Former Super Eagles winger Emmanuel Amuneke has appealed to the Federal Government to accelerate the handover of houses to the remaining members of Nigeria’s iconic 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning football squad. Amuneke, who confirmed that he had received his own allocation, emphasized the importance of honoring the commitment made to his teammates.
“You mean the 1994 houses? I have received mine long ago,” Amuneke stated. “They should hand over to the others now. Let them do it.”
Okay.ng reports that the Federal Government has been gradually fulfilling its three-decade-old pledge to the victorious Super Eagles squad, who brought glory to the nation by winning the AFCON title in Tunisia.
Recently, a house allocation letter for a property in Abuja was presented to former striker Efan Ekoku. The ceremony was attended by his niece, Lisa Jenifer Nwagbogun, who received the letter on his behalf. The Director and Head of Department, Public Building and Housing Development, Pemi Temitope, handed over the letter, representing the Minister of Housing and Urban Development. Temitope described the gesture as part of the government’s ongoing effort to reward the patriotic service of the 1994 team.
Expressing her appreciation, Nwagbogun said, “I am deeply grateful to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Housing for fulfilling this long-standing pledge to my uncle. It is truly heartening to witness such commitment to integrity and follow-through. This gesture not only honours Mr. Efan Ekoku’s service but also restores faith in the value of public promises being kept.”
The housing allocations stem from a promise made to the squad after their historic AFCON victory, which marked Nigeria’s second continental football title. In 2022, then-President Muhammadu Buhari approved the implementation of the housing pledge, nearly three decades after it was made.
Members of the 1994 squad are receiving houses in various states, with some, like Ekoku, being allocated homes in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The 1994 Super Eagles team, which included stars such as Amuneke and Ekoku, achieved legendary status by defeating Zambia 2-1 in the final, cementing their place in Nigerian football history.