BY JACOB AJOM and UCHE UDEH
The  2013 UEFA Champions League final will mean different things to different Nigerians as MasterCard, the official sponsor of UEFA Champions League, has elaborate plans to celebrate the   final of Europe’s most lucrative club football competition.

In a show of appreciation to Nigerian card holders whose passion for football is very high, MasterCard, the technology company in global payment gave them the opportunity through their various banks to win tickets and watch the 2013 UEFA Champions League final live in London. at the legendary Wembley stadium.

Four lucky winners have already emerged and will be on the plane with their partners to Wembley for the May 25 final.

Omokehinde Ojomuyide, Vice President and Area Business Head, West Africa MasterCard also announced that 500 double entry tickets have been picked to watch the game at the exclusive UEFA champions league viewing event in Lagos. This has been slated for Eko L’Meridien, Victoria Island, Lagos on the day of the final.

The tournament is one of the most prestigious and richest club competition in European football and the world. The 2011 final remains the most watched to date .

In the present format, it consists of several stages which begins mid July with three knockout, qualifying and a play off round, which will lead to eight group winners and eight runners up and later knockout phase which leads to final in May . The winner of champions league qualifies for UEFA super cup final and FIFA club world cup.

The title has been won by 22 different clubs, 12 of which have won it more than once . The most successful of all clubs in the tournament is Real Madrid which has won it nine times . Since the change in name and structure there has been no consecutive winner. Presently the reinging champions is Chelsea after winning Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties and they are also the reiging champions of UEFA Europa as of May 15 2013.