Buhari met and touched the trophy at the State House as the tour hit Abuja.
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) boss Amaju Pinnick and Nigeria’s Sports Minister Solomon Dalung on Wednesday, March 7 welcomed the official 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy in Abuja.
Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, FIFA and long-time sponsors Coca-Cola are touring with the trophy.
The tour kicked off in Russia, host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and will touch down in a total of 91 cities in 51 countries across six continents before the final.
The trophy arrived in the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard a chartered flight at 11 am on Wednesday with Pinnick and Dalung on hand to welcome it.
Former France international Christian Karembeu who won the FIFA World Cup in 1998 accompanied the trophy to Nigeria.
Pinnick was accompanied by NFF Vice Presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko and NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi.
The trophy was also 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.
Buhari touches World Cup
A press conference was held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja before the iconic prize of world football made its way to Aso Rock Presidential Villa, where Buhari met the trophy.
Buhari was joined by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to receive the trophy at the State House.
Selected consumers will have a view of the trophy at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja on Thursday, March 8.
This is the fourth Global Tour by the FIFA World Cup Trophy, and the third time it will be visiting Nigeria.
The trophy and its accompanying team will then fly into Lagos on Friday, March 9 and will be received by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and members of his cabinet as well as NFF President Pinnick.
Source: Pulse.ng
