The Nigeria Football Federation, on Thursday, publicly presented Daar Communications PLC (owners of Africa Independent Television and Raypower FM) as the exclusive ticket rights holder for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 playoff battle between Nigeria and Ghana in Abuja on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
At a press conference held inside the NFF Secretariat in the federal capital, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said the Daar Communications PLC bade for the right as part of its corporate social responsibility, CSR, and accepted the bid based on the Federation’s trust and confidence in the broadcast company.
“Since inception of its operations, Daar Communications has consistently shown remarkable love and support for the growth and development of Nigeria football,” Sanusi said. ”
The ticketing rights awarded to Daar Communications PLC today is a reflection of our confidence in the organization to raise the profile of the game and fill the stadium to the capacity approved by FIFA with passionate fans who will cheer the Super Eagles to victory and on to Qatar 2022.”
Responding, the Group Managing Director of Daar Communications, Mr Tony Anegbe Akiotu said: “The Super Eagles need all the support they can get for this big match. This move is part of our own efforts to re-ignite the passion of Nigerians in the National Team and Nigeria Football generally.
“Getting fans into the stadium, building up their excitement and anticipation in a unique way and finally getting them to unleash their energy in support of the Eagles is our over-riding primary objective.”
Meanwhile, the country’s first independent broadcast company has offered 3,000 free tickets to Super Eagles’ fans to encourage them to storm the stadium and cheer the national team to victory.
Chairman of DAAR Communications PLC, Raymond Dokpesi Junior, said the gesture aims at rewarding fans and sponsors of the Nigerian Football Federation for their support for the Super Eagles throughout the 2022 World Cup Qualification campaign.
Also contributing, the Managing Director of Africa Independent Television, AIT, Dr Oluwatosin Dokpesi, described the gesture as a way of recognizing how fans and sponsors had lived their passions, built meaningful relationships, and shared unforgettable moments while supporting the Super Eagles.
Nigeria take the pitch against Ghana from 6p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, in what will be the reverse leg of a final round of qualification campaign for a ticket at the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals. Both teams will, in the process, write another note in the two countries’ 71-year football rivalry, during which 58 matches would have been played before the day.
The encounter will also be the first time in seven years and five months since the Eagles last played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. That was in October 2014, in a 3-1 win over Sudan in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
Also present at Thursday’s occasion were: Mr Raymond Dokpesi Jnr., Chairman, Daar Communications PLC; Mr Charity Kadiri, Director of Finance & Administration, NFF; Mrs Tosin Dokpesi, Managing Director, Daar Communications; Mr Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications, NFF; Mrs Pauline Ugbodaga, Executive Director News, Daar Communications; Barr. Okey Obi (Ag. Director, Legal, NFF; Mr Marcel Anyalechi, Chief Internal Auditor, Daar Communications; Mr Alizor Chuks, Head Marketing, NFF; Mr Tony Uya, Executive Director, Engineering, Daar Communications; Mr Tunde Orebiyi, Consultant Sports, Daar Communications; and Mr Callistus Ebare, Head, Sports, Daar Communications.