As the Super Eagles prepare for the all-important semi-final game against the Atlas Lions of Morocco at the ongoing African Cup of Nations, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has challenged the Eric Chelle-led team to be more focused, saying Nigerians are already seeing the progress in the team.
The NFF chief said the boys are determined to come back with the trophy, knowing full well that they were at the finals of the last AFCON player in Cote d’Ivoire and narrowly lost to the host in what could have been Nigeria’s fourth continental glory.
He added that the boys have been motivated going forward, as all their bonuses from the group stage to the round of 16 have been settled, and the bonuses for the Algeria game have been handled by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Gusau said, “I know the boys are focused, and they will continue to make Nigeria proud. But the most important thing is that we are seeing progress in the team, match in, match out. Well, I feel highly excited and happy because, as you all know, football is the only instrument that brings the Germans together.
“And when you go back home now and ask about the report of what is going on, you hear that the country is entirely calm. Everybody is happy. So, we must thank God for this blessing because it’s a blessing from God. Now, we are heading to the finals. The next battle is coming up on Wednesday. In early 2024, we’re in Côte d’Ivoire, and we missed the trophy. But this time around, by the grace of God, I know they quite well understand that we are here for the trophy and by the grace of God, we will get it.
“Everybody has started to see the true Nigerian spirit in our game, especially the last three games that we played. And then I know the boys are more hungry to see that they win this trophy because it is going to be a very big thing of joy to them and their family, because the last time we won it is now about 13 years ago, which is really a long time.
“So far, so good, we are good with the players. Every kobo from the group stage to the round of 16 has been settled. We don’t have any issue with that. The CBN has started the process of making payments to each and every player.”
