The nation’s leading corporate supporter of football, Globacom, has lauded the national football team, Super Eagles, over their well-deserved victory against South Africa and qualification for the final of the 2023 African Cup of Nations.
The team defeated hard fighting Bafana Bafana by 4 goals to 2 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday in Bouake, Cote d’ Ivoire. The match had ended at 1-1 after extra time.
On Sunday the Nigeria team will meet hosts, Cote d’ Ivoire in Abidjan in the final. Cote d’ Ivoire had defeated Congo DR in the second semi-final encounter.
Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday said: “We congratulate the players and officials for qualifying for the final. They have made the country proud, and inspired hope in every young Nigerian. They have once again demonstrated the resilience and can-do-spirit that Nigerians are known for.”
The team, Globacom noted, possessed the requisite capacity and temperament to win the final match and urged them to give their best to humble Cote d’ Ivoire and bring the trophy home.
Globacom, under its Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr., has over the years been the greatest supporter of Nigerian football. The company has spent over N20 billion supporting Nigeria’s professional football league, the national teams and other sports initiatives though donations and official sponsorships.
In 2013, Dr. Adenuga rewarded the Nigerian national football team, Super Eagles, with $1 million for winning the 29th edition of African Cup of Nation’s held in South Africa.
His companies also supported the development of the game in the country with a N2 billion deal with NFF in 2011 for the sponsorship of the Nigerian national teams, and a N1.9 billion sponsorship agreement for the Nigerian Premier League for three years.