NFF Promises Super Eagles $20,000 To Beat Mali...Plus All You Need To Know About Today's Match

Following Sunday's unbelievable win over the Elephants of Coted'Ivore, Nigeria meets the ordinary Eagles of Mali at the the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, in the on going AFCON 2013 tournament.

In a bid to motivate the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation has promised each of the players a sum of $20,000 if they defeat mali in the semi final match today 6th of February 2013.

The Eagles have raked in fortunes in this championship. They earned $5,000 for each of the two draws against Burkina Faso and Zambia and got $10,000 for beating Ethiopia to progress to the quarterfinal stage. The qualification also earned the team $30,000 each. If they move on to win the trophy, a sum of $25,000 awaits each of the players in a graduated bonus. The amount totals up to $75,000.
At a prevailing dollar rate of 158 naira, you do the maths...lol.
About the impending match...
The Nigeria-Mali clash on Wednesday will be their fifth clash in the African Nations Cup history and the eighth overall, with the statistics skewed in Nigeria’s favor who had won all but one.

The only time Mali ever beat Nigeria was the friendly match that the then Green Eagles had in Bamako in preparation for the 2nd All Africa Games. Nigeria won the reciprocal leg 3-0 at the opening ceremony of the National Stadium Lagos.

Ever since, all encounters, even twice in Bamako, have been in Nigeria’s favour.

Like Nigeria did on Sunday against Cote d’Ivoire, determination will be the main driving force for Mali when it meets Nigeria.

Last year, Mali finished third By reaching the semi-finals, its has already replicated last year’s form.

Ironically, Both teams have a common denominator in Stephen Keshi, the Nigerian coach who two editions ago led Mali to the 2010 competition.

Hopefully, we will continue our victory run today by 4:00pm.
GO #TEAMNIGERIA GO!!!