AFCON Super Eagles Nigeria - Nigeria's federal government on Tuesday announced a package of rewards, including national honours, cash gifts and plots of land in the nation's capital, Abuja, to the players and officials of the Super Eagles who won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who announced the package, said head coach Stephen Keshi would get 10 million naira (US$63,300), Assistant Coach Daniel Amokachi 5 million naira (US$31,663), each player 5 million naira (US$31,663) and other members of the technical crew 2 million naira each (US$12,665).
Keshi was also bestowed with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), the nation's fourth highest national honour; Assistant coach, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON); Captain Joseph Yobo (OON) and all the remaining players, Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
Also, all the players and technical crew each got a plot of land in Abuja, with the allocation papers presented to them.
President Jonathan announced and presented the rewards to the players at a special reception he held for the team and its officials in Abuja, a few hours after they returned home from South Africa.
He said the 'gallant Super Eagles' deserved the praise of a grateful nation, and described the team's victory as 'an inspiration to millions of Nigerians'.
The President said the next challenge for the team was to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and gave the assurance that the government would give the coach and players full support in that regard.
The Nigerian leader said the Super Eagles' victory marked the start of the renaissance of the country's sports, adding: 'We are more than determined to make sure the glory days return to our football.'
Nigeria won the trophy for the third time by beating Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final on Sunday.
Pana 13/02/2013