AFCON: We appreciate your efforts, FG tells Super Eagles

The federal government has told the Super Eagles that their efforts in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are appreciated.

The Super Eagles lost the AFCON final to the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the Olympic Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, on Sunday.

Nigeria took the lead in the match after William Troost-Ekong scored a powerful header in the first half, but Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller scored in the second half for the Ivorians.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, in a statement, congratulated the players and officials of the Super Eagles for reaching the final.

He said the Super Eagles went to Côte d’Ivoire, flew the nation’s flag high and fought their way to the last game of the tournament.

“Even though we all hoped for a win, and our first AFCON trophy in a decade, it didn’t quite happen that way,” Idris said.

“We believed in you all the way to this stage, and we continue to believe in you. We know that the best is yet to come. We will try again.

“President Bola Tinubu and over 200 million of us, your countrymen and women, appreciate your efforts.

“That we got to the final for the first time since 2013 proves that nothing shall be impossible for Nigeria, when we are united as one nation behind one purpose under God.”