NFF Dedicates Victory To President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Nigeria Football Federation has dedicated the Super Eagles’ triumph over their Ethiopian counterparts in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Addis Ababa on Sunday to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, heaped praises on Nigeria’s leader on minutes after the referee’s final whistle, insisting that President Jonathan’s deep love and concern for the team had played a huge role in the victory.

“We really have to give honour unto whom it is due. Our President has been a wonderful man even from the days he was Vice President. He has always shown tremendous love for this team and indeed other National Teams, and this affection has played a critical role in the way our teams approach international games.

“President Jonathan’s appearance at the Super Eagles’ training session in Addis Ababa was a clincher. The boys knew at that moment that they had no choice but to win,” Maigari said.

African champions Nigeria turned what looked a difficult situation into victory on Sunday, with two goals from powerful marksman Emmanuel Emenike earning a 2-1 away win at the Addis Ababa Stadium and enabling the team to focus on the return leg in Calabar next month with immense confidence.

However, much must be credited to President Jonathan’s surprise appearance at the team’s only training session.

Nigeria’s leader shunned a late afternoon lunch after the African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital to see the Eagles perfect strategies for the big match, on his way to the airport to return to Abuja.

At the training ground, President Jonathan charged the players to give their best as they have always done, saying Nigerians at home and in the diaspora have confidence that the team would qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari hailed the President, saying his affection for the team has continued to provide extra motivation even during difficult matches. “The players always remember your love for them and the love of Nigerians for them, and that keeps them going even when the situation gets tough,” Maigari said.

Maigari also pointed to President’s gesture of approving a large contingent of members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club to travel to Addis Ababa as a strong factor in Nigeria’s win.

“You could see the impact that our supporters were able to make because of the large number. Their ceaseless dancing, singing and drumming matched the din of the Ethiopian fans, who probably had never seen another foreign team’s support counter their own performance so effectively.”

The entire delegation also travelled in comfort, flying from Abuja to Addis Ababa in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and returning in a Boeing 777-200, with the players quite relaxed in their business class
compartment.