On the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria’s Super Eagles were handed something many of them had quietly waited for; a tangible proof that the presidential promise had been honoured.
At a brief ceremony inside the team’s hotel in Fez, Morocco, on Monday, December 22, 2025, members of the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2023 silver-winning squad formally received their National Honours certificates, alongside title documents for houses in Abuja or Lagos and land allocations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The rewards were pledged by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following Nigeria’s dramatic run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where the Super Eagles finished runners-up after a hard-fought campaign that reignited national pride.
A Quiet Ceremony with the Super Eagles
The presentation was led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, and attended by senior figures from Nigeria’s sporting and political institutions.
This includes Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau and members of the National Assembly sports committees.
The gathering was modest by design, held within the team’s hotel just hours before competitive action resumed. But for the players, the moment carried weight far beyond paperwork.
For many, it represented something rare in Nigerian sports history, the fulfilment of a promise made in celebration, not forgotten with time.
For the Super Eagles, the presentation carried an emotional undercurrent that extended beyond recognition.
It was a quiet acknowledgement of months of sacrifice, pressure and expectation — of carrying the hopes of over 200 million Nigerians on Africa’s biggest football stage.
Several players were seen receiving their documents in camp, including Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, and Moses Simon, in scenes described by team officials as a morale boost at a crucial moment.
In a related gesture of support, players and officials were also presented with Bay Ice x NFF Custom Edition wristwatches as the team turns its attention fully to the tournament.
Honours Breakdown: MON, OON and MFR
Addressing the players, Dikko confirmed the breakdown of national honours awarded to the squad.
The majority of the players received the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in recognition of their service to the nation.
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Ahmed Musa and Victor Osimhen were awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), having previously been honoured with the MON.
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Former captain William Troost-Ekong was conferred with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) following his recognition as Player of the Tournament at AFCON 2023.
Troost-Ekong and Musa were not physically present in Morocco, having announced their international retirement on the eve of the tournament, but their honours were formally documented as part of the process.
Dikko confirmed that all housing allocations in Abuja or Lagos, as well as land grants in the FCT, had been fully processed, with official letters and title documents now issued.
He described the gesture as part of a broader commitment by President Tinubu to recognise excellence, sacrifice and national service in sport.
Beyond the Eagles: Super Falcons and D’Tigers Also Rewarded
The National Sports Commission also confirmed that similar reward packages approved for Nigeria’s Super Falcons and the men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, are at advanced stages of processing.
According to the NSC, national honours certificates and housing documents for those teams are ready for collection, while arrangements are being finalised by the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for the payment of cash awards valued at $100,000 per player, which will be credited directly to players’ accounts.
Focus Shifts Back to AFCON 2025 Football
Nigeria are drawn in Group C of AFCON 2025 alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.
The Super Eagles began their campaign against Tanzania on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 with a 2-1 in their AFCON opener.
Up next, they face Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda three days later.
The timing of the presentation felt deliberate.
