AFCON 2019: Senate President, Lawan Charges Eagles To Go All Out For Bronze Medals

OGUNTAYO TEMITOPE AYOBAMI

Senate President Lawan (left) with NFF President and President of AFCON Amaju Pinnick in the Super Eagles’ dressing room at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday night.

 

Head of the Federal Government delegation to the 32^nd Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (President of the Senate of the Federal Republic) has given the Super Eagles a pat on the back for their outing against Algeria on Sunday, while charging them to go all out against Tunisia on Wednesday to win the bronze medals.

The Senate President was at the Eagles’ dressing room at the Cairo International Stadium after the 2-1 defeat by the Desert Foxes of Algeria, which sent the North Africans into Friday’s final and Nigeria into Wednesday’s third place game.

“The Government of Nigeria is proud of you and how far you have been able to go in this competition. You worked very hard and showed the desire to win, but this is football and these things happen.

“The third place match is there and you have to forget the result of this match and prepare very well to win the bronze medals.”

The delegation also included the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee and Nigeria’s Member of the International Olympic Committee, Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel; a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung; Senators Sani Musa, Bello Mandiya and Gabriel Suswam; Umar Saidu Gajo and; Ocheme Okopi.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, alongside his 2^nd Vice President, Shehu Dikko and General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi were on Monday at the Le Meridien Cairo Airport hotel camp of the Super Eagles to ginger the players ahead of Wednesday’s third place match against Tunisia.

A last-gasp goal by Riyad Mahrez took Algeria to their first AFCON Final in 29 years and meant the Eagles will have to battle for the bronze medals with Tunisia, who lost to Senegal also on Sunday.

“I must start by acknowledging that you gave your best out there against Algeria as you have done since the beginning of the competition. It is important that you put the loss behind you as the third place match is just two days away. The message from the NFF is simple: Let us not leave this championship empty –handed. This is the biggest and toughest AFCON ever and we must win on Wednesday to make Nigerians happy again.

“It is good for us to win laurel here that we can present to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) back home. The Government and the people of Nigeria have supported this campaign in a robust manner.”

Team captain Mikel John Obi promised that the team will fight hard against the Carthage Eagles on Wednesday in order to salvage something from the tournament.

“We are as disappointed with the result as our fans, but that is football. We really and truly appreciate the support of the Federal Government and also the NFF.

“We are determined to go into Wednesday’s game with renewed commitment and hunger so that we do not leave this competition empty –handed.”

An own goal by William Ekong saw the Desert Foxes in a 1-0 lead at half time. Forward Odion Ighalo made no mistake from the spot in the 72^nd minute after the Video Assistant Referee awarded Nigeria a penalty following a handball by Aissa Mandi. But Riyad Mahrez, whose cross Ekong inadvertently diverted into the net in the first half, powered home a fierce drive from a free kick at the edge of the box, with seconds left, to give Algeria a 2-1 win.

Nigeria and Tunisia will make it a date for the third place match on Wednesday at the Al Salam Stadium, one of the venues in Cairo. The match starts at 9pm Egypt time (8pm Nigeria time).

Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated leading Nigerian international journalist Colin Udoh after he was honoured by the world body of sports journalists, International Association of Sports Press (AIPS) in Cairo, Egypt on Saturday.

Udoh, also a member of the NFF Marketing, Sponsorship and TV Rights Committee, was honoured for having attended and reported at 10 Africa Cup of Nations championships and presented with a certificate.

The event at the Tulip Inn in Cairo was held to recognize journalists who had reported at 10 or more Africa Cup of Nations finals, and was attended by Egypt’s Minister of Sports, Ashraf Sobhi. There were 12 honourees in all, including South Africa’s Mark Gleeson and Senegal’s Babacar dit Khalifa, who have each attended 15 finals.

“The Nigeria Football Federation congratulates Mr. Udoh on his award and wish him many more active years in good health so that he can cover even more Africa Cup of Nations championships,” NFF’s Acting President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, said.

Udoh has covered the biennial flagship competition of the Confederation of African Football since the year 2000, bar the 2006 finals, making AFCON 2019 his 10^th expedition.

The event was held in collaboration with AIPS Africa (foremost Nigerian journalist and analyst Mitchel Obi is President, and also AIPS Vice President) and the Egyptian Sports Press Association.