Lagos, August 13, 2018: Africa’s biggest network operator by subscriber base and most admired African brand, MTN Group, has lent its support to the development of Freestyle Football on the continent with the sponsorship of the maiden edition of the 2018 Africa Freestyle Football Championship.

The 2018 Freestyle Football African Championship is organised by Feet‘n’Tricks International Limited in partnership with World Freestyle Football Association.

Participants from over 20 African countries will compete at the event holding at the prestigious Balmoral Event Centre at Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Commenting on MTN’s sponsorship of this year’s event, Chairman of Feet‘n’Tricks International Limited, Valentine Ozigbo, said the involvement of MTN has significantly enlivened this year’s competition, as the event will leverage on MTN’s reach to bring topnotch sportainment to millions of Africans. “We are proud to have the sponsorship of MTN, the largest indigenous African mobile operator. MTN has been instrumental to the growth and development of sport and entertainment across the continent. The partnership will not only enhance the quality of this competition, but also the wellbeing of the participants,” he said.

Speaking on the partnership, the General Manager, Brand and Communications, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge said: “MTN is committed to enriching the lives of people on the African continent and we believe that sports and entertainment, the hallmark of Freestyle Football, are dear to Africans, hence our strategic intention to invest in Freestyle Football.”

Freestyle football is described by the WFFA as “the art and sport of juggling a football using all parts of the body to entertain audiences and outperform opponents… a fusion of tricks with a ball, dance and music.”

Registration for this tournament is currently open to both male and female freestylers of African descent and will be closed on 15th of August, 2018. Interested participants can register on www.feetandtricks.com The qualifying rounds and Nigerian championship will hold on September 13th -14th, 2018 at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos. After the qualifying rounds, the best 16 male and 8 female freestyle athletes in Africa will emerge to battle it out at the grand finale on September 15, 2018 in a bid to become the first African male and female Freestyle Football Champions.