Please Bring Ronaldo and the Portugal National Team to Play in Nigeria – Former Buhari Aide Urges Tinubu

Bashir Ahmed, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appealing for the Federal Government to invite Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal national team for a friendly match in Abuja.

The call comes shortly after Angola confirmed it had invited Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team for an international friendly. Ahmed said this gesture should inspire Nigeria to create its own sporting spectacle, noting that Ronaldo commands an enormous fanbase across the country.

In a post on his verified X account, Ahmed wrote:

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 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.