In a heartening display of support amid disappointment, Nigerian billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu has announced he will honor his $500,000 pledge to the Super Eagles, despite the team’s semifinal exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the hands of hosts Morocco.
The Super Eagles’ campaign came to a dramatic end on January 14, 2026, in Rabat, where they faced Morocco in a tense semifinal that ended 0-0 after extra time.
Morocco advanced to the final with a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout, setting up a clash with Senegal.
The loss marked a bittersweet conclusion to Nigeria’s impressive run, which included a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Algeria just days earlier.
14 Jan. 2026
Rabiu, the chairman and founder of BUA Group one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates had initially made the pledge following that quarterfinal triumph on January 10, 2026.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he promised $500,000 to the players if they won the semifinal, plus an additional $50,000 for every goal scored in that match. He also committed to $1 million more, along with $100,000 per goal, should the team claim the AFCON title.
However, with the semifinal resulting in defeat, Rabiu chose to fulfill the base pledge anyway as a gesture of appreciation for the team’s efforts.
In his latest statement on X, dated January 14, 2026, he praised the Super Eagles for their “true courage and determination on the pitch,” noting that they had “made every Nigerian proud” despite the outcome.
“As a token of appreciation for your remarkable journey and effort, I am still going ahead to fulfill the pledge of $500,000 USD,” Rabiu wrote, emphasizing the players’ spirit, passion, and unity
The announcement has sparked a mix of reactions online. Some fans celebrated Rabiu’s generosity, with one user calling it “true leadership.
Others suggested redirecting the funds to social causes like poverty alleviation in Nigeria, highlighting ongoing debates about wealth distribution in the country. A few even humorously proposed excluding certain players from the payout based on their performance.
Rabiu, often dubbed “Africa’s Biggest Giver” and with a net worth estimated at $9.8 billion, is no stranger to philanthropy through his ASR Africa Initiative. This pledge aligns with his history of supporting national causes, including sports, which he sees as a way to uplift the nation’s spirit.
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