Captain of the Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa, has said that the unity speech by the chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema prior to the Nigeria-Cape Verde football match on Tuesday, September 7, gave renewed impetus to the team.
He attributed the 2-1 defeat of Cape Verde to Onyema’s inspirational and unity speech.
Recall that Onyema had, before the team departed for the island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, charged them to think about Nigeria’s unity stressing that football is one potent force that unites the country.
“You are not only going to play football match, you are going to carry the aspirations and the hope of a nation that is almost in distress. Football is a unifying factor in our country. That is why we decided to key in to associate with you at this period in time because we want to restore hope to our nation,” Onyema said.
Speaking yesterday on arrival at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Musa said the team was alarmed when it went one goal down but it put on the fighting spirit when it remembered the inspirational speech and finally won by 2-1.
Meanwhile, Onyema fulfilled his promise to the team by giving them N20 million for winning the match against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde.
The Eagles, who flew to and from Cape Verde in one of Air Peace’s Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, received the cheque on arrival at the airport
He congratulated the players on the second win in their World Cup qualifiers campaign and charged them to also emerge victorious in their subsequent games.
He expressed delight that the Eagles did not disappoint the nation, adding that “we believe in your capabilities and have faith in you.”
“I am happy that you fulfilled your promise to the nation, knowing that you carry the aspirations of Nigerians on your young shoulders.
When you were one-zero down, everybody was panicking. Everybody was praying. And you responded like lions and won the match. There were celebrations all over the country- north, south, east and west,” Onyema said.
He implored the team to keep up the winning streak and continue uniting Nigerians with their on-pitch exploits.
