AFOSU begins victory campaign for African teams

AMIDST chants of “AFOSU! Africa! AFOSU! Africa!” the Africa Football (and other sports) Supporters Union at its congress in Togo resolved to mobilise a united African supporters base to jointly support all six African teams and inspire them to victory at the World Cup.

All representatives of the various countries’ football supporters club in attendance agreed to come together to cheer any of the African teams at play, accepting that the victory of any of them at the Mundial is the collective victory for the continent.

To achieve the objective, the union resolved to launch a continent-wide campaign tagged “Victory Africa!” which involves intensive media campaigns across Africa to drum support and belief in the power and possibility of the African teams and raising funds for the mobilisation of supporters during the World Cup.

Affirming the resolution of the congress, AFOSU President, Rafiu Ladipo of Nigeria declared: “Africa is hosting and we want at least one African team in the final and cheer it to victory. This can be achieved by united support.

“This is the responsibility and challenge of AFOSU and it will also help to foster unity and friendship among us and check the incidence of violence and acrimonious tendencies.

“Every country of Africa must be at the World Cup. We must jointly project Africa and showcase our rich and diverse culture. Africans all over the world are brothers. We all love football. The players are friends and victory for one is victory for all.”

Ladipo also informed that CAF had pledged to support the union’s programmes in bringing African supporters together. Reacting to the Victory Africa! campaign and AFOSU’s resolve, Chairman of Ghana Football Supporters Union, Abraham Boakye, said that Africans must congratulate themselves on the initiative, pointing out that “this kind of friendship is not in Europe.”

However, he charged Ladipo to ensure the success of the programme just like he has ensured the growth of the Nigeria Football supporters Club. Also, describing the development as “a thing of joy,” Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Otunba Bashorun, said it was beyond football and it has inherent potentials of inspiring peace across Africa.