The Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has charged the Home Eagles to win the African Nations Championship (CHAN) trophy for President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Nigerians face host nation Morocco in the final on Sunday in Casablanca.
Pinnick met with the players and commended them after their semi-final win over Sudan in Marrakech on Wednesday. But the big message was that they could not afford to go this far only to go down to the host country.
“On behalf of the NFF Executive Committee and the entire Nigerian football family, I praise you for your tremendous efforts in getting this far in the face of numerous challenges. You are great ambassadors of our dear nation,” Pinnick said in a press release from the NFF.
“However, the truth is that you have raised the expectations of the Government and people of Nigeria back home, and now you just have to do all that it will take to win the Cup. President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) has been following with keen interest your campaign here, and the only way to compensate him for his support and encouragement is to go back home with the CHAN trophy.”
Nigeria drew with Rwanda in their opening match in Tangier on 15th January, but have since achieved victories over 2014 champions Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Angola and Sudan to qualify for their first ever final inside the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on Sunday evening.
In 19 previous encounters between both countries at senior level, Morocco edge the record with eight wins, with Nigeria winning seven times and four matches drawn.
CompleteSports
