[Photos] Africa's World Cup presidents who hosted the golden trophy

The 2018 World Cup in Russia is kicks off in middle of June. The crème de la crème of footballers are set to assemble in a battle for supremacy.

The 32 teams will be aiming for the golden trophy that was last won by the Germans in Brazil. Africa will specifically be looking to win it for the first time.

As part of Africanews’ buildup to the tournament, we retrace the journey of the World Cup trophy. The trophy currently in Russia went on a global tour that started in January 2018 from Colombo, Sri Lanka.

It finally arrived in Vladivostok, Russia on May 1. In the first of a two part series, we look at the trophy’s stops across Africa.

We specifically look at African presidents of participating nations who had the privilege of hosting and hoisting the trophy during its stop – in this context we look at Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari, Abdel Fatteh Al-Sisi of Egypt and Macky Sall of Senegal.

The other two African nations heading to Russia but who missed a trophy stopover were Morocco and Tunisia. Incidentally, Egypt was the only North African country to have hosted the trophy.

Buhari hosts trophy at presidency in Abuja

• Date of stopover: 7 – 8 March, 2018
• Team alias: Super Eagles
• Star player (s): Victor Moses, John Obi Mikel
• Manager: Gernot Rohr
• World Cup appearances: Sixth

President Buhari receives FIFA World Cup Trophy ahead of the 2018 Football World Cup, CHAN Super Eagles Team and Bobsleigh Winter Olympic Team in State House on 7th Mar 2018 pic.twitter.com/6XBGxSS0Q8

— TheCalendar (@TheCalendarNews) March 7, 2018

Macky Sall hosts trophy at presidency in Dakar

• Date of stopover: 11 – 12 March, 2018
• Team alias: Teranga Lions
• Star player (s): Sadio Mane
• Manager: Aliou Cisse
• World Cup appearances: Second

  Le trophée de la Coupe du monde de football #WorldCup a été présenté hier à #Dakar au Président de la République Macky_Sall, en vue du prochain tournoi organisé en #Russia2018 en juin prochain. Karembeu #TrophyTour pic.twitter.com/K9klj6DqE4

  — Présidence Sénégal (@PR_Senegal) March 12, 2018

Al Sisi hosts trophy at presidency in Cairo

• Date of stopover: 15 – 16 March, 2018
• Team alias: The Pharaohs
• Star player (s): Mohamed Salah, Essam El Hadary
• Manager: Hector Cuper
• World Cup appearances: Third

It was all smiles in #Egypt when the Trophy came to town! They are #ReadyFor the 2018 FIFA #WorldCup….are you? pic.twitter.com/odPBpj2ZjA

— Trophy Tour (@TrophyTour) March 17, 2018