By Andrew Abah
The Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeyinka Adeboye, has conveyed the message of President Bola Tinubu to the technical crew and players of the Super Eagles B for picking one of the tickets for next year's African Nations Championship (CHAN) to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from February 1st to 28th, 2025.
Zulu, as the SSA is fondly called, said President Tinubu was happy with the players for their on-and-off-the-pitch performance and the grit and resilience they displayed in the course of the match which saw them triumphed after the blast of the final whistle by the Moroccan referee, Hamza El Fariq.
"I want to inform you, the players and the technical crew, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is happy with your performance on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo where you took your Ghanaian counterpart, the Black Galaxies, to the cleaners with your outstanding display and clinical finishes which saw Nigeria qualified for our first CHAN since 2018.
"Your qualification showed the true Nigerian spirit in you which Mr President is proud of. You have made the country proud and the Federal Government will do all within its power to make sure that you get all the necessary support for the tournament proper in February 2025. Kudos to the coaches and the players and all the backroom staff," the SSA said.
The home-based Super Eagles book their qualification to the Championship after a 3-1 aggregate scoreline against the visitors on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The Coach Daniel Ogunmodede side got the first goal in the 20th minute through Remo Stars’ wing back, Sodiq Ismail, while Nduka Junior doubled the lead in the 23rd minute before Isaac Saviour took the game beyond the reach of the Ghanaians with Nigeria's third goal in the 25th minute.
The Black Galaxies got their consolation goal in the 71st minute through Amakhona Stephen but it was too late as Nigeria picked the CHAN ticket.
In a related development, the National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has fulfilled a personal donation of ₦10 million to the team, following their emphatic 3-1 victory over Ghana’s Black Galaxies in Uyo, securing Nigeria's place at the 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN) scheduled for February 2025.
The pledge, made before the crucial encounter, was revealed by the NSC Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, who initially expressed his own intention to personally reward the team for a win.
However, in a remarkable display of leadership, Mallam Dikko interceded, insisting on taking up the gesture himself.
Hon. Olopade said “before the game, I made a personal pledge to reward the team if they emerged victorious. When I shared this with the NSC chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, he immediately applauded the idea but insisted that he would make the donation himself as a sign of solidarity and appreciation for the players’ efforts.”
“It was a heartfelt moment that truly shows his passion for Nigerian football and the athletes who represent our country. His generosity has further inspired the team, and we are incredibly grateful for his leadership, Hon. Olopade added.”
The Super Eagles B delivered a stellar performance in front of an electrified crowd at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. Sodiq Ismaila opened the scoring in the 18th minute, followed swiftly by goals from Nduka Junior and Saviour Isaac in the 21st and 25th minutes, respectively.
Despite Ghana’s consolation goal from Stephen Amenkona in the 71st minute, the Nigerian team dominated proceedings to claim a deserved victory.
The 2025 CHAN tournament, which exclusively features players competing in Africa , will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from February 1 to 28.