10th May, 2013
Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike has promised a $50,000 reward (about N8 million) to the Super Eagles if they qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria lead a qualifying group for Brazil 2014 that includes Malawi, Kenya and Namibia with five points from three matches.
Emenike, who is out of next month’s World Cup qualifiers in Kenya and Namibia due to injury to his knee, said he has been a Super Eagles fan long before he debuted for Nigeria in 2011 against Sierra Leone in Lagos.
“I promise the whole team $50,000 if they qualify for the World Cup in Brazil,” Emenike told MTNFootball.com
“Like I said before that we have team who can make this country proud, and I am doing this from the bottom of my heart just to motivate the team. I am not doing this to intimidate anybody but just to show my total support to the team because I grew up supporting the Super Eagles.”
He added: “I am really behind the team. I don’t want them to miss me because there are other players who can get them the goals.
“Before I decided to play for Nigeria, even before I dreamt of becoming a professional footballer, which I am today by God’s grace, I have been a passionate fan of the Super Eagles.
“I could remember when I used to watch the team way back at the 1994 Nations Cup and World Cup, and I am speaking today as a Super Eagles player, it is a great honour, so the team means a lot to me and that is why I deem it fit to support the team in my little way.
“I never knew I will play for Nigeria. This is a reward for what I have done in Europe and it is time I supported my country even more.”
The big striker is following the path set by the likes of his friend Samuel Eto’o, George Weah and Mohammed Kallon, who have personally financed their various national teams.
Emenike, who is recuperating from injury after a successful operation in Italy, will be 26 today, and he thanks God for keeping him and also expressed his gratitude to his parents for supporting his career choice.