Accra, Sept. 30, GNA - The trophy for the biannual African Cup of Nations (CAN) arrived in Accra in the early hours of Wednesday, September 30, for a four day tour of the country. The trophy arrived in the company of Sarah El Gazzar, Assistant to the Marketing Director of Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) and was met by officials of Stanbic Ghana Limited, led by Mawuko Afadzinu, Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Abedi "Pele" Ayew, the Stanbic Bank Ambassador for the tour.

The tour, which was initiated by Ghana in the run-up to the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, is aimed at whipping up the enthusiasm of soccer fans across the continent ahead of the 2010 tournament in Angola early next year.

Speaking at a press briefing at the VVIP Lounge of the Kotoka International Airport on arrival in Accra, Afadzinu said his outfit is proud to be associated with the event, adding that the tour will serve as a morale booster for the entire nation's support to ensure the success of the Black Stars at the competition.

Outlining the programme for the tour, Afadzinu said the trophy will on Thursday, October 2, be presented to the seat of government at the Osu Castle, to be followed by a press conference at the Alisa Hotel with a reception at the same venue.

He added that the trophy will be taken to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.

Mr Afadzinu said the trophy will also be taken through the principal streets of Accra on Saturday, with a mini tournament among the staffs of Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited at the Accra Technical Training Center (ATTC). Soccer maestro Ayew said he was honoured to be part of the tour because it affords him the opportunity to make a contribution to the development of the game on the continent. He said there was the need to be institutionalized the tour, to create the much awareness across the continent for the competition. The trophy will be taken through 18 other African countries with Zambia being its next destination. 30 Sept. 09