The victorious Golden Eaglets may after all not be rewarded in cash gifts as their ‘seniors’ in the past with the reward package proposed by the sports ministry has been rejected by the country’s government and was described as “too outrageous”, sources at the Presidency have revealed.
The team retained the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, defeating Mali in the finals.
The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has sounded it loud and clear the country’s coffers are hugely depleted and as such it cannot afford unnecessary expenditure.
The Golden Eaglets received cash gifts as well as national honours when they clinched a record fourth World Cup two years ago in Abu Dhabi. But the team who retained this championship in November may not be that lucky.
“The proposal sent to the presidency on what should be given by government as reward to the Eaglets following their victory in Chile has been rejected. Government said it does not reflect the current economic realities,” a source simply informed.
It was earlier reported that the team would be feted by President Buhari on November 29 at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, but that did not come to pass.