Tinubu confers national honours on Super Eagles and offers them flats and land in Abuja

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has conferred the national award the Member of the Order of the Niger on members of the Super Eagles squad that just finished second at the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

On Sunday, Nigeria got piped 1-2 into the silver medal position by hosts Ivory Coast in the final of the tournament that took place in Abidjan. Despite beating the Elephants 1-0 in the group stages, the Eagles were unable to replicate their form in the final as they were second best in every aspect of the game.

In spite of the loss, the federal government has decided to reward the team for at least getting to the final and apart from the national awards, President Tinubu has also offered them flats in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and plots of land in Abuja. This package was announced earlier today when President Tinubu received the team at the presidential villa in Abuja.

They were accompanied by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials and led by the minister of sports development, Senator John Owan Enoh. All the delegation members, clad in green attire, had earlier been hosted to a welcome breakfast at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu's spokesman, 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. He acknowledged the rigours that they had to deal with before getting to the finals.

Mr Ngelale said: “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,."

President Tinubu also urged Nigerians to remain positive, emphasising that the Super Eagles had shown through their performance that the country remains a force to reckon with. Members of the team will now return to their clubs before returning in June for the World Cup qualifiers when the Eagles will take on South Africa at home.