As Nigeria's Super Eagles prepare for their AFCON 2025 campaign, a clarification has emerged regarding the national honours awarded to the players by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. While most of the squad received their Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) certificates on Monday, December 22, 2025, star striker Victor Osimhen was a notable exception.
Dikko Explains Osimhen and Musa's Different Honour
Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and an appointee of President Tinubu, provided the explanation during a ceremony at the Super Eagles' hotel in Fez, Morocco. Dikko stated that Victor Osimhen and recently retired captain Ahmed Musa did not receive the MON because they had already been conferred with a higher national honour.
The duo were instead awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), which ranks above the MON in Nigeria's honours system. The OON is the country's second-highest civilian award, given for significant contributions in fields like sports, arts, and academia.
Osimhen originally received his national award in May 2023 from the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, honouring his years of contribution to Nigerian football since his emergence as a U-17 player.
Troost-Ekong's MFR and Tinubu's Promised Rewards
In a related development, former team captain William Troost-Ekong was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). This recognition specifically honours his achievement of being named the Player of the Tournament at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
During the presentation in Morocco, Dikko also confirmed that the national honours, houses, and land allocations approved by President Tinubu have now been processed, with allocation letters issued to the players. This fulfills the promise made by the President before the team's departure for the AFCON tournament.
The NSC officially posted a statement on its X page on Monday night, December 22, reiterating the details: "NSC Chairman @ShehuDikko clarified that all players will receive MON except @Ahmedmusa718 Ahmed Musa and Victor Osimhen @victorosimhen9 that are awarded OON honours, on account of having MON earlier while William Troost-Ekong @WTroostEkong is awarded MFR for being named as player of the tournament."
Super Eagles Focus on AFCON 2025 Campaign
The honour ceremony comes as the Nigerian team gears up for its first match at AFCON 2025. Nigeria is scheduled to play Tanzania on Tuesday evening, December 23, at 6:30 PM. Subsequent group stage matches will see the Super Eagles face Tunisia and Uganda.
Victor Osimhen, speaking ahead of the tournament, described the 2025 AFCON as "an opportunity" for him and his teammates to achieve their "dream" of winning Africa's biggest football trophy. The Napoli striker was part of the Super Eagles squad that lost the 2023 final to Ivory Coast and has urged the team to focus on the challenges ahead.
In other AFCON-related news, Afrobeats superstar Davido performed at the tournament's official kick-off concert in Rabat, Morocco. The pre-tournament event at the Olm Souissi Fan Zone saw the 'Damiduro' crooner thrilling football fans with his hit songs in what has been described as an electric show.
