Mutiu: "The Africa Cup of Nations is the continent's big footballing festival"

Following a career which saw him showcase his midfield talents for Real Racing Club Santander, Real Sociedad and UD Salamanca, Mutiu Adepoju (Ibadan, Nigeria, 22 December 1970) is currently serving as a LaLiga Santander ambassador throughout Africa. The continent's most prestigious tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations, gets underway this Saturday and LaLiga interest in the competition is particularly high, with a plethora of Spanish-based stars poised to spearhead their nations' bids for continental glory.

Speaking ahead of the kick-off of a tournament which sees African football's heavyweights do battle for the coveted title, Mutiu explained that, "The Africa Cup of Nations is a footballing festival which is followed with the fervour which is so characteristic of our people. The tournament features players who are excelling both at home and right across Europe."

Amongst those bidding for glory are 17 aces who ply their trade in the top two tiers of Spanish football, prompting Mutiu to comment that, "The LaLiga representatives will have a big say, they're top players who are key figures for their club sides. They're the ones who'll be charged with carrying the fight for their respective national teams."

#LaLiga is ready for the @CAF_Online! #CAN2017 https://t.co/qlekCTzW6R

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) January 13, 2017

LaLiga's international expansion continues apace, with the organisation's offices in Nigeria and South Africa promoting the development and growth of the game across the African continent, efforts which Mutiu describes as "highly significant."

"The assistance that LaLiga is offering African football is really important on so many levels. It's helping to improve the players' technical and tactical skills, whilst also benefiting the way in which the clubs operate. Furthermore, the collaboration is offering teams and players new opportunities in terms of the development and training of footballers and coaches," he stated.

The 31st instalment of the tournament, which is being staged in Gabon, runs from 14 January to 5 February. As the host nation, the Panthers will contest the curtain-raiser with Guinea-Bissau at Libreville's Stade de l'Amitie this Saturday at 17:00 (local and Spanish time). In terms of his predictions as to the sides most likely to wrestle the crown from holders Ivory Coast, Mutiu suggests that, "Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Morocco all have a great chance of reaching the semi-finals."

"Playing in the Africa Cup of Nations means a great deal to any footballer. It's just like being involved at a World Cup. There's a lot of passion surrounding the tournament given that it's a competition which features the continent's best players, and you go into it with the hope of lifting the trophy or getting through to the latter stages," Mutiu concluded.