Globacom hails Super Eagles
Globacom Limited,
the official sponsor of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior national
football team, has congratulated Nigerians, the players, coaches and
the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for Saturday’s victory in Kenya
which earned the nation the qualification ticket to the 2010 World Cup
finals in South Africa.
The Super Eagles
defeated the Harambe Stars of Kenya 3-2 at the Kasrani Stadium to join
five other World Cup qualifiers from Africa. It will be Nigeria’s
fourth World Cup finals since the first appearance in 1994. Mohamed
Jameel, Globacom’s group chief operating officer, said the
qualification has justified the telecom giant’s huge investment in the
national team since 2004. He added that the qualification was made more
exciting by the tough competition provided by other teams in Group B,
including Tunisia and Mozambique.
Jameel said though
there were tense periods in the course of the competition, Nigeria’s
qualification for South Africa 2010 did not come to Globacom as a
surprise given the massive support from Nigerians and the determination
of the team.
Three more spots booked
The 2010 FIFA World
Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) would like to congratulate
the three teams that qualified last night for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM
in South Africa.
In a do or die
weekend of football, Nigeria , Cameroon and New Zealand all secured
their spot for Africa’s maiden FIFA World CupTM.
They join Japan, Netherlands, North Korea, Australia, South Korea, USA, Brazil, Ghana, England,
Paraguay, Spain,
Denmark, Cote d’Ivoire, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Serbia,
Switzerland, Argentina, Honduras, Slovakia and South Africa as hosts
who have already qualified for the tournament.
“These are exciting
times. It is gratifying that the lineup for next year’s tournament is
almost complete,” said Chief Executive Officer of the OC, Danny Jordaan
.
Nigeria
Nigeria beat Kenya 3-2 to book their place in the football showpiece next year.
“We are honoured to
have this African football superpower in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. As we
have seen from the three FIFA tournaments already held in Africa this
year it is the African teams that are performing well. I am confident
Nigeria has a good chance in 2010 and its team will certainly feel the
full support of South Africans in the tournament,” said Jordaan.
Cameroun
Cameroun qualified by beating Morocco 2-0.
“The Indomitable
Lions are one of the best chances for a team from Africa to enjoy
success at the tournament next year. We welcome our brothers from West
Africa to football’s biggest festival. With their skill, flair and
experience, Cameroun is sure to win over hundreds of new fans during
the tournament. Since the days of Roger Milla in the 1994 FIFA World
Cup in the USA, they have become synonymous with entertainment and we
expect next year to be no different,” said Jordaan.
Cameroun is
Africa’s most successful side and has now qualified for the FIFA World
Cup six times - in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and now 2010 - more
than any other African nation.
New Zealand
New Zealand qualified after beating Bahrain 1-0.
“It is a privilege to welcome New Zealand back to South Africa next
year, They are certainly a welcome addition to the tournament and
received great support from South Africans during the FIFA
Confederations Cup earlier in the year. They can be assured that they
will be part of a world-class tournament in 2010 and that the South
African public will once again welcome them with open arms,” said
Jordaan.