Nigeria’s Super Eagles may have fallen short in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash against Morocco, but business mogul Abdul Samad Rabiu has promised that his support will not waver.
The BUA Group chairman announced that he will still donate $500,000 to the team, despite their 4-2 penalty shootout loss on Wednesday night in Rabat.
The match ended goalless after 120 minutes, with missed spot-kicks from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi sealing Nigeria’s exit.
Before the game, Rabiu had pledged to reward the Eagles with $500,000 if they defeated Morocco, plus an additional $50,000 for every goal scored.
Although the team failed to reach the final, he reaffirmed his commitment in a post on X, describing the donation as a “token of appreciation” and “in recognition of your hard work, dedication, and the joy you have brought to our nation.”
“You fought with your hearts, gave your all, and showed true courage and determination on the pitch,” Rabiu wrote. “Though it wasn’t meant to be this time, you have made every Nigerian proud. Sometimes, even our best efforts don’t bring the outcome we hope for, but the spirit, passion, and unity you displayed are what truly matter. You left everything on the field, and that is worthy of celebration.”
The Super Eagles will now turn their focus to Saturday’s third-place playoff against Egypt in Casablanca, where they will battle for bronze.
Rabiu’s gesture shows that morale and recognition is important in sports. But it has also show that financial rewards alone may not be enough to inspire the players to victory.
