By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s U23 team also known as Olympic Eagles, have continued to receive cash promises from both government and individuals, should they beat their Tanzania counterparts during the second leg of AFCON qualifier.
Nigeria and Tanzania played out a 1-1 draw in Dare Salam one week ago in the first leg encounter.
However, either of the countries need a victory in their return encounter on Saturday October 29, 2022 scheduled for Lekan Salami stadium Ibadan, Oyo state Southwest Nigeria.
Ahead of the crucial tie, the Nigerian team has been receiving financial promises from stakeholders.
Among them, was Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa who assured of his readiness to dole out N500, 000 per goal for the team.
Then, Nigerian Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the Nigeria Football Federation changed the narratives by swelling the money pot of the Olympic Eagles with the sums of $55,000 and N10 million respectively.
Makinde, who hosted the Nigeria U23 boys to a dinner at the Government House, Agodi, handed over the sum of N10 million to the players and officials immediately, and pledged a further sum of $25,000 should the team earn the minimum win against Tanzania that will shoot them into the final round of the qualifiers against the winner of the fixture between Uganda and Guinea.
Just before him, Chairman of the NFF Task Foce on Youth Competitions, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi, had presented the team, through Head Coach Salisu Yusuf, $10,000, being 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 make a pledge of $25,000.
Heritage Times (HT) reports that countries that will eventually qualify after the qualification series will square up in the U23 African Cup of Nations tournament where best finishers will then make it to 2024 Olympic Games.
