Cash, Land Awards, National Honours For Eagles

President,  Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has splashed cash, land and national awards on the players and officials of the Super Eagles for lifting the trophy at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations.

Jonathan, at a reception for the officials and players on Tuesday, announced a cash incentive of N10 million to the Head Coach of the team, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, and N5 million to other coaches and players.

The team’s technical officials are to receive N2 million cash award each.

In addition to the cash award, the players and officials are also to get a plot of land each in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

While Keshi was conferred with the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger,(CON) his assistants – Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorunmu – and team captain, Joseph Yobo, were awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).

Other players were conferred with the award of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

The players and officials were decorated with the national honours by Jonathan shorty after he announced the incentives.

The Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the occasion was another moment of national rebirth.

Abdullahi added: “This is indeed a breath of fresh air.

“Winning this trophy is only a milestone for us and not the destination.

“The Super Eagles demonstrated the Nigerian character of resilience.”

The Super Eagles defeated the Stallions of Burkina Faso by a lone goal in the final of the AFCON to lift the trophy.

They arrived to a tumultuous reception earlier on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Meanwhile, The Nigeria Football Federation said yesterday national coach Stephen Keshi has rescinded his resignation and negotiations continue between the two sides following the team’s win at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Keshi and the Super Eagles, who beat Burkina Faso 1-0 on Sunday to win the African Cup for the first time in 19 years, were due to return yesterday to celebrations and a presidential gala in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Keshi’s resignation, which he announced on a South African radio station on Monday night, was another major embarrassment for the country’s football regime, which has been surrounded by allegations of corruption and mismanagement for years.

The federation issued a statement yesterday, said to be on behalf of Keshi, stating that the coach had taken back his resignation letter. “While I have had cause to express my displeasure over some issues that happened in the course of our participation in the Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations] 2013, which my team won by the grace of God, especially concerning my relationship with the Nigerian Football Federation, I have since had the opportunity to discuss the various issues with all concerned,” the statement quoted Keshi as saying. “I am therefore pleased to say that I have reconsidered my position and have decided to continue with my job.”

The statement said Keshi thanked Nigeria’s Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi for “his swift and kind intervention”.

Keshi, who was known to be unhappy with the federation, had earlier told Metro FM that his initial decision to step down had stemmed from his anger over federation officials threatening to fire him just prior to Nigeria’s quarter-final against Ivory Coast.

L-R: Senate President, David Mark, Captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience, Vice President Namadi Sambo and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, during a reception in honour of the Super Eagles at the Presidential Villa ,Abuja, yesterday night.