Nigeria president Bola Tinubu urged to secure friendly against Ronaldo’s Portugal in Abuja

Bashir Ahmed, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has appealed to current president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure a friendly match against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Abuja.

His comment stem from Angola’s recent high-profile friendly match against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, where the Palancas Negras succumbed to a 2-0 defeat on home soil.

As part of the 50^th anniversary, Angola reported splashed a whopping 12 million Euros to secure a high-stake friendly against the South American giants.

However, Bashir Ahmed, has called on the Federal government to do everything possible to secure a friendly against the European giants, noting that Ronaldo commands an enormous fan base across the country.

“Dear President Tinubu, I bring this humble request on behalf of millions of Nigerian football lovers… Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid fans make up roughly 60–75% of Nigeria’s football-loving population. Sir, we would be absolutely delighted if you could bring Ronaldo and the Portugal national team to play at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He added that such a move “would electrify the country, unite supporters across regions and strengthen the excitement ahead of the 2027 general election.”

Ahmed, who served as Personal Assistant on New Media to Buhari from 2015 to 2023, stressed that Ronaldo’s global appeal and long-standing popularity in Nigeria could significantly lift national morale.

He noted that the rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has shaped football loyalties in the country, and bringing the Portuguese forward to Abuja could create a unifying moment for fans nationwide.

The proposal has sparked wide conversation online, with many football enthusiasts expressing hope that the government will consider the request.