Okowa Promises Super Eagles $25,000 Per Goal Scored Against South Africa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has promised the Super Eagles a cash reward of $25,000 (N9.13 million) for every goal scored in their game against South Africa on Saturday.

The governor made the promise during a surprise visit to the Super Eagles training session at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Tuesday.

While addressing the team the governor said, “I am pleased to have the Super Eagles here in Asaba. We hope you will make Asaba your home, and as a people, we will begin to follow your progress even more closely.

“We appreciate the giant strides Nigerian football is making and commend the leadership of the NFF for making Delta part of its success story.

“For every goal scored by the Super Eagles in Johannesburg on Saturday, we pledge a reward of $25,000.

“Please don’t put a limit to the number of goals you score on Saturday. Try and score as many as possible.”

Stand-in team captain Ahmed Musa responded on behalf of his teammates, saying “we thank Gov. Okowa, so much for the motivation to us to do well in Johannesburg on Saturday.

“We promise that we will return here on Sunday with a victory. We will also do all we can to give the people of Asaba and the generality of Delta and Nigerians a very good game against Uganda next Tuesday.”

News Agency of Nigeria,  NAN,  reports that Pinnick, while responding, said: “We appreciate Okowa for the tremendous support given to the Super Eagles and by extension, the NFF.

“The bill for next Tuesday’s international friendly against Uganda has been underwritten completely by the Delta Government.

“As Okowa said, this state will begin to play a more prominent role in the programmes of the NFF and the Super Eagles.

“I want to commend the Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, for assembling a young, professional and very efficient team for now and the future.

“We will continue to do all we can to make sure they do Nigeria proud,’’ he said.

“I thank the Delta Government for their hospitality and for making us feel so comfortable. I am so happy because the pitch is in a much better state than the last time I was here.

“The Super Eagles will continue to work hard to make all those who have played one role or the other in its progress happy that their investment in the team is not a waste.”