The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has redeemed houses allocated to the 22 members of the 1994 Super Eagles of Nigeria.
According to NAN, Buhari represented by the FCT Minister of State, Hajiya Ramatu Tijani, gave the order on Monday while commissioning 76 housing estates built in Lokoja, Kogi state.
Buhari expressed regrets that 28 years after the Eagles’ exploit in Tunisia, defeating the Zambian team to emerge champion, the promise of reward of houses to each team member had not yet been fulfilled.
“This occasion provided the opportunity to remember our heroes, the valiant Super Eagles to whom our country made a promise of providing housing for winning the 1994 African Cup of Nations.
“On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I feel proud and privileged to redeem the promise made to these patriotic Nigerians, even if belatedly.
“It’s better late than never, and I have approved allocation to redeem the outstanding allocation to 22 members of the Super Eagles in National Housing Estate located in their system of choice,” Buhari averred.
The president further ordered that the keys and title documents be handed over to the players at the commissioning of the houses in other team members’ states.
In retrospect, the Super Eagles had defeated Zambia 2-1 in a historic triumph at the 1994 nation’s cup final to bag their second title.
Nigeria ultimately won the 1994 edition of the Nations Cup hosted by Tunisia, with a set of players considered as the greatest team so far in the history of Nigerian football.
Emmanuel Amuneke had scored a brace to give the Super Eagles victory over the Chipolopolos.
Some of the 1994 team members included: Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Samson Siasia, Steven Keshi, Augustine Eguavoen, Emmanuel Amuneke, Rasheed Yekini, Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju, among others.
However painful time flies, it would be recalled that Rasheed Yekini, Uche Okafor, Thompson Oliha, Wilfred Agbonavbare, and Steven Keshi, who played for Nigeria in that epic tournament, had passed on.
NAN
