AFCON: What Buhari Told Super Eagles Ahead Of Tunisia Clash

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Super Eagles to continue their superb display against Tunisia on Sunday in the ongoing African Cup Of Nations (AFCON).

Naija News reports that Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, made this disclosure in a statement on Sunday.

Adesina said the Nigerian leader appealed to the team not to relent in their effort to win the Nations Cup during a chat with representatives of the team via video conference.

He said the President spoke with Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen, Captain Ahmed Musa, President of Nigerian Football Federation Amaju Pinnick, and Nigerian Ambassador to Cameroon, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin (retd).

Adesina stated that President praised the team for their performances during the group stage of the tournament, saying they have been making Nigerians proud.

He said Buhari mentioned two of the players, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon, by name, urging the Super Eagles to continue making Nigerians happy, not only by winning the second-round match but by eventually lifting the trophy.

He quoted Buhari as saying, “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.”

Responding, Coach Eguavoen appreciated the President for speaking with the team, saying that the team will do its best to win the Nations Cup.

He 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.”

Speaking on behalf of the players, Ahmed Musa, appreciated the President, noting that it is not easy to speak with the leader of a country, adding that they count themselves privileged.

“We will make Nigeria proud, now that we have the blessings of the father of the nation,” Musa said.

NFF President, Asaju Pinnick described the video conference as “a priceless privilege,” and thanked the President and the nation at large for their prayers and support.

He said under the current dispensation, Nigeria has won the Under 17 football tournament twice, “and we want to win the African Cup of Nations too.”