By Baron Ike
The FIFA World Cup trophy currently on tour of countries that would participate in this year’s football competition has landed in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The trophy is expected to be taken to 91 cities in 51 countries across six continents before the finals, and the FIFA officials touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard a chartered flight at exactly 11 am on Wednesday.
The cup was received by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung; the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Olusade Adesola; President of The Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick; NFF Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko and; NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi.
From the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the trophy was accompanied by several top officials of Coca-Cola’s Global Office and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, including Coca-Cola Nigeria Managing Director Bhupendra Suri and Managing Director of Nigeria Bottling Company Georgios Polymenakos, all of who made their way to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel where a press conference was held.
This is FIFA World Cup Trophy fourth Global Tour, and the third time Nigeria would be hosting the officials with the trophy.