Table of Contents
- A $1 million Aliko Dangote AFCON 2013 promise to Super Eagles remains unmet 13 years later
- Dangote has a $23.9 billion net worth in 2025 following the opening of Dangote Refinery, built for 11 years
- Nigerian billionaire banker Tony Elumelu also promised the Super Eagles $500,00, which he never paid
Despite a $23.9 billion net worth, Aliko Dangote AFCON 2013 promise to Super Eagles remains unmet.
Nigerians revived the issue as they ready for action in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Morocco.
This will be the Super Eagles’ 21st appearance in AFCON after topping their qualifying group. They scrambled for the top spot with Libya, Rwanda, and Benin.
Nigeria is a three-time AFCON winner. They won in 1980, 1994 and 2013, when Dangote made a huge promise that he is yet to fulfill.
Dangote AFCON 2013 Promise
A $1 million pledge for the Super Eagles forms the basis of Dangote AFCON 2013 promise. The team was under Stephen Keshi as its head coach at the time.
Retired Nigerian international Mikel Obi was the captain of the Nigerian squad. He led them to victory in their final match against Burkina Faso at FNB stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The match ended in a 1-0 win for Nigeria, marking a third AFCON victory for the Super Eagles. Sunday Mba scored for Nigeria in the 40th minute, and Burkina Faso failed to equalize in the second half of the match.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles. They won 2013 AFCON held in South Africa. Photo/cross Rivers Watch
Keshi praised the team, saying that it was a challenging tournament with a beautiful ending. He said that Nigeria were the underdog in 2013 AFCON, but they surprised everyone by making it to the finals.
Burkina Faso was a favourite to win the tournament, but Obi and his teammates proved everyone wrong once again.
Thirteen years later, Dangote AFCON 2013 promise to Super Eagles is still fresh. Many football fans argue that it’s a debt that he should honour.
“If you promise something, you must keep your word because that is a debt. He should do it now in honour of Stephen Keshi who coached the team and died in 2016 not having tasted a cent of Dangote’s $1 million gift to the team,” an X user stated.
Another one added that Dangote is a wealthy man who has the means to pay, but he is ignorant.
“What I read in his unmet promise is ignorance. He has invested millions of dollars since 2013 but $1 million is where he draws the line? Pure wealthy man ignorance.”
Aliko Dangote Net Worth 2025
Aliko Dangote pledged $1 million for the Super Eagles after winning AFCON 2013 is yet to honour his promise. Photo/The CEO Magazine
Aliko Dangote’s fortune in 2025 is $23.9 billion, making him the richest man in Africa. He runs the largest oil refinery in Africa, Dangote Refinery.
Further, he has massive investments in the manufacturing sector with interests in cement, sugar and tomato processing. The debut of his refinery pushed his net worth to $23.9 billion from $12 billion in 2023.
He started building Dangote Refinery in 2013. It took 11 years to build it, but it was worth the wait as it’s now the biggest oil and gas refinery in the continent.
Other Unfulfilled Promises for Super Eagles
Surprisingly, the $1 million Dangote AFCON 2013 promise isn’t the only empty pledge made to the Super Eagles. The Nigerian government may have set a bad example.
Following their 1994 AFCON win in Tunisia, the government promised to gift each team member a house. More than 30 years later, nothing has happened.
Additionally, Nigerian billionaire banker Tony Elumelu also promised the Super Eagles a cash reward of $500,000 after winning the 2013 AFCON.
To date, the Nigerian billionaire hasn’t honoured his pledge.
