The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UEFA Champions League

  • More fans to win Heineken UEFA Champions League final trip

    More fans to win Heineken UEFA Champions League final trip

    Following the raffle draws that Heineken has held across the country in recent weeks, more winners will emerge at Heineken House Lagos Wednesday tonight.

    Thirteen lucky winners have already been awarded all expense paid trips to Heineken’s world-famous Ibiza Finale, where fans converge from all over the world to watch the UEFA Champions League final match.

    They will also enjoy lavish beach parties on the exotic island of Ibiza, a lush tourist destination off the coast of Spain. These winners were amongst the total of over 3000 participants who took part in the raffle draws across Nigeria. Many others took home various premium quality consolation prizes.

    The exquisite Heineken House Lagos is open every UEFA Champions League match night to Heineken fans to enjoy the tournament match action and entertainment performances, in the company of special guests. Wednesday (Today) evening, the house will host a special draw in which more Heineken fans will win trips to Ibiza.

    In addition to these exotic trips, Heineken is also marking its ninth consecutive year of UEFA Champions League sponsorship by rewarding Nigerian fans with 90 premium prizes in 90 minutes: one prize for every minute of a every UCL match game. Nigerians simply need to look under the crown corks of the Heineken bottles.

    All a fan needs to do to participate is enjoy a bottle of Heineken and send the unique code found under the crown cork to 20822. The details are displayed during match breaks.

    This innovative promotion is part of the exciting package from Heineken’s “Champion the Match” campaign, born out the insight that fans know that UEFA Champions League match nights are worth a little more effort to make it memorable.

    The partnership between Heineken and the world’s foremost club football tournament has been delivering world class experiences to Nigerian fans, including the exquisite Heineken House Lagos.

    The Heineken House, Lagos, will be opened to Heineken fans this Tuesday and Wednesday when the quarter final matches will come up. They will enjoy match screenings and special entertainment performances in the company of celebrity guests.

    The House has played host to leading lights across business, sports and entertainment including Ruggedman, 9ice and most recently, Victor Ikpeba and Tuface Idibia in the on-going activation.

     

  • Heineken unveils ‘Season of Surprises’ in UEFA Champions League

    Heineken unveils ‘Season of Surprises’ in UEFA Champions League

    As the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League entered its second week, Heineken unveiled exciting new packages of promotions to delight Nigerian football fans.

    An innovative new SMS-based giveaway, 90 fabulous prizes are to be won in 90 minutes on every UEFA Champions League match night: one prize for every minute of regulation football match time. Starting from March 17th.

    Consumers simply enjoy their Heineken, look under the crown cork of their opened bottle of Heineken, and send the unique code to a number which will be specified when the promo starts.

    At a packed press conference on Tuesday, the Corporate Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem announced this amongst several other offerings under Heineken’s new campaign, “Champion the Match”.

    In its ninth consecutive year of sponsoring the UEFA Champions League, Heineken is also now redefining the premium match viewing experience with live interactive Twitter sessions, anchored by surprise global UEFA Champions League football legends and celebrity guests.

    Every UEFA Champions League match week, Heineken’s #ChampionTheMatch is hosted from a beautiful setting in a different global city. In recognition of Heineken’s stature and popularity with Nigerians, Lagos has been selected as one of only nine cities to host the series this season.

    At the luxurious Heineken House Lagos in Ikoyi, which is open on every UEFA Champions League match night to invited Heineken fans, guests enjoyed thrilling football action. In the company of special guests such as popular musician, Tuface Idibia, and football legend Victor Ikpeba, fans watched as FC Barcelona asserted their superiority over reigning English champions, Manchester City FC. Even though Lionel Messi missed a penalty kick, Louis Suarez’s brace was enough to ensure that the Catalans returned to Spain with a 2-1 victory.

    Incidentally, courtesy of Heineken, Spain is also the exotic location where several Nigerian consumers will experience this season’s Champions League finale. Every year, Heineken has rewarded Nigerian fans with once-in-a-lifetime trips to watch the finals, live in Europe. This season, Nigerians will join fans from 35 other countries for Heineken’s world-famous Ibiza Final, where Heineken creates the ultimate match night in a way only Heineken can.

    On a night that was full of surprising twists on- and off- the football pitch, it was revealed that Nigerian journalists would not be left out as lucky Heineken fans board the flights to Heineken’s dream UEFA Champions League finale experience.

  • Manchester City in tricky Euro group

    Manchester City in tricky Euro group

    … Meet Bayern Munich, Roma, CSKA Moscow

    .… Liverpool to play holders in Group B

    English champions Manchester City landed in a tough looking group in the 2014/2015 European Champions League draw conducted Thursday at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, France.

    The Manuel Pellegrini tutored team will have to navigate past Bayern Munich, Roma and CSKA Moscow to reach the knockout stage, Goal reports.

    Last season semi finalists Chelsea will face Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor.

    Arsenal overcame Besiktas in a nervy play-off clash thanks to Alexis Sanchez’s first goal for the club to reach the Champions League proper for the 17th consecutive season and will square up against Dortmund, Galatasaray and Anderlecht in Group D.

    Liverpool mark its return to the competition for the first time since 2009 with clashes against Real Madrid, Basel and Ludogorets in Group B.

    The Anfield outfit has never lost to the Spanish giants in three previous meetings.

    The pairings:

    Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos, Malmo

    Group B:  Real Madrid, FC Basel, Liverpool, Ludogorets Razgrard

    Group C: Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco

    Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasary, Anderlecht

    Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, Roma

    Group F: Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Ajax, Apoel

    Group G: Chelsea, Schalke, Sporting Lisbon, Maribor

    Group H: Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Bilbao, BATE Borisov

     

  • Real Madrid rule Europe

    Real Madrid rule Europe

    Real Madrid on Saturday won the 2014 UEFA Champions League, beating Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the final played in Lisbon.

    Uruguayan international Diego Godin’s 34th minute header put Atletico ahead in the final played before a capacity crowd in the Portuguese capital.

    Spanish international Sergio Ramos equalized for Real Madrid in the 93rd minute to force the match into extra time.

    Welsh international Gareth Bale who scored the winning goal against Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey final in April broke Atletico supporters’ hearts with a headed goal in the 110th minute.

    Although he was particularly profligate in the match, wasting three clear chances, his goal ultimately settled the encounter and put Lo Blancos on the brink of 10th UEFA Champions League title.

    Thereafter the Spanish giants put their La Liga rivals to the sword, scoring the third and fourth goal through Marcelo in the 118th minute and  Ronaldo from the spot in 119th minute.

  • UEFA Champions League: Tough Man City test for Barcelona

    UEFA Champions League: Tough Man City test for Barcelona

    … Arsenal tackles Bayern Munich

    …  Chelsea plays Galatasaray

     

    Manchester City against Barcelona is the pick of the ties to emerge from Monday’s Champions League Round of 16 draw in Nyon.

    Goal.com reports that the Spanish champions will face Manuel Pellegrini’s free-scoring side after being drawn first out of the pot in the proceedings.

    Jose Mourinho faces another reunion with former striker Didier Drogba after his Chelsea side was drawn against Galatasaray, who edged out Juventus last week.

    Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, meanwhile, in a repeat of last season second round encounter, while fellow Bundesliga outfit Schalke meets nine-time champions Real Madrid.

    Elsewhere, Manchester United will face Greek champions Olympiakos, while Paris Saint-Germain takes on Bundesliga high-flyers Bayer Leverkusen.

    AC Milan’s reward for edging into the last 16 is Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. Finally, Borussia Dortmund – beaten finalists last season, confronts Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg.

    The sides who finished as group runners-up will host the first leg encounters on the February 18/19 and 25/26, while the second legs take place on March 11/12 and 18/19.

    The pairings:

    Manchester City vs Barcelona

    Olympiakos vs Manchester Utd

    AC Milan vs Atletico Madrid

    Bayer Leverkusen vs Paris Saint-Germain

    Galatasaray vs Chelsea

    Schalke vs Real Madrid

    Zenit St Petersburg vs Borussia Dortmund

    Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

     

     

     

  • First winner of Heineken ‘Match Your Half Ticket’ emerges

    Adewale Ajadi, one of the loyal Heineken consumers, was the hero of the night on Match Day-Four, when he emerged as the first winner of ‘Match Your Half Ticket’ promo of the international premium lager beer, Heineken, in the ongoing UEFA Champions League.

    At a brief ceremony held at the Sailors Lounge, Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos last match day, the young lad’s ticket, came out of the hat from the pool of over 300 participants.  He will therefore enjoy the rare opportunity of watching a live match in one of the stadiums in Europe during the knock out stage of the UEFA Champions League next year courtesy of Heineken.

    The winner, who was not at the venue of the ceremony, was informed of the fortune that just smiled on him via phone call. He was notably speechless because of the magnitude of the success that has come to him.

    The reality of the truth began to manifest in him when he heard his name on Nigerian Info during the live telecast of Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal match.

    “I remember that I participated in the ‘Match Your Half Ticket’ promo at a Heineken viewing bar earlier in the season while I was watching the Barcelona and AC Milan match. I was interrupted with a call that I have won a match ticket. My initial response to the lady caller was ‘wrong number’. The persistence of the caller made me to listen to the full message which to me was too good to be true. But the reality of the truth came when I tuned to Nigerian Info radio station during the match I heard my name as a winner. I was elevated and celebrated the feat with friends who came to celebrate with me,” Ajadi recalled.

    The first winner however has one wish from Heineken when the knockout stage gets underway next February. “I will want Heineken to take me to Nou Camp in Spain or any other stadium where FC Barcelona will play in the next round. FC Barcelona is my favourite team and Heineken as my favourite lager beer can complete my UEFA Champions League dreams,’ he said.

    The senior brand Manager Heineken, Jacqueline van Faassen, said the brand would be delighted to make the wish of all its loyal consumers come true but the round of 16 draw results and travelling logistics will play a prominent role. “The match groupings are beyond our control, however it is our wish for Mr. Ajadi and other intending winners to have a spectacular experience in the country of play as the UEFA Champions League tournament is full of legendary display of amazing talents regardless of the team or stadium of play.
    “We have four more tickets to offer in this ‘Half Your Match Ticket’ promo in the group stage. To be part of the promotion, consumers are advised go to any of the Heineken selected bars on UEFA Champions League Match nights. The list of participating bars can be found via a Heineken bar finder app on the Heineken facebook page and on www.heineken.com,” she explained.
    The previous match night to the draw ceremony, UEFA Champions League fans in Port Harcourt had a wonderful experience with former international star, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, who thrilled the fans at the Casablanca Bar. The former Super Eagles captain, from the bar engaged fans on twitter during the Juventus and Real Madrid’s 2-2 scoreline in Group B.

    “This was an exciting encounter. Madrid showed a lot of character while Juventus took their feet off the gas but more importantly, they even scored to remain in contention for second round ticket,” Okocha tweeted while summarising the amazing time he had at the bar with Port Harcourt football fans.
    Heineken recently extended its sponsorship with UEFA for another three years until 2018. Over the last few seasons, the international premium lager beer has been rewarding its Nigerian consumers with premium viewing experience of UEFA Champions league football, in the Heineken Champions Planet in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    For the current season, the brand has been showcasing the unique Heineken experience at 100 premium bars with the aim of getting closer to its consumers in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Abuja.

  • Heineken renews UEFA Champions League sponsorship

    Heineken has announced the extension of its sponsorship with the UEFA Champions League. The new agreement means that Heineken® the leading international, premium beer brand will continue as an official partner of the world’s most prestigious club football competition up to and including the 2017 / 2018 season.

    Heineken® has been an integral partner of the UEFA Champions League since 2005. The sponsorship allows Heineken® to elevate its global status as the world’s favourite beer.

    Last year, the UEFA Champions League reached a cumulative audience of more than four billion TV viewers in 220 countries and territories, whilst also continuing to support the brand’s growth.

    The Marketing Director Nigerian Breweries Plc, Walter Drenth, in his reaction to the renewal of the contract said, “The UEFA Champions League’s unrivaled international reach and professional standards make it the perfect match for Heineken®. It is one of the brand’s main engagement pillars, and as such we strive to constantly strengthen and broaden our activation through innovative marketing and our global footprint.”

    The contract renewal sees Heineken obtaining the rights to exclusive UEFA Champions League content, such as Back Stadium Tour and UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour, presented by Heineken, which will be available across the brand’s owned social media channels, as well as maintaining the rights as presenting partner for UEFA Champions League Video section on www.uefa.com The deal with UEFA provides fertile ground for Heineken®’s innovative and award winning consumer focused campaigns. It also includes increase in exclusive LED pitch boarding exposure, and the right to promote the association in key retail channels.

    As part of its on-going ‘Road to the Final’ campaign, Heineken has also announced the dates and venues for the successful UEFA Champions League Trophy tour. 2014 represents the brand’s eighth consecutive Trophy Tour with a global itinerary that covers South America, Africa and Asia – giving fans across the world the opportunity to see the Trophy first-hand, meet superstar footballers and to see a fantastic range of UEFA Champions League memorabilia.

    In the detailed programme released yesterday, Buenos Aires, Argentina will be the first point of call between February 27th and March 2nd, followed by Lagos, Nigeria between March 13th to 16th before finally proceeding to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from April 3rd to 6th. More details of the programme will be available across the brand’s owned social media channels. This will be the first time since 2009 that UEFA Champions League followers in Nigeria will have the opportunity to see and get closer to the Trophy presented by Heineken.

    “It as rare privilege to offer our consumers in Nigeria the unique experience and thrill of the UEFA Champions League and the trophy tour presentation in Lagos for four days” said Mr Drenth.

    Senior Brand Manager Heineken, Jacqueline Van Faassen said “The Champions League sponsorship is the largest activation platform for the Heineken brand. In our eight year partnership, research has shown that Heineken® awareness has grown to 60 per cent among UEFA Champions League fans.” “We will continue to enrich fans’ experience of the UEFA Champions League through innovative campaigns encompassing social media, live screening events during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase and Final, retail activations enabling thousands of fans to experience the matches first-hand and of course the UEFA Champions League Trophy tour presented by Heineken® in Nigeria for the second time since 2009.”

    “Heineken® has been an integral partner of the UEFA Champions League since 2005. The exciting matches with eight months of engaging consumers are watched in every country, including Nigeria, where an ice cold Heineken can be enjoyed.

    “This season, Heineken will be giving 10 Nigerian consumers the opportunity to win tickets to the group stage and Final match live in Europe. The brand has partnered with 100 bars pan Nigeria to activate the “Match Your Half Ticket.”

  • Ikpeba hits Abuja for UEFA champions league

    Ikpeba hits Abuja for UEFA champions league

    The fun and excitement of UEFA Champions league awaits fans on Tuesday and Wednesday courtesy, International premium lager beer, Heineken, as former African Footballer of the Year and Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, is set to thrill football fans on digital platform during the match day three of the Champions League.
    On Tuesday, when the star match of the day between AC Milan against FC Barcelona gets underway at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Ikpeba with over 15, 000 followers on twitter will be engaged by football fans before, during and after the match on digital platforms. Other twitter users are encouraged to join the conversation by tweeting @IkpebaOfficial and @Heineken_NG with #MatchNightWith
    International premium lager beer, Heineken, since 2006, has been rewarding its consumers with exclusive premium viewing experiences of UEFA champions’ league football, in the Heineken Champions’ Planet in Victoria Island, Lagos. In the on- going season, the brand has been showcasing a unique experience at 100 premium bars with the sole aim of being closer to its consumers in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja.
    Expectedly, like it was on match day two, when Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha was on point, the traffic on @Heineken_NG twitter handle is expected to be huge because with more awareness on the digital engagement, hundreds of passionate followers of the club competition will be active all through the thrilling match conversation.
    While the matches are going on in real time, Ikpeba, fondly referred to as ‘Prince of Monaco’ in his playing days, will be live at the Dreams Active Recreation at 792A Aminu Kano Crescent, Opposite UBA, Wuse 2 in Abuja, where he will be part of the viewing crowd.
    Consumers will have the privilege to engage the former Super Eagles legend for in depth analysis of the matches.
    The following day, former Dutch international and Manchester United FC great, Ruud van Nistelroy, will take over the official Heineken handle @heineken and engage fans during the Real Madrid versus Juventus of Italy at the Santiago Bernabue stadium through the #ShareTheSofa.
    Nigerian tweeps can ask questions and could be lucky enough to win a signed merchandise from Ruud Van Nistelroy.
    Senior Brand Manager, Heineken, Jacqueline van Faassen, yesterday restated that on match days, passionate fans of UEFA Champions League will continue to have the opportunity to interact with prominent football legends before, during and after the match on digital platforms especially on twitter. “All they need to do is follow Heineken Nigeria @Heineken_NG and have the unique opportunity to interact with some of the legends of UEFA Champions League both Nigerian based and foreign footballers,” she explained.
    With more Nigerians having the opportunity to see some of the games live in the best stadiums in Europe, the long lasting memories of last season’s final match at the Wembley Stadium in London, still lingers in the memories of five inventive Nigerians; Boyo Gbire, Mayowa Opeyemi George, Isaac Nonchie Ijeh, Franklin Chukwu Ijeh, and Diana Nwajiaku-Smart, courtesy of Heineken.

    In line with the global campaign theme of Heineken in the ongoing season called ‘Road to the Final’. Heineken has gone the extra mile with the decision to reward passionate UEFA Champions League fans at selected bars and lounges with an all expense paid trip to watch matches live at the stadiums in Europe from knockout stage up till the semi final round of the competition next year.

  • Heineken brings back UEFA Champions League excitement to Nigerians

    Heineken brings back UEFA Champions League excitement to Nigerians

    With the draws ceremony of the European Champions’ League concluded in Monaco on August 29th, the international premium lager beer, Heineken, has as usual, concluded arrangements to bring all the excitements of the matches of the 2013/14 season to Nigerian football fans.

    Heineken, a major partner of the world’s most glamorous club competition, UEFA Champions League since 2005/06 season, will bring all the 96 group stage matches to Nigerian homes. The UEFA Champions League is one of the most premium global sport events and Heineken is the most international premium lager brand enjoyed in over 170 countries in the world. The Heineken and UEFA Champions League partnership is therefore a perfect combination. So it makes perfect sense to ensure that passionate football fans in Nigeria enjoy every bit of the exciting action just like we have done in previous seasons.

    “This season, in line with the campaign theme ‘Road to The Final’, Heineken will be running promotions nationwide in selected bars where consumers can win tickets to watch the UEFA Champions League matches live in the country of play as from the knock out stage to Semi-Final stage. In addition to that Heineken will give 5 inventive consumers the opportunity to see the Final Live in Lisbon,” the senior brand manager, Jacqueline van Faassen, remarked during the week.

    Already all the 32 teams, including the defending champions, Bayern Munich of Germany, alongside other power houses in the elite competition including Borussa Dortmund, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and the host of others are set for battle to determine the qualifiers into the second round knockout stage next February.

    The group stage match fixtures have thrown some exciting rivalries with the power houses in the English Premiership playing against the best in the German Bundesliga. Arsenal and Manchester City will face last year’s finalists, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively. On the other hand, Spanish giants, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are drawn against Italian rivals, AC Milan and Juventus respectively.

    Before this stage of the competition, 88 play-off matches have been played with 10 winners of the ties join 22 automatic entrants in the 32-team group stage. The clubs are split into eight groups of four teams. They will play home and away against each of their pool opponents between September and December to decide which two teams from each section advance to the first knockout round. The third-place finishers in each group enter the UEFA Europa League round of 32.

    Heineken’s sponsorship of the competition has commanded great followership in Nigeria with several football fans passionately support many of the top European clubs, sharing in their triumphs and losses. The awareness of the competition in the country has risen to unassailable heights.

  • UCL Draw: Arsenal land in tricky group

    Arsenal FC have been  pitched with the German Super Cup winners, Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League draw concluded Wednesday at the European soccer body headquarters in Lyon France – Napoli and Marseille are also in the F group.

    European Champions, Bayern Munich will be trading tackles with Manchester City along with CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen.

    Below is the comprehensive outcome of the draw:

    Group A: Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad

    Group B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, Copenhagen

    Group C: Benfica, Paris St Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht

    Group D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen

    Group E: Chelsea, Schalke, Basel, Steaua Bucharest

    Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli

    Group G: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Vienna

    Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax, Celtic