Mali president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has offered houses, laptop computers and scholarships to the country’s team that won the 2015 African under-17 Championship in Niger on Sunday.
Mali, a struggling nation, has offered to give house to the youngsters who excelled at the tournament for Africa's U17 countries that ended in Niger last week.
“My children in Niger you showed to the world that nothing is impossible for a Malian. With you everything seems possible,†Keita said while receiving the team at the presidential palace.
He later announced that each player will be offered a flat worth between $24 000 and $30 000 and a laptop computer.
The players who left school for the tournament will be given a special programme to cover the academic year while scholarships will be granted to all the lads to allow them to continue their studies, the president said.
Coached by Baye Bah, the junior Eagles defeated South Africa 2-0 in the final played in Niamey, Niger, on March 1 to offer the West African country their first continental title since their independence in 1960.
Some complaints have followed gifts given to Ghana's Black Stars for finishing second at the Africa Cup of Nations while Mali has given houses to its U17 stars.