Ethiopia set to defend Mock Nations Cup title
The 35th edition of the prestigious Ajegunle Mock African Cup of Nations football championship is expected to kick off on Saturday November 11, 2017, at the popular Nigerian Navy playground, Apapa-Ajegunle, Lagos.
This year’s championship tagged ‘Equatorial Guinea 2017’, will feature 32 teams drawn into eight groups of teams each. According to the founder and secretary-general of the championship, Lawrence Alabrah, arrangements and preparations have reached advanced stages to ensure a hitch free and exciting championship.
“We can tell you confidently that this year’s championship will be better and bigger in terms of organisation, officiating, and of course in the standard of play,” he enthused.
Continuing, the retired navy officer added that this year’s edition promises to witness lots of innovations aimed at reawakening the floundering fortunes of the beautiful game in Ajegunle.
“We are also concerned about the fallen standard in football in Ajegunle and the country as a whole. Remember that this championship used to be the flagship of grassroots football in Nigeria. Therefore, it is going to bring back fond memories, as well as, producing fresher and gifted footballers for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Ethiopia are the defending champions of the longest running grassroots football championship in West Africa, which is also renowned to have produced several former top players including, Samson Siasia, Emmanuel Amuneke, Jumbo Awala, Patrick Udoh, Tarila Okorowanta, Gabriel Okolosi, Brown Ideye, Odion Ighalo and many others.
