh including officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led the delegation to the state house.
The Super Eagles came second in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after being defeated in the final by the hosting team of Côte d’Ivoire.
President Tinubu on Monday had in a statement commended the team, the coach, the crew, and the entire management team for their hard work, assiduity, and sacrifice to come this far in the tournament, acknowledging the hurdles they consistently surpassed with steady improving performance as they pulled through to the finals.
The President had urged Nigerians to be of good cheer, emphasising that Nigeria won a great victory in the hearts of Africa and the world by grit, rigour, and determination in the field of play.
“Let this passing event not dispirit us, but bring us together to work harder. We are a great nation bound as one by the green-white-green banner of resilience, joy, hope, duty, and untiring love.
“To those cherished Nigerian youths expressing their gifts in communities, drawing lines in the sand as they play football in their humble rectangles of play, you can be our heroes tomorrow, do not relent in your pursuit. My administration is here to make dreams come true,” the President had said.
