President Muhammadu Buhari hand the Senate President, Ahed Lawan, have congratulated the Super Eagles on defeating Banana Banana of South Africa in the quarter final match at the African Cup os nations.
Nigeria defeated South Africa 2-1 to advance to the semi-final.
In separate statements, both leaders lauded the Eagles and thanked them for their patriotic zeal.
The president lauded the Eagles in a congratulatory message to the team, issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Buhari said that the mission of having “the trophy in our hands for the fourth time is almost accomplished for the high-flying Eagles’’.
He urged the team and their handlers to remain focused and disciplined to scale the remaining two hurdles to glory.
The president affirmed that the crop of players in the team represented the resilient and indomitable Nigerian spirit, which must be reflected in other areas of national life.
He assured the players that Nigerians had been praying for them to get to the peak of the tournament, “knowing that the taste of victory is sweet.
“What they have achieved so far is pleasing to Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political inclination,’’ said Buhari.
in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammed Isa, Lawan said the victory of the eagles had reinforced the confidence of Nigerians in the team to win the trophy.
He said “Your victory this night has reinforced our confidence in you to win the trophy for Nigeria.
“Nigerians have never doubted your commitment and patriotism in making Nigeria proud in the field of soccer, and I urge you not to relent until you achieve total victory”.
He charged them to see their superlative performance since the commencement of the tournament beyond just scoring goals and winning matches, but their contribution in unifying all Nigerians irrespective of the divides.
” Football, particularly when it comes to our national team, has been our greatest unifier where the nation is put above all other primordial interests,” he said.
Lawan urged Nigerians not to relent in their support and prayers for the national team to emerge as winner of the tournament
