Izuchukwu Okosi
The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday evening fulfilled its pledge of allocating houses to the victorious Super Eagles team that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn 1994, the Super Eagles also made their maiden appearance at the FIFA senior World Cup finals in the United States of America after emerging African Champions a few months earlier in Tunisia.
Following the AFCON title, then Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha made the pledge but most of the players were yet to receive the lands as promised.
Relief came to the players and their families on Friday, 28 years later when the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, handed over the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of three bedrooms Federal Government houses to each team member in Abuja.
The players presented with certificates are Peter Rufai, Austine Eguaveon, Isaac Semitoje, Victor Ikpeba, Sunday Oliseh represented by his brother Albert Oliseh, and Uche Okafor represented by his daughter Tochukwu.
Fashola said it was an opportunity to remember the country’s heroes, the valiant Eagles to whom the country made a promise of providing houses for winning the 1994 AFCON.
Former Super Eagles, Ajax and Real Betis winger Finidi George was conspicuously absent at the presentation. Finidi was a key member of that all conquering side.
Fashola however assured that Finidi who is the current Enyimba FC coach who was erroneously excluded in the initial list will get his own house.
“And indeed, we found out that the name of Finidi George was not included and we told Mr President and I’m sure that he will provide remedy for that,” Fashola assured.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
