By NAN
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent solidarity message to Super Eagles ahead of their second-round match against Tunisia tonight.
Speaking with the team via video over their match scheduled for this Sunday against Tunisia tonight in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, Buhari specifically mentioned two players, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon and told the coach, Augustine Eguavoen to continue to make Nigerians proud.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, confirmed this development in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
In the video chat inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the president spoke with Coach Augustine Eguavoen, Captain Ahmed Musa, Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon, rtd Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin.
He told the team not only to win the second-round match but to eventually lift the trophy.
In the video chat inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the president spoke with Coach Augustine Eguavoen, Captain Ahmed Musa, Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon, rtd Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin.
He told the team not only to win the second-round match but to eventually lift the trophy.
Speaking via video conference from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the president spoke with Super Eagles. Photo/facebook/ MuhammaduBuhari
He said: ”You’ve been doing Nigeria proud. You’ve been winning. Please keep on winning. The Federal Government is supporting you, and I say thank you to all the technical crew and the players.
”Please keep doing the country proud.”
The president applauded the good work being done by the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, saying ”the country appreciates it.”
Speaking via video conference from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the president spoke with Super Eagles. Photo/facebook/ MuhammaduBuhari
Responding, Eguavoen said: “We are so excited that His Excellency, President Buhari, has come to speak with us this morning. On behalf of the players and the technical crew, I want to say thank you very much sir.
”The group stage has passed, and your speaking to us is a morale booster.
”Thank you for your support, Mr President, we also thank the Hon. Minister, and the NFF President.
”We are so privileged, and want to promise that you should just relax, we’ll come out victorious. We won’t let the nation down.”
On his part, the Nigerian ambassador said the over four million Nigerians living in Cameroon had been giving robust support to the Super Eagles since they arrived Garoua, Cameroon, on Jan. 5, and they will continue to do so.”
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