NFF President Aminu Maigari
on Friday heaped praise on
the Executive Governor of
Rivers State, Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi, for his
tremendous support to the Super Eagles in their 2013
Africa Cup of Nations finals
campaign. After a somewhat lethargic and
anxious start to the
tournament, the Super Eagles
improved steadily and are now
on the verge of a third Cup of
Nations triumph as they clash with Burkina Faso's Etalons in
Sunday's Final at the National
Stadium in Soweto. Maigari said: "We are very
appreciative of the huge support
of Governor Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi (CON) and indeed, other
sports-loving State Chief
Executives in Nigeria who have given support one way or the
other. "Governor Amaechi has
particularly shown keen interest
in the campaign of the team at
this tournament. We commend
him." Governor Amaechi, who is also
Chairman of the Governors'
Forum of Nigeria, was at the
Super Eagles' Ingwenyama
Conference and Sport Resort in
Nelspruit to gear the team up ahead of their important Group
C clash with Zambia on January
25. He gave the team $100,000. CLICK HERE for more on the
2013 Afcon Maigari also showered praises on
the Executive Governor of Cross
River State, Senator Liyel Imoke,
CON, for his tremendous
assistance to the team and the
NFF during the qualifying campaign. "Governor Imoke is a wonderful
person. He hosted the team's
home matches in the qualifying
series and the players and
coaches have not stopped
talking about the hospitality they experienced in Calabar." Maigari said on Friday afternoon
that the team and NFF
leadership are awaiting the
arrival of President Goodluck
Jonathan, GCFR, in Johannesburg
for Sunday's Final. Already, Honourable Minister/
Chairman, National Sports
Commission, Mallam Bolaji
Abdullahi and a number of
directors in the Commission,
including the Director of Federations and Elite Athletes
Department, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba
are on ground in Johannesburg. Officials insist that the players
woke up at their Garden Court
Hotel in Johannesburg on Friday
confident that skipper Joseph
Yobo will lift the Africa Cup of
Nations trophy on Sunday. Burkina Faso are looking up to
the Confederation of African
Football to overturn the
suspension of striker Jonathan
Pitroipa, so he can play on
Sunday. There is a precedent. In 1986,
the Egyptian FA appealed the
suspension of talisman Taher
Abou Zeid and the striker was
cleared by CAF to play the final
match, which host Egypt won on penalties against Cameroon in
Cairo. Pitroipa was expelled in
Wednesday's semi final against
Ghana in Nelspruit.