Europa League finals fever catches up with Kenyan Arsenal fans
Arsenal supporters in Nairobi are already in hyped up mood, a few hours to the 2018/19 Europa League final.
The clash pits the London club against cross-town rivals at the 67,000-seater Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan. At stake is the bragging rights and tag of champions for Europe’s second-tier competition.
If crowned winners, Arsenal, who finished fifth in the English Premier League, will get a chance to play in the prestigious Uefa Champions League in the coming campaign. Chelsea finished third and are set to take part in the CL.
And perhaps in a format aimed at standing in solidarity with their favourite club, about a dozen Arsenal fans in the Kenyan capital – some 8,000km away from where the match is set to take place – plans led a procession through the streets of Nairobi while sharing their confidence with whoever cared to listen.
“We will win by more than three clear goals,” one of them shouted while holding a placard outside Nation Centre.
LACAZETTE
“Aubamayeng is the player to watch and I know he will not disappoint,” another one added.
The placard had images of their favourite players including strikers Pierre Emerick Aubamayang and Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette.
These fans were joined in by thousands of their colleagues from around the world who shared in their opinion on Twitter.
Dear @Arsenal we have had an intimate relationship for more than 20 years. I have been faithful to you even when you have let me down. You owe me this European title. And like I do for all my friends and family I will pray for you. Love always #COYG #CHEARS #UELFinal #TheScoreKE pic.twitter.com/IcjilbPMlA
— Carol Radull (@CarolRadull) May 29, 2019
What happens when FIRE ? and ICE ❄ meet? Find out once again in the Europa League final only on StarTimes World Football channel 245. Today at 7pm.#EuropaOnStarTimes #CHEARS #CFCAFC #StarTimes pic.twitter.com/fvf2xecwlD
— Sheikh Tophic Sienu (@DeSheikh1) May 29, 2019
Arsenal will beat Chelsea today. Fav this tweet.#COYG #CHEARS #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/T4OMTrJZgh
— D E J I ? (@DejiOlatoye) May 29, 2019
Aubameyang and Lacazette making their own game plan to beat Chelsea #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/mRJ0v7hFD9
— Temz??? (@temi_ase) May 29, 2019