Posted by Oluwashina Okeleji on
African youth champions Nigeria were rewarded with cash gifts at a reception in the capital Abuja by President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday.
African youth champions Nigeria were rewarded with cash gifts at a reception in the capital Abuja by President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday.
The Flying Eagles won the African Youth Championship in Benin for a record fifth time last Saturday, beating Egypt in the final.
Each squad member and official will receive around US$7,000 for winning the tournament.
Yet while the officials will be paid in cash, the Flying Eagles will have their money invested in Nigeria's Stock Exchange.
"You promised you would win and you actually did that," said President Obasanjo.
"Nigerians are proud of you."
"I have directed the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Dr. Ndi Onyiuke-Okereke, to buy shares for the boys in the companies of their choice."
"This is essential to secure their future."
The recent cash gift to sports achievers is the third by the Obasanjo government since it came to office in 1999.
The reward follows previous gifts to members of the Super Falcons, who won the African Women's Championship in 2004, and African club champions Enyimba.
The Flying Eagles' success at African Youth Championship was their first since the competition became a full championship.
Before last Saturday's success, Nigeria had won previous editions of the competition in 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989.