The management of oil and gas outfit, Aiteo Group, has pledged to hand the Super Eagles N10 million for each of the goals they scored recently against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun in a Cup qualifier.
The company said the donation would be applied towards the treatment of the team’s goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, who was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in July 2017.
This pledge is the second made by the energy giants prior to each of the games against Cameroun, the first being on September 1 when the group also pledged N10 million for every goal scored against the same opponents.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria scored four unreplied goals against Cameroun in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on that occasion, and the team’s subsequent one-all draw against the Lions in Yaounde resulted in a total pledge of N50 Million.
The company said the cheque would be presented to the team when they open camp in the prelude to their October 7 Cup qualifier against Zambia in Uyo
The recent outstanding performances of the Super Eagles have been attributed to the financial stability the team now enjoys. Many of the team’s key financial needs are being addressed by the N2.7 billion sponsorship deal between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Aiteo Group, which is ensuring that major outings of both the senior men and women national football teams will be extensively supported by the Aiteo Group for the next five years.
“Our ambition is to boost the performance of the Nigerian teams and return the country to the position of dominance in African football,” said Mr. Benedict Peters, Executive Vice Chairman of the Aiteo Group.
On the donation to the treatment of goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, Mr. Peters said, “We are happy with the progress the Super Eagles are making, and are looking forward to having Ikeme return to action for the national team soon. This is our way of showing support for the team and the goalkeeper in particular. As a company, we are interested in the things that integrate and unite Nigerians, and we know that football is at the core of our national pride and international diplomacy.”
