CHAN 2014: Super Eagles get $100,000 offer to beat Morocco

 

Super Eagles campaigning in the ongoing African Nations Championship has received added boost to beat the Atlas Lions of Morocco on Saturday. Both teams are battling each other in the quarter-finals with sights set at the trophy.

The National Sports Commission on Thursday announced an incentive of $100,000 for the team in South Africa.

 The Nigerian team qualified for the quarterfinals after beating hosts South Africa 3-1 in their last group match on Sunday. Nigeria had lost their opening match by 2-1 to Mali but then defeated Mozambique 4-2 in the following game to start the run to the quarterfinals.

 The Minister of Sports Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi announced the package on Thursday “to motivate the Nigerian team to give their very best and to triumph over the Moroccans,” his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy Julius Ogunro said.

 The PUNCH learnt that the package was different from their regular match-win bonus and whatever other

plans the Nigeria Football Federation has for the players.

Abdullahi said, “This is a special fund meant to encourage the players to give their all. It is besides their normal allowance and bonus. I am very impressed with their performance so far. As we all can see, the team has been improving with each match, and it is our desire that they continue to do very well and reach the final.

“This incentive will hopefully further boost the morale of both the players and coaches and help the team to triumph over Morocco.”

The Minister in a separate interview told The PUNCH that the government had not taken a look at what the players could get should they win the competition.

“We are still a bit far from that stage now and so it becomes difficult discussing what they will get. We are going stage by stage and so let’s exercise patience and see what happens when the trophy is won or at least if they get to the final. It’s too early to talk about that,” the minister said.

The Eagles of the 2013 African Nations Cup also held in South Africa and won by Nigeria enjoyed fat match-win bonuses to excel but the NFF soon declared near bankruptcy after the competition.

The Confederation of African Football announced $3.2m prize money for the competition on Thursday. The detail from CAF shows that the winners will collect $750,000. The cash from CAF has also been adjudged as further boost for the players who are all playing in their various countries domestic leagues.