Jonathan welcomes Super Eagles, gives cash, plots of land, national honours •

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday night, welcomed the Super Eagles and their officials with warm embrace to the Aso Rock Villa, after their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory.

The obviously elated President Jonathan, while appreciating the outstanding performance of the Eagles, nineteen years after Nigeria won the cup, conferred on them, coaches and officials national honours.

He also gave them cash rewards, N10 million for the head coach, Stephen Keshi and five million naira each to the assistant coaches and the 23 players that partook in the championship.

At the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan, while announcing the rewards, said that all member of the team including the technical crew would be allocated a plot of land in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

President Jonathan also conferred on Stephen Keshi, the national honour of Commander of the order of Niger (CON), while the assistant coaches and the team captain, Joseph Yobo, were conferred with Officer of the Order of Niger (OON).

Other team members were conferred with Members of the Order of Niger, (MON).

President Jonathan also announced cash donations from other Nigerians, which include $1million from Glo Chairman, Mike Adenuga (Jnr) to the players and $200,000 to Stephen Keshi, likewise Aliko Dangote's five million naira donation to each of the players.

Other cash donations President Jonathan announced include $500,000 each from Jim Ovia, Emeka Ofor and Tony Elumelu.

"Not many people believe you could win. Inspite of the scepticism, there was no despair.

"Your victory is a good indication that there is victory for us as we work hard to transform Nigeria.

"We will continue to give sports its pride of place.

"The major lesson of your victory is that no matter the number of people who doubt you never doubt yourself," President Jonathan said.

He charged Keshi to ensure the team qualifies for 2014 world cup in Brazil, saying, "you have my full support."

"Qualification of the team for the 2014 world cup in Brazil is your next agenda and you must not fail," Jonathan said.

Meanwhile, FACTS on why Stephen Keshi resigned his appointment  as the Super Eagles coach hours after he guided the team to the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa on Sunday have emerged.

It was gathered that some stakeholders had no confidence in the ‘Big Boss’ and as such was already looking towards hiring a foreign coach which was part of the stakeholders’ agenda to nail the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

On the other hand too, Tribunesport reliably gathered that coach had not been enjoying a cordial relationship with some top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and had no absolute trust in them.

The source, very close to the NSC and the football house, disclosed that arrangement had been concluded with a foreign coach to take over from Keshi when they felt that he might not be able to stop Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-final of the 2013 AFCON. This, Tribunesport gathered, didn’t go well with the ‘Big Boss’ who was said to have felt slighted.