Trophy Tour under way in Nigeria

Fans in Nigeria will have the opportunity to get close to European club football's most prestigious prize this week, when the UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour of Africa, presented by Heineken, gets under way. Four African countries – Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, and South Africa – are hosting the tour over the coming weeks.

Lagos first leg
From Thursday to Saturday, Lagos – Nigeria's largest city – is the venue for the first leg of the tour, which has been to Asia and Latin America with such resounding success over the past two years. Last season's tour of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico gave more than 50,000 fans the chance to see the UEFA Champions League trophy up close. Now, African football fans will be invited to glimpse the trophy that many players from their continent are striving to win.

Babayaro ambassador
At each venue, the silverware is presented by a UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour Ambassador – and the ambassador appointed by UEFA for Nigeria is a renowned name who is well acquainted with Europe's élite club competition. Celestine Babayaro played in the UEFA Champions League for RSC Anderlecht and Chelsea FC, and helped Nigeria to a much-celebrated gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.

Trophy procession
The Trophy Tour leg in Nigeria starts on Thursday with a long procession of the trophy through the city of Lagos, followed by a press conference (media invitation only). Saturday will see the public able to view the trophy at the Expo Hall, Ocean View Club in Lagos, together with a host of memorabilia, films and other activities (10.00 to 21.00 local time).

Star memorabilia
The memorabilia will include a 2007/08 UEFA Champions League Starball signed by AC Milan star Kaká and match balls from the last three UEFA Champions League finals. Also on show will be a Cristiano Ronaldo-signed 2008/09 Manchester United FC shirt, an FC Barcelona jersey signed by their former star Ronaldinho, a boot signed by AS Roma striker Francesco Totti, match programmes and pennants, referees' cards signed by Italian Pierluigi Collina, and a host of other items to fascinate football enthusiasts.

Champions Gallery
Saturday's events will include photo moments, interviews and an autograph session with Babayaro. Visitors on Saturday will also be able to view the Champions Gallery, a unique movie showing the history of European club football's premier competition. UEFA feels that touring the trophy outside of Europe is an important part of sharing the excitement and heritage of the UEFA Champions League with fans on various continents. The fans also find out about UEFA's values and are perhaps encouraged to play football themselves. Heineken is a long-standing UEFA partner, and the tour gives them an ideal promotional platform, strengthening their relationship with the UEFA Champions League even further. In addition, unique opportunities are also given to TV rights' holders who help attract football-lovers to watch UEFA Champions League action.

This year's African Trophy Tour dates 
26-28 February: Lagos (Nigeria)
11-12 March: Algiers (Algeria)
26-28 March: Cairo (Egypt)
10-12 April: Cape Town (South Africa)
17-19 April: Johannesburg (South Africa)

Click here for more details about the Trophy Tour