AFCON
New Lease Of Life And Energy To Score Goals Restored As Life Beer, Zagg Energy Malt, And Goldberg Galvanise Super Eagles To Glory Path –
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is another match day and another opportunity to renew the support for Nigeria’s lead sports brand, the Super Eagles. They are already at cusp of another continental honour as they engage the Palancas Negras of Angola in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
“Yes, we want the Super Eagles to go all out on Friday against Angola, that is why we are galvanizing all the support for the team,” said Head of Marketing Communications, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sandra Amachree.
From an initial state of despondency, life has returned to the dreams of Nigerians whose team, the Super Eagles are at the brink of winning their fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Cote d’Ivoire.
Barely a month ago, hopes were sagging. Not thanks to a run of winless matches. Even their most ardent fans had lost hope.
What a turnaround it has been! The team is just three matches away from becoming African champions again.
They had survived the spate of upsets that had swept away teams that were even higher rated in FIFA’s latest ranking.
Great thanks to their most ardent corporate backers, the Nigeria Breweries Plc whose supporting brands – Goldberg Lager Beer, Life Continental Beer, and Zagg Energy Malt Drink have combined as worthy partners of the Super Eagles.
Over a thousand viewing outlets in bars across Nigeria to galvanize support for Super Eagles
Now the team can be home away from home as the three official partner brands supported the members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club to Cote d’Ivoire to sheer the Super Eagles.
Even while playing against the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire in their second group match, the chants, the drumming, and the singing of the Nigeria Breweries sponsored cheerleaders drowned that of the hosts.
On Thursday, the eve of the quarter-finals, the Nigerian Breweries powered Nigerian Football Supporters’ Club in Abidjan as well as football icon, Segun Odegbami went round the streets of Abidjan for mobilisation and sensitization of Nigerians in that country to raise the support base for the Super Eagles.
“That’s just one of the direct supports we have given the Super Eagles,” remarked Sandra Amachree, the Head of Marketing Communications at Nigerian Breweries Plc.
There are more activations by the Nigerian Breweries who have been partnering with the Nigeria Football Federation and all the Nigerian football teams since February 2018.
The support has not been limited to just the theatre of action in Cote d’Ivoire. The spirits of the Super Eagles followers have been lifted by the Nigerian Breweries through the Life Continental Beer and Goldberg.
In lending a lease of life, Life Continental Beer unveiled a campaign – Jee‘ Turo Ugo – a clarion call that conveys the message ‘Go For Glory’ for not just the Super Eagles but most of their fans, especially those in Southeast Nigeria where the Life Continental Beer is the first choice for connoisseurs.
Apart from the direct support to the Super Eagles through the partnership with the NFF as well as to the supporters in Cote d’Ivoire through the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Life Continental Beer, like Goldberg also galvanize local support by getting fans engaged and rewarding their support through activation at several bars across the country. In all, there are 1,200 outlets.
The branding is shared among the three products of the Nigerian Breweries while consideration was also placed on the regions where brands are most popular.
Chima Dim, the Senior Brand Manager, Life Continental illustrated this when he remarked that the theme: Jee‘ Turo Ugo was chosen for Life Continental Beer because of the brand’s popularity in South East. “It is our way of mustering support for the Super Eagles through the clarion call of ‘Go for Glory”, Chima Dim asserted.
As the excitement reaches the quarter-final stage with Nigeria meeting old foes, in Angola this Friday, the clarion call will even be louder.
“Goldberg is ready to amplify the cheers, fuel the passion, and witness history in the making”, remarked Senior Brand Manager Goldberg, Kunle Aroyehun whose brand is very popular in South West Nigeria.
Goldberg will not relent on its support. We will propel the Super Eagles to win their fourth title”, said Aroyehun.
Amachree added that the excitement around the AFCON tournament is increasing as the Super Eagles are progressing.
After Friday’s match, the team is expected to get to the final stages as 20 other initial participants would have fallen out.
With the increased chances of yet another podium finish for the Super Eagles, the trio of Goldberg, Life Beer, and Zagg are matching the tempo with increased activations.
Goldberg, the iconic Nigerian lager, is not just raising the volume across selected viewing centres; they’re also raising the stakes with their interactive Fantasy League Challenge (FLC).
Fans can predict match outcomes and score points, with top predictors walking away with amazing prizes.
The “OmoluabiGameOn” campaign goes further, encouraging predictions and rewarding loyal supporters with the hashtag #OmoluabiGameOn.
For Life Continental, the official beer of the Super Eagles, it is bringing the taste of victory to fans across the country.
With special viewing events and exciting in-bar activations, Life is ensuring that every fan feels the electrifying atmosphere of the game, raising a glass (or two) to their favourite team
ZAGG, known for its vibrant energy drinks, has transformed into a symbol of passionate support for the Super Eagles.
The Energy Drink with Malt is ensuring the Eagles feel the full force of the nation’s support behind them.
“If there is one thing that brings smiles to the face of Nigerians, it is football, so that is why we are going this extra mile,” the Nigerian Breweries Plc Head of Marketing Communications added.
With the unwavering support of these three powerful brands, the Super Eagles enter the Angola clash armed with more than just their talent and skills.
T hey carry the hopes and dreams of a nation, fuelled by the electrifying energy of ZAGG, the refreshing spirit of Life Beer, and the winning mentality of Goldberg.
Cote d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Fae has overhauled his backroom team following the Elephants’ Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, success earlier this year.
Fae, who took over from Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset during the tournament in January, has brought in three new faces as he builds towards qualifying for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations and 2026 World Cup.
Former Cote d’Ivoire goalkeeper Gerard Gnahouan, 45, joins as goalkeeping coach after working in this role with French Ligue 2 side Sochaux.
Gnahouan, capped 10 times by the Elephants between 2002 and 2011, takes over as goalkeeping coach and will be tasked with getting the best out of first-choice Yahia Fofana.
Moroccan Samir Anba, previously with French club Nice and Morocco’s Under-17s, takes over as fitness coach, while Jeremy Antonio arrives as video analyst after working with Fae at French side Clermont.
“This new composition of the technical staff marks the start of a new era for the Cote d’Ivoire national team, and expectations are high,” said Fae.
Fae kept faith with assistant Guy Demel while former international Alain Gouamene joins as the second assistant coach of the AFCON-winning team.
The 40-year-old led an all-local setup to a surprise African title in March after being promoted from Gasset’s number two following their near exit at the group stage.
The new backroom additions have a huge challenge ahead, with Cote d’Ivoire facing crunch matches in June as they bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The Elephants top their qualifying group after beating Gambia and Seychelles in the opening two matches in Group F of the qualifiers under caretaker Gasset.
-CAF
After commanding victories in the first leg matches of the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, qualifiers, Chad, Liberia, and Eswatini find themselves in advantageous positions as they gear up for the return fixtures scheduled for Tuesday.
As the second leg of the preliminary fixtures approach, all eyes will be on these teams as they vie for their coveted spots in the group phase of the qualifiers, with the hopes of making their mark on the continental stage.
Chad emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win over Mauritius, joining Liberia and Eswatini in the lead after their impressive triumphs earlier last week.
Liberia secured a 2-0 victory against Djibouti, while Eswatini displayed their dominance with a 3-0 win over Somalia.
The second leg promises to be fiercely contested, particularly for Chad, who will face a challenging encounter against Mauritius on the latter’s home turf.
Coach Kevin Nicaise’s players are keen to defend their slender lead and secure their spot in the next phase of the qualifiers but the trainer admits they have an arduous task.
“We are far from perfect, far from being a top team in the world. We are in the construction phase. There are still things to work on and improve,” coach Nicaise said after their first-leg win.
“It is not overnight that we will be a top team in the world, we are aware of that, however we are working hard with the group and the staff to achieve this goal.”
Meanwhile, Liberia will host Djibouti, aiming to build on their first-leg success and seal their progression to the next round.
Eswatini will host Somalia with confidence, seeking to maintain their winning momentum and secure passage to the next stage of the tournament.
South Sudan and Sao Tome and Principe will also face off in what is expected to be a closely contested encounter, following their goalless draw in the first leg.
With both teams eager for victory, the match promises to be a thrilling battle for supremacy.
-CAF
Liberia and Eswatini took commanding leads in their respective Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, preliminary round ties after claiming impressive away victories on Wednesday.
Liberia captain Murphy Dorley scored one of two first-half goals as the Lone Stars defeated hosts Djibouti 2-0 in the opening leg in Marrakech.
Mohammed Sangare broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on 23 minutes before Dorley coolly slotted home Sebastian Teclar’s cross 12 minutes later.
Djibouti struggled to lay a glove on their more illustrious opponents as the Lone Star side kept them at bay to take two away goals into next week’s second leg in Monrovia.
Eswatini were also celebrating after demolishing Somalia 3-0 in the Moroccoan city of El Jadida to put one foot in the group stage qualifiers.
Striker Sabelo Ndzinisa was the hero, netting twice either side of Felicio Figuareido’s 40th minute opener for the visitors.
Somalia now face an uphill battle to qualify when they travel to the Mbombela Stadium in the South African city of Nelspruit for the return on March 26th.
The opening leg victories give Liberia and Eswatini a huge advantage heading into the second legs as they target a place in the group stage on the road to next year’s finals in Morocco.
Back from the locker room, Somalia still couldn’t play its game.
Worse, Eswatini widened the gap with Ginindza who scored his double of the evening in the 56th minute. 3-0, the score remained unchanged on the scoreboard until the final whistle.
Victory for Eswatini which will still have to perform in the return leg to ensure its qualification for the qualifiers.
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