”Speaking at the occasion, Dr Adenuga said “we are indeed proud of the achievement of the Nigerian national team at the Africa Cup of Nations. I congratulate the chief coach, Stephen Keshi, the rest of the coaching crew, the players, the Nigeria Football Federation and the Federal Government for this important victory which has rekindled hope among our people.”
The Globacom chairman subsequently presented the cheque for N160 million, the equivalent of the sum of $1million he promised the team, to Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo.
Responding to Dr Adenuga’s gesture, Yobo said: “I want to thank you very much on behalf of the team. You made a pledge to us just on Monday morning and here we are on Tuesday night for the redemption of the pledge. We thank you for everything you’ve done for Nigerian football; we thank you for being the number one supporter of the Super Eagles. This financial support you have given to us will go a long way to motivate us.”
Speaking at the occasion, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, President of the NFF, thanked Dr Adenuga for the money and the cars.
He said: “On behalf of the Nigerian football family, I want to thank you most sincerely. This relationship between Globacom and Nigerian football will endure for a long time. You have been very supportive of Nigerian football over the years, sponsoring the league and the national teams.”
The elated Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, thanked Dr. Adenuga for his support for football across Africa, adding that Super Eagles have henceforth become Dr Adenuga ‘s children because of all the massive support he has given Nigerian football.
Keshi stated further: “When Abiola was alive, he was the one giving the national team massive support, Dr Adenuga has stepped into that role and we will not disappoint him.”
Marketing Consultant to the NFF and chairman of Pamodzi, Mike Itemuagbor, thanked the Globacom chairman for consistently supporting Nigerian football for the past 10 years. He said that Globacom had within the period spent over N9 billion in cash and kind to support the development of Nigerian football.
Meanwhile, Henry Nwosu, a former captain of the defunct Green Eagles has expressed excitement that Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles head coach reversed his decision to resign from the position.
Nwosu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by phone in Lagos that Keshi had a lot to offer and that it was not the right time to tender resignation.
“I am so excited and filled with joy that Keshi had a rethink. He still has a lot to offer and resignation should not come in now.
“His purported resignation came in as a shock to me and the country because we were all in joyful mood and were not expecting that at all,” Nwosu said.
He said that Keshi was a former player that had coached some African countries and has the experience to know what it entailed to coach his country.
“I believe strongly in him and his ability to revamp the Super Eagles because he was a former player and had also coached some other countries,” he said.
Keshi coached Togo from 2004 to 2006 and Mali from 2008 to 2010 before being hired for the Eagles.
“I hope by rescinding the decision, this will help to strengthen his relationship with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the good of football in the country.”
Nwosu said that Keshi had done his best and deserved to be respected for his achievements.
The Super Eagles will represent Africa at the FIFA Confederations Cup to be staged from June 15 to June 30 in Brazil.
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