The Nigerian senior national football team, Super Eagles, have been promised $20,000 per goal in the second leg of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Group B rivals Cameroon.
Nigerian businessman Aka Udofia made the promise on Sunday when he met the team before their take-off to the Cameroonian capital Yaounde, reported the News Agency of Nigeria.
“I watched the game against the Cameroonians here in Uyo on Friday and I am sure you have the ability to conquer them again in their own territory. I promise to reward you with 20,000 dollars for every goal scored in Yaounde,” the businessman from Akwa Ibom said.
This promise follows the one made ahead of the first leg on Friday by the Sports Minister Solomon Dalung who gave the team $55,000 and then the Akwa Ibom state governor Udoh Emmanuel who gave them $40,000 for the four goals scored. I watched the game against the Cameroonians here in Uyo on Friday and I am sure you have the ability to conquer them again in their own territory. I promise to reward you with 20,000 dollars for every goal scored in Yaounde.
The Nigerian football team has benefited several times from such generosity ahead of important matches.
During the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, a Japanese plastic surgeon offered the Nigerian Under-23 football team $200,000 dollars as bonus.
Katsuya Takasu met the team in Rio de Janeiro where he promised an extra $30,000 for each player if they win gold, $20,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.
He said the donation was to reward the team after hearing about their financial difficulties ahead of the Games.
Nigeria will play Cameroon on Monday in the hope of securing three points to advance in the search for a place at the World Cup in Russia.
The Super Eagles beat Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions at home on Friday by 4 goals to nil.
A win in Yaounde will make Nigeria the first African team to qualify to the 2018 World Cup if Zambia fails to win their match against Algeria on Tuesday.
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