AFCON spirit soars with Cranes’ Gaga campaign

The Uganda Cranes will not be short of cheerleaders at this year’s Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations tournament following the launch of a nationwide campaign, ‘Gaga your way to Morocco,’ fans promotion that will see MTN send 50 fans to cheer on the team in Morocco.

The promotion launched on Thursday by an MTN team led by the segment manager Martin Mwesige and sponsorship manager John Paul Okwi at the FUFA Kadiba Stadium in Mengo will require the passionate fans to buy/activate an MTN bundle of their choice up until December 21 to enter the draw from which 20 fans will be drawn from weekly draws to be held live on Bukedde TV, FUFA TV, NBS, and NTV stations at 6.55pm every Sunday.

Twenty customers will win an air ticket, accommodation, match tickets, facilitation, and MTN-branded Cranes jerseys, all fully paid for by MTN.

There are also going to be engagements with fans through three major activities: an Inter-Alumni Futsal tournament featuring 10 school alumni teams, with the final slated for December 13 at the Akamwesi Mall Futsal pitch.

The teams that include MACOS, Mengo, Kabalega OBs, Uganda Martyrs Namugongo, SHACK, Ndejje, SMACK, Kibuli SS, and Buddo will fight it out for the single slot.

Uganda Cranes fans and Almuni team captains pose with MTN's JP Okwi (3rd right-back) , FUFA second vice president Dr. Azah Taibu (2nd left-back), Cranes player Moses Aliro (3rd left-front) and MTN's Martin Mwesige (right) during the launch of the ‘Gaga your way to Morocco’ fans promotion that will see MTN send 50 fans to cheer on the team in Morocco, at FUFA Kadiba stadium. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Additionally, two fans (a male and a female) will be chosen from the final five in each gender from a fan dribble challenge, while others from a TikTok Futsal tournament in groups of four will get a chance to challenge themselves, with the winning team joining the Morocco trip.

According to MTN’s John Paul Okwi, there will also be several online challenges on their social media platforms, where participants will win airtime, mobile money, and Gaga bundles.

“We are always excited to keep the fans having a good experience and bring them closer to the players that they admire and to our players that represent us as a nation, so we are using this opportunity to give them a chance to cheer the team in Morocco,” Mwesige said.

The launch was also attended by the FUFA second vice president, Dr. Azah Taibu, the alumni team captains, and a select fans group led by Kamodo and a few Cranes players led by Moses Aliro.

“The Cranes are the pride of this country, and all teams are doing us good, and so we shall remain steadfast to ensure the team is well prepared. So, we rally the fans to keep the vibe up and keep tabs on the team,” Taibu said.

FUFA CEO, Edgar Watson, thanked MTN Uganda for its continued and unwavering support for the Uganda Cranes and the development of Ugandan football.

He acknowledged MTN’s steadfast commitment to the national team over the years, noting that the partnership has played an important role in strengthening the game and helping players and fans stay connected to the team’s progress.

He welcomed the “Gaga Your Way to Morocco” campaign as a timely and inspiring initiative that brings fans closer to the team at a very historic moment.