Trophy Tour reaches Algeria

UEFA's successful UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour, presented by Heineken, continues its trip through Africa this week, with the biggest prize in European club football reaching its second destination – Algeria – for a two-day stay on Wednesday and Thursday. The first leg took place in Nigeria late last month.

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
The Hotel Sheraton club complex in the capital, Algiers, will host the festivities as fans get a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to see the trophy that is contested by Europe's finest teams and many of the world's top players. A press conference will take place on Wednesday, with the public getting their chance to see the trophy on Thursday (11.00–18.00 local time).

Unique experience
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. On the first leg of this spring's African tour, thousands of enthusiasts in Nigeria came to view the trophy. Now, Algeria's football fans are the latest in line for a unique experience, where they can get close to, and have their picture taken, with the famous silverware.

Ambassador Madjer
At each venue, the trophy is presented by a UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour Ambassador. In Algeria, a household name has been appointed – Rabah Madjer. The Algerian international attacker is famous for his wonderful back-heeled equaliser for FC Porto and assist for the winning goal in the 1987 European Champion Clubs' Cup final against FC Bayern München in Vienna. After going on to lift the UEFA Super Cup and score the decider in the European/South American Cup final in Japan, Madjer was named African Footballer of the Year in 1987.

Public day
The public day on Thursday will include photo opportunities, interviews and an autograph session with Madjer. Memorabilia will also be on display to give visitors a fascinating insight into the history of European club football's premier competition, including a 2007/08 UEFA Champions League ball signed by AC Milan star Kaká and match balls from the last three UEFA Champions League finals. Also on show will be, among other things, 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, and referees' cards signed by Italian Pierluigi Collina. Visitors can also see the Champions Gallery, a film showing the history of the UEFA Champions League and its forerunner, the European Champion Clubs' Cup.

Sharing the heritage
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 different continents, with visitors learning about UEFA's values and perhaps being 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.

This year's remaining African Trophy Tour dates
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