Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the Nigeria Football Federation have changed the narratives ahead of Nigeria’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations clash with Tanzania on Saturday.
The Governor and NFF contributed $55,000 and N10 million to the Olympic Eagles’ fund.
Makinde, who hosted the Nigeria U23 boys to dinner at Government House in Agodi, handed over N10 million to the players and officials on the spot and pledged a further $25,000 should the team earn the minimum win against Tanzania, which will send them into the final round of qualifiers against the winner of the Uganda-Guinea match.
Just before him, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi, Chairman of the NFF Task Force on Youth Competitions, had presented the team with $10,000, half of the amount he promised them for a win ahead of the first leg against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.
Balele also pledged the sum of $20,000 for the team, should they defeat Tanzania in Ibadan on Saturday, prompting Governor Makinde to also pledge $25,000.
Makinde said:
I am coming to the stadium with the cash.
So, it is not a go-and-come-back promise.
I will give you the money once you achieve victory.
As Makinde spoke, the team’s players, officials, and members of the Oyo State Executive Council, NFF Board Members and Management, and NFF congressmen present, applauded.
The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa; NFF Board Members Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi and Alhaji Babagana Kalli; Oyo State Sports Commissioner, Seun Fakorede; NFF Congressmen; Kabiyesi James Odeniran (Chairman, Oyo State Football Association); and NFF Management Staff were also present.
Earlier on Friday, Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa promised the Olympic Eagles N500,000 for every goal scored in Saturday’s cliffhanger at the Lekan Salami Stadium.