The Federal Government has fulfilled its commitment to reward members of the Super Eagles’ silver-medal squad at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for their housing and land grants formally presented in Fez, Morocco.
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The presentation was conducted on Monday through the National Sports Commission (NSC), almost two years after Nigeria’s runners-up finish at the 2023 AFCON and on the eve of the Super Eagles’ opening fixture at the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
Nigeria finished second at the 2023 AFCON, staged between January and February 2024, after a 2–1 defeat to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the final under then-head coach José Peseiro.
Upon the team’s return, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred national honours on the players and officials and announced housing and land grants in recognition of their achievement.
Speaking during a brief presentation ceremony at the team’s camp in Fez, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko said President Tinubu directed that the pledge be fully implemented before the commencement of the 2025 AFCON to further inspire the team.
“The President insisted that promises made to the players must be fulfilled before the next AFCON. This is a better approach than in the past, when similar pledges were honoured twenty years later,” Dikko said.
Dikko, alongside Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi, explained that the recipients were awarded national honours—either Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) or Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)—in line with existing honours held by some players.
They also confirmed that the housing and land allocations are now legally secured with valid Certificates of Occupancy.
The fulfilment of the pledge comes as the Super Eagles prepare for their Group C opener against Tanzania on Tuesday.
Under Franco-Malian coach Eric Chelle, Nigeria is targeting a fourth AFCON title, having previously won the competition in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
The three-time African champions will face Tunisia in their second group match on Saturday before rounding off the group stage against Uganda next Tuesday.
Nigeria enters the tournament seeking to restore continental pride following a disappointing campaign that saw the team miss out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after an unsuccessful qualifying run and African play-off series.
