NFF invite Egyptian star for Cancer Charity game

The invitation also included a lunch with President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Nigeria Football Federation has invited Egyptian football legend, Mohamed Abou-Treika, to feature in a charity match targeted at raising funds for cancer victims.

The match scheduled to take place in December would pitch global soccer brands like Abou-Treika against members of the USA 1994 Nigeria squad.

Abou-Treika’s Egyptian club Al-Ahly announced NFF’s plan on Thursday, saying that it had gotten an invite from  NFF soliciting the release of their player.

“The Nigeria Football Association has invited Abou-Treika to participate in a friendly game in Nigeria to raise money for a cancer charity,” the Cairo-based club said on Thursday.

The invitation also included a lunch with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Al-Ahly has had an hectic season and is currently in the finals of the CAF Champions League. The club, meanwhile, is yet to confirm Abou- Treika’s release for the exhibition game even though they highlighted the bonds between Egypt and Nigeria.

Abou-Treika is considered an icon in Egypt after leading Ahly to 22 titles and winning two-Africa Cup of Nations titles with the Pharaohs in 2006 and 2008.

The head,  Department of Hospital Services, Minister of Health, Joseph Ahmedu, had said, in an earlier press briefing to announce the match,  that the Ministry hoped to make the most of the synergy football and health could achieve.

“We are enthralled with a synergy of soccer and health to fight one of the world’s most debilitating diseases, cancer,” he said.

According to statistics, 84 million people the World Health Organisation, WHO, are expected to die from cancer between 2005 and 2015, with an annual population of 7.6 million deaths. Nigeria and less developed nations are expected to have 70% of the deaths.