The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Super Eagles’ quarter-final victory at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was in tandem with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘renewed hope agenda.’
Ibrahim Gusau, NFF president, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abidjan on Saturday.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles are through to the semi-finals of the AFCON after a hard-fought 1-0 win over giant-killers Angola in Abidjan on Friday.
This was after a lovely assist by Moses Simon, slipping in a lovely pass for Ademola Lookman, who slotted calmly beyond goalkeeper Guilherme da Costa to score the only goal for Nigeria in the 41st minute.
Gusau expressed gratitude to the President Tinubu for his support to the Super Eagles.
He noted that the president’s unflinching support for the team showed how committed he was in the area of sports development, especially football.
“You heard what he said. He said, ‘Boys go there, believe in me.
‘You don’t have any problem and whatever issues you are facing, just believe in me. Go and do the job and you’ll see the result.’
“That’s exactly what he told them, and you can see them doing the job.
“By the grace of God, I know he is going to reward them handsomely, which has never happened before in the history of Nigeria.
“We promised him that we are going to give him the trophy, and by the grace of God, we are going to do just that,” he said.
The NFF boss called on all Nigerians to continue to suport the team.
“We have just two matches to go and by the grace of God we will continue to do what we are doing.
“We call on all Nigerians to pray for us because prayer is the key to whatever we are doing.
“So, we call on all Nigerians to continue to support us with prayers and by the grace of God,” he said.
Aisha Falode, NFF Executive Board Member, said the NFF was working in compliance with the mandate of President Tinubu, who instructed them to go and win the cup for Nigeria.
“We got that mandate, ‘go win the cup for Nigeria,’ and we are on the way to doing that.
“It is a mantra of a renewed hope.
“A renewed Super Eagles for a renewed Nigeria with one mandate; to bring the 2023 AFCON trophy back to Nigeria for Nigerians to celebrate.
“That’s what we are going to do. We are on our way to the final. We love Nigeria,” she said.
NAN reports that Nigeria will face the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final between Cape Verde and South Africa for a place in the final.
The tournament which began on Jan. 13 in Cote d’Ivoire will end on Feb. 11. (NAN)
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