Football players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria are being rewarded with cash, houses, and honors following the Africa Cup of Nations final. The winning squad from Ivory Coast will receive $82,000 and a villa worth a similar amount. President Alassane Ouattara praised the players for bringing happiness to the country. In Nigeria, each member of the squad has been awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger, one of the country’s highest honors. They will also receive an apartment and a piece of land near the capital, Abuja. South Africa, who finished in third place, will receive approximately $52,000 per player.

The cash, houses, and honors are in addition to the prize money awarded by the Africa Cup of Nations. The winners, Ivory Coast, will receive $7 million, while runners-up Nigeria will receive $4 million. The tournament enjoyed record-breaking viewership, with almost two billion people watching worldwide. Analysts hope that this increased global appreciation for African football will lead to more World Cup spots for African teams in the future. Currently, Africa has nine World Cup spots compared to Europe’s 13, despite having a similar number of FIFA-affiliated countries.

In the past, African national teams have faced issues with unpaid salaries and bonuses. The Cameroon team, who impressed in the 1990 World Cup, had to wait over 30 years to receive the houses they were promised. Last year, South African women’s footballers won a pay dispute after boycotting a match in protest. It is hoped that the rewards and recognition given to the players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria will set a positive precedent for future tournaments and ensure that players are properly compensated for their efforts.

Original news source: Afcon: Ivory Coast and Nigeria players get cash, villas and honours (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, ask them to summarize the main points of the article in a concise news summary. They should include the key details and events mentioned in the article. After a few minutes, have each group share their news summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the class form pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and share their opinions on the following questions:
1. Do you think it is fair to reward football players with cash, houses, and honors after a tournament? Why or why not?
2. Should more World Cup spots be given to African teams in the future? Why or why not?
After they have discussed their opinions, have each group present their opinions to the class and facilitate a class discussion.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a vocabulary word and ask them to draw a quick sketch that represents the word. The rest of the group must guess the word based on the sketch. After a few minutes, rotate the vocabulary words to a different group and continue the activity.

– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a keyword from the article. Explain that one person in the group must describe the keyword to their partner or group without using the keyword itself or any related words. The partner or group must guess the keyword based on the description. After a few minutes, rotate the keywords to a different group and continue the activity.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and list the pros and cons of rewarding football players with cash, houses, and honors after a tournament. After they have listed their pros and cons, have each group present their lists to the class and facilitate a class discussion.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What rewards are the football players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria receiving following the Africa Cup of Nations final?
2. How much money will the winning squad from Ivory Coast receive?
3. What honor are the Nigerian players receiving?
4. What will the South African players receive for finishing in third place?
5. How much prize money will the winners, Ivory Coast, receive?
6. How many people worldwide watched the Africa Cup of Nations tournament?
7. What do analysts hope will happen as a result of the increased global appreciation for African football?
8. What issues have African national teams faced in the past regarding payment?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Football players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria are being rewarded with cash, houses, and honors following the Africa Cup of Nations final. The winning squad from Ivory Coast will (1)______ $82,000 and a villa worth a (2)______ amount. President Alassane Ouattara (3)______ the players for bringing happiness to the country. In Nigeria, each (4)______ of the squad has been awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger, one of the country’s highest (5)______. They will also receive an apartment and a piece of land near the capital, (6)______. South Africa, who finished in third place, will receive approximately $52,000 per player.

The cash, houses, and honors are in addition to the (7)______ money awarded by the Africa Cup of Nations. The winners, Ivory Coast, will receive $7 million, while runners-up (8)______ will receive $4 million. The tournament enjoyed record-breaking viewership, with almost two billion people watching worldwide. Analysts hope that this increased global appreciation for African football will lead to more World Cup (9)______ for African (10)______ in the (11)______. Currently, Africa has nine World Cup spots compared to Europe’s 13, despite having a similar number of FIFA-affiliated countries.

In the past, African national teams have (12)______ issues with unpaid salaries and bonuses. The Cameroon team, who impressed in the 1990 (13)______ Cup, had to wait over 30 years to receive the houses they were promised. Last year, South African women’s footballers won a pay dispute after boycotting a match in protest. It is (14)______ that the rewards and recognition given to the (15)______ from Ivory Coast and Nigeria will set a positive precedent for future (16)______ and ensure that players are properly compensated for their efforts.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. How would you feel if you were a football player and received cash, a house, and honors as a reward for winning a tournament?
2. Do you think it is fair for football players to receive such large rewards for their performance? Why or why not?
3. What do you think about the idea of giving players cash, houses, and honors as rewards instead of just prize money?
4. How important do you think it is for athletes to be properly compensated for their efforts?
5. Do you think the rewards and recognition given to the players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria will encourage other African teams to perform better in future tournaments? Why or why not?
6. What is the significance of receiving an honor like the Member of the Order of the Niger?
7. How do you think the rewards given to the players will impact their lives and futures?
8. What do you think about the disparity in the number of World Cup spots given to African teams compared to European teams?
9. How would you feel if you were a football player and had to wait over 30 years to receive the promised rewards?
10. Do you think the increased global appreciation for African football will lead to more World Cup spots for African teams in the future? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the unpaid salaries and bonuses issue in African football can be resolved?
12. What other ways do you think football players can be rewarded for their efforts besides cash, houses, and honors?
13. Do you think the rewards and recognition given to the players will have a positive impact on the development of football in their respective countries? Why or why not?
14. How do you think the rewards given to the players will affect the perception of football in Africa?
15. What do you think about the idea of boycotting matches as a form of protest for unpaid salaries and bonuses?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. rewarded
2. honors
3. villa
4. appreciation
5. viewership
6. precedent
7. compensated
8. tournament
9. accolades
10. boycott
11. affiliated
12. dispute
13. recognition
14. bonuses
15. accolades

Meanings:
(A) Given payment or reward for services or work done
(B) Refuse to cooperate as a form of protest
(C) A series of contests between a number of competitors, competing for an overall prize
(D) An example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action
(E) Officially connected or associated with an organization
(F) Expressions of praise or admiration
(G) Special respect or admiration shown for outstanding achievements
(H) The action of acknowledging someone’s achievements or quality
(I) Expressions of praise or admiration
(J) A luxurious house, often in a pleasant setting
(K) Recognition of the value or quality of something
(L) A disagreement or argument about something important
(M) Extra payments given as a reward, typically to employees
(N) Given something as a prize or payment for an achievement
(O) The number of people watching a particular event or broadcast
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What rewards did the winning squad from Ivory Coast receive?
(a) $7 million and an apartment
(b) $52,000 per player and a piece of land
(c) Member of the Order of the Niger and a house
(d) $82,000 and a villa

2. What honor did the Nigerian squad receive?
(a) Member of the Order of the Niger
(b) Member of the Order of the Ivory Coast
(c) Member of the Order of Africa
(d) Member of the Order of the World

3. How much prize money did the winners, Ivory Coast, receive?
(a) $82,000
(b) $7 million
(c) $4 million
(d) $52,000 per player

4. How many World Cup spots does Africa currently have?
(a) 13
(b) 7
(c) 4
(d) 9

5. How many FIFA-affiliated countries does Africa have?
(a) More than Europe
(b) A similar number to Europe
(c) Less than Europe
(d) None of the above

6. What issue have African national teams faced in the past?
(a) Unpaid salaries and bonuses
(b) Lack of recognition
(c) Lack of viewership
(d) Lack of talent

7. How long did the Cameroon team have to wait to receive their promised houses?
(a) Over 20 years
(b) Over 10 years
(c) Over 30 years
(d) Over 5 years

8. What did South African women’s footballers win after boycotting a match?
(a) A house
(b) An award
(c) A pay dispute
(d) A trophy

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. President Alassane Ouattara praised the players for bringing happiness to the country.
2. The winning squad from Ivory Coast will receive $82,000 and a villa worth a similar amount.
3. Football players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria are not being rewarded with cash, houses, and honors following the Africa Cup of Nations final.
4. The Nigerian players will also receive an apartment and a piece of land near the capital, Abuja.
5. The tournament had a decrease in viewership, with only a few million people watching worldwide.
6. The cash, houses, and honors are not subtracted from the prize money awarded by the Africa Cup of Nations.
7. South Africa, who finished in third place, will not receive approximately $52,000 per player.
8. In Nigeria, each member of the squad has been awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger, one of the country’s highest honors.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What rewards are the football players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria receiving following the Africa Cup of Nations final?
2. How much prize money will the winning squad from Ivory Coast receive in addition to the cash, houses, and honors?
3. How many people watched the Africa Cup of Nations tournament worldwide?
4. What is the hope for African football teams in terms of World Cup spots in the future?
5. What issues have African national teams faced in the past regarding unpaid salaries and bonuses?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The football players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria are receiving cash, houses, and honors following the Africa Cup of Nations final.
2. The winning squad from Ivory Coast will receive $82,000.
3. The Nigerian players are receiving the Member of the Order of the Niger, one of the country’s highest honors.
4. The South African players will receive approximately $52,000 per player.
5. The winners, Ivory Coast, will receive $7 million in prize money.
6. Almost two billion people worldwide watched the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
7. Analysts hope that the increased global appreciation for African football will lead to more World Cup spots for African teams in the future.
8. African national teams have faced issues with unpaid salaries and bonuses in the past.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) receive
(2) similar
(3) praised
(4) member
(5) honors
(6) Abuja
(7) prize
(8) Nigeria
(9) spots
(10) teams
(11) future
(12) faced
(13) World
(14) hoped
(15) players
(16) tournaments
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. rewarded
Answer: (N) Given something as a prize or payment for an achievement

2. honors
Answer: (G) Special respect or admiration shown for outstanding achievements

3. villa
Answer: (J) A luxurious house, often in a pleasant setting

4. appreciation
Answer: (K) Recognition of the value or quality of something

5. viewership
Answer: (O) The number of people watching a particular event or broadcast

6. precedent
Answer: (D) An example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

7. compensated
Answer: (A) Given payment or reward for services or work done

8. tournament
Answer: (C) A series of contests between a number of competitors, competing for an overall prize

9. accolades
Answer: (F) Expressions of praise or admiration

10. boycott
Answer: (B) Refuse to cooperate as a form of protest

11. affiliated
Answer: (E) Officially connected or associated with an organization

12. dispute
Answer: (L) A disagreement or argument about something important

13. recognition
Answer: (H) The action of acknowledging someone’s achievements or quality

14. bonuses
Answer: (M) Extra payments given as a reward, typically to employees

15. accolades
Answer: (F) Expressions of praise or admiration
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What rewards did the winning squad from Ivory Coast receive?
Answer: (d) $82,000 and a villa

2. What honor did the Nigerian squad receive?
Answer: (a) Member of the Order of the Niger

3. How much prize money did the winners, Ivory Coast, receive?
Answer: (b) $7 million

4. How many World Cup spots does Africa currently have?
Answer: (d) 9

5. How many FIFA-affiliated countries does Africa have?
Answer: (b) A similar number to Europe

6. What issue have African national teams faced in the past?
Answer: (a) Unpaid salaries and bonuses

7. How long did the Cameroon team have to wait to receive their promised houses?
Answer: (c) Over 30 years

8. What did South African women’s footballers win after boycotting a match?
Answer: (c) A pay dispute
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. President Alassane Ouattara praised the players for bringing happiness to the country. (Answer: True)
2. The winning squad from Ivory Coast will receive $82,000 and a villa worth a similar amount. (Answer: True)
3. Football players from Ivory Coast and Nigeria are not being rewarded with cash, houses, and honors following the Africa Cup of Nations final. (Answer: False)
4. The Nigerian players will also receive an apartment and a piece of land near the capital, Abuja. (Answer: True)
5. The tournament had a decrease in viewership, with only a few million people watching worldwide. (Answer: False)
6. The cash, houses, and honors are not subtracted from the prize money awarded by the Africa Cup of Nations. (Answer: False)
7. South Africa, who finished in third place, will not receive approximately $52,000 per player. (Answer: False)
8. In Nigeria, each member of the squad has been awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger, one of the country’s highest honors. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧