Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has awarded the national football team honours, flats and plots of lands after the team reached the final of the African Cup of Nations, despite losing 2-1 to Ivory Coast.
Tinubu welcomed the returning team at the presidential villa in Abuja, granting each player in the national squad the Member of the Order of the Niger, one of the country’s highest honours.
The National Honours which were instituted in 1964, are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and friends of Nigeria each year and are credited to Nigerians who have rendered service to the benefit of the republic.
Tinubu said he was proud of the team despite their loss in Abidjan, commending their resilience – even if it was tough to stomach.
Nigeria got on the score-sheet first, as a header by William Troost Ekong broke the deadlock, with the Elephants mounting a spirited come-back that saw them overturn the deficit with goals from Frank Kessie and Sebastian Haller to lift the coveted trophy.
The Super Eagles’ last triumph in the tournament came back in 2013.
John Njuguna
