Food vendors and other petty traders around Agege Stadium, Lagos, are enjoying trade boom from the 10 sponsored viewing centres for the ongoing 33rd African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon courtesy of the Lagos State Government (LASG).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) in conjunction with the organised private sector had installed the viewing centres for football enthusiasts to watch the ongoing AFCON matches taking place in Cameroon.
NAN also reports that the traders have been making brisk business from fans, who throng the sporting arena on daily basis since the competition started on Jan. 9, to watch live matches.
A correspondent of NAN who visited the centres on Wednesday observed most of the fans patronising the food and other vendors while enjoying the match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their Wild Dogs counterparts from Guinea-Bissau.
A food seller, Sade Ayejuyo of Toluwani Restaurant, described the state government’s initiative with regard to creating the viewing centres as a blessing in disguise.
“I want to commend the state government for bringing the viewing centre here; it has translated into sales boom for some of us.
“Economic activities have been low since the stadium was closed for renovation last year, but this AFCON has brought back good sales.
“Since the AFCON started, fans have been coming to the stadium to watch matches while most of them buy food and drink while watching the matches.”
Another trader, Kadijat Ayodele, described the sales as above average since the start of the competition in Cameroon.
“I have been making sales out of my stock since the start of the AFCON, I have been selling above average, or let me say making good sales.
“AFCON matches do bring a lot of fans to the stadium, which have improved our sales around here,” she said.
The Chairman Technical Committee of the Lagos State Football Association, (LSFA), Dotun Coker, commended the state government for the initiative and the fans for their orderliness.
“I must commend the state government’s initiative on this viewing centre; it has been so peaceful and the fans have been conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles once again lived up to the football enthusiasts’ expectations as they trounced the Wild Dogs of Guinea Bissau 2-0 in the last match of the Group D.
The match was played at the State Roumde Adjia in Garoua, Cameroon.
The third win for the Super Eagles in the Group D fixtures was sealed with a goal from the Almeria FC of Spain striker, Umar Sadiq, who tapped in the ball from close range in the 55th minute.
Also, Watford FC of England defender and stand-in Captain, William Troost Ekong, scored the second goal of the match from a rebound in the 75th minute, after a scintillating nutmeg by Nantes FC winger of France, Moses Simon.
With the brilliant performances of the Super Eagles in their first three matches, Nigeria has recorded the maximum nine points to progress into the knockout stages in the ongoing AFCON competition. (NAN)
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