Everybody knows Nigerians love their football, and at any given time, we are either playing it, watching it, talking about it or in clothes that connote our support for one team or the other. Lots of memories have been built over these games, as well as folklore that has been passed down from generations to generations, even if they never happened.
The true beauty of the game is the emotions it evokes, the loyalty it breeds, and the entertainment it provides. The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious competition in European football and beyond just the viewership numbers, fans are constantly reminded through matches like Tottenham’s 7-goal quarterfinal thriller against English rivals, Manchester City, and Barca’s 3-goal brilliance against Liverpool why they love the beautiful game and the UCL.
Heineken, who has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with UEFA for more than 20 years have selected fans who they have given the unique opportunity to watch the UCL Semi-Final live in Liverpool. The game which was the 8th time Liverpool FC faced FC Barcelona, was a must-see for football fans world over, as Liverpool repeated A.S. Roma’s showing in the 2017/2018 Champions League season where they overturned a 3-goal advantage to see Barca off at the quarterfinals.
The fans being sponsored by Heineken enjoyed a complete UCL cracker as the semi-final game had a lot of high points — from witnessing an attempt by the Reds to repeat that night in Istanbul, to just watching Lionel Messi play. It was also interesting to see how Liverpool fans reacted to having their former players Luiz Suarez and Philippe Coutinho back at Anfield.
Beyond the euphoria of the game, the lucky fans had the opportunity to visit Manchester United’s Theatre of Dreams for a stadium tour and other important sites while on the trip. They also got the chance to join other English fans who cheered Tottenham Hotspur as they worked hard to secure their first UCL final spot when they face Ajax in Amsterdam.
For the first time in a long while, England had all four representatives in the quarterfinals and are now left with two in the semis, both with an uphill task of getting to the final.
Heineken Brand Manager, Olaoluwa Babalola has described the trip as an amazing opportunity saying –
“We are taking these fans to witness the UCL in England at a time when fans everywhere will be ecstatic and in full support of their teams. We know how special football is to Nigerians and we are using one of the biggest platforms to show that we share that special love”
After Liverpool faced Barcelona on Tuesday, Ajax will welcome Spurs to Amsterdam with their 1-away goal advantage, hoping for another win or at least a draw, which will see them through to the finals for the 7th time. On the other hand, Tottenham will hope to imitate Ajax who has beaten huge odds by knocking out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus and current UCL champions Real Madrid.
Heineken is recognized for developing interactive and innovative campaigns and breaking new ground in its approach to marketing. These innovative strategies not only create revolutionary experiences but also deepen connections with consumers.
