Former Holland and AC Milan legend, Ruud Gullit, has tipped Super Eagles and the other four countries that qualified to represent Africa at summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil to take advantage of the warm weather of the Samba nation to make impacts at the Mundial.

Speaking at the presentation of the UEFA Champions League trophy sponsored by Heineken to the media in Lagos yesterday, Gullit, a two-time winner and brand ambassador of the cup, said that he expects Eagles who are champions of Africa to progress beyond the group stage of the World Cup in Brazil.

“The present Super Eagles may not have the type of individual stars of the golden era but I still enjoy watching them play. I saw the team at the last Nations Cup in South Africa. I saw how brilliant they were.

  “So for me, I hope the African teams will go through the group stage to the next round of the competition. I strongly believe that Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria will certainly go through to the next stage. It will be a good testimony for the African football and even put Nigeria on the global map.

“One advantage that the African teams have in Brazil is that it is going to be warm. European teams have never won the World Cup in South America, so it will be a great opportunity for the African teams to do well because of the circumstances they have to play.

Former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh who was a special guest at the Heineken /UEFA Champions League trophy presentation, corroborated Gullit’s assertion on the Eagles and the other African teams.

“I believe in what Gullit said about the Eagles. It is the press that is not creating the right environment for our team to flourish. All we read is negative reports. We have everything to win and nothing to lose in Brazil. We have the players and a few upcoming who when gingered can perform.

“What we also have going for us is that the Europeans don’t know us, the Asians don’t know us. Why can’t we take advantage of this to surprise the world in Brazil. And if the Nigerian press will build this confidence in our players that they can do it, I believe that they can rise up to the occasion to deliver,” observed the ex-international who is a member of FIFA’s technical study group.

Speaking at the event, the Marketing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Walter Drenth, said, “the Champions League trophy tour, outside of Europe, is a uniquely Heineken experience. Heineken is the world’s most International Premium Lager beer and the only brand able to take the trophy on an international tour.”

Drenth continued, “The UEFA Champions League has a long and distinguished heritage and is the pinnacle of European club football. The Trophy Tour demonstrates the true global reach and appeal of the UEFA Champions League, making it a better partner for Heineken. We are delighted that together with UEFA we can reward the passion and dedication of football fans around the world by taking the trophy to them.”

The Champions league is the most prestigious club platform for international football stars and their clubs. With over 150 million TV viewers watching live coverage of the UEFA Champions League in 220 countries and territories every match week, this premier-sporting event has become global and fits perfectly with the Heineken brand, which is enjoyed in almost every country in the world.
The trophy will remain in Nigeria till on Sunday during which ball fans will have the previledge of taking photographs with it before leaving for the next leg of the trophy tour of Vietnam and Argentina.