Billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has pledged to honour his promise of a $500,000 reward to the Nigerian national team despite the team’s failure to reach the final of the tournament.
Rabiu made the announcement in a message addressed to the players, praising their passion, commitment and spirited performance throughout the competition.
According to him, although the team did not make it to the final round, the players “played with heart and gave Nigerians hope,” which, he said, deserved recognition and encouragement.
“Even though you did not reach the final, I will fulfil the promise I made to reward you with $500,000 because of the way you played with heart and dedication,” Rabiu stated.
The business mogul added that the gesture was meant to motivate the players and show appreciation for their effort, resilience and patriotism while representing the country on the international stage.
Rabiu’s message has been widely welcomed by football fans and sports stakeholders, many of whom described the gesture as timely encouragement for the team and a demonstration of private sector support for sports development in Nigeria.
The Nigerian team had earlier exited the competition after a hard-fought campaign that drew praise from supporters despite falling short of reaching the final.
