29th July, 2013
Globacom, has congratulated the home-based Super Eagles for qualifying for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2014 finals billed for South Africa next January.
Nigeria qualified for the championship for the first time since it debuted in 2009, despite losing 2-0 to Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan on Saturday as the Eagles prevailed over the Elephants on 4-3 aggregate having won the first leg 4-1 in Kaduna on 6 July.
“The resilience of the Eagles and their coaching crew in the face of odds is worth commending after the sturdy effort by the Ivoriens to turn the tide,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.
“We expected the fight back by the Ivoriens and were not surprised by their attempt to snatch the ticket from Nigeria. It was, therefore, gratifying that the Eagles protected their lead to make history,” the Statement added.
The telecommunications company also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for ensuring adequate motivation for the Eagles, while thanking football-loving Nigerians for their steadfastness in supporting the team in the crucial encounter.
“We wish to state that a bigger challenge lies ahead in South Africa where we must repeat the AFCON 2013 success to firmly establish ourselves as the clear leader in African football,” the statement further said, stressing : “At this juncture, we cannot afford to rest on our oars.”
Globacom is the official telecommunications partner of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and the major sponsor of the Nigerian national teams.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Embassy in Ivory Coast has lauded Nigerians in the country for their massive support for Super Eagles during the CHAN qualifying match on Saturday.
Head of the Nigerian mission in Cote d’Ivoire, Akaninyene Bassey, who hosted the team after the match, expressed joy for the support.
Bassey said the supporters demonstrated the true spirit of unity and kept hopes alive for the team during the match.
“I am so happy, we all came out to support our team, we made them not to have reason to be intimidated, this is how it should be’’, he said.
The soccer fans commended the team for qualifying for the 2014 edition of the African Nations Championship in South Africa.
Bright Moses, President of the Association of Nigerian Youths in Cote d’Ivoire told NAN at the reception that team made the nation proud by qualifying for the tournament.
“We saw how the team rose to defend the game till the end of play; I admire the team’s sense of focus.
“I wish them well in the championship and pray that it enables them have more experience and at the end make them better players for the country’’, he said.
Mr Paul Eke, a staff member of the Nigerian Embassy, said the team had the potential of developing into one of the best on the continent.
“The result of the match is not a bad one, the team simply proved its superiority against the Ivorian side.
“I am sure that this team will do well on the continent given the right incentives and exposure’’, he said.