Federal Government plans grand reception for winning Team Nigeria’s athletes

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President Muhammadu Buhari has promised a grand reception for Team Nigeria’s athletes to the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, when they return to the country.

Nigeria recorded an unprecedented performance, winning 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze medals to end as the seventh best team at the competition and also achieve its best ever performance at the Games.

Speaking to the team ahead of their departure for Nigeria, yesterday, Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, said a grateful country is planning a grand reception for them, adding that President Buhari is waiting to fete them.

Dare praised the athletes for bringing glory to the country, saying: “I followed every moment of your competition. I was in Birmingham from the beginning till I had to leave for other official engagements. So many Nigerians followed you too. We are all so proud of what you achieved for Nigeria and yourselves.

“Mr. President is also very proud of you and has approved that a presidential reception be held to honour you for the historic feat at Birmingham 2022.

“We will immediately start to plan for the reception and once we have tightened things up, we will announce the date, invite you over from your different bases and you will have that privilege of meeting Mr. President.

“The gold medal haul is the highest at a single Commonwealth Games for Team Nigeria, representing its best performance ever,” he said.

Dare, who described this year’s performance as excellent, inspirational,