Standard Bank sponsors 2010 Africa Cup of Nations

• Orange Africa Cup of Nations - biannually: 2010 (Angola), 2012, 2014, 2016
• African Nations Championship (CHAN) - 2009, 2011
• Orange African Youth Championship (Under20) - biannually: 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015
• Orange CAF Confederations Cup - annually: 2009 to 2016
• Orange CAF Champions League - annually: 2009 to 2016

Standard Bank will be the only African corporate sponsor to the Orange Africa Cup of Nations ANGOLA 2010.

Under the agreement, Standard Bank will be a sponsor of the AFCON event from 2010 to 2016, as well as other CAF properties that include the CAF Confederations Cup and Champions League.

The decision to partner with CAF over an eight year period was driven by Standard Bank's growing presence as a leading emerging markets bank on the African continent.

“It is appropriate that Standard Bank, which has an association with Africa that stretches for almost 150 years and has the largest presence in Africa of any financial institution, should be a key sponsor of African football,' said Clive Tasker, CEO of Standard Bank Africa.

“We are proud to be able to have a long-standing commitment to CAF which showcases Africa's accomplishments in the sport through tournaments that attract continental and global audiences. It is because of our desire to make meaningful connections with the communities in which we operate across the continent that we have become a sponsor of the Africa Cup of Nations event until 2016."

The 2010 Orange Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held between January 10 and January 31 has increased significance next year as five of the 16 nations involved will compete for the right to represent Africa at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

African football legend and three-times African Player of the Year, Abedi Pele, will be Standard Bank's chief football ambassador.

Pele will travel across Africa as part of a programme - the Standard Bank Trophy Tour that will see the AFCON Trophy touring to seven countries on a road show.

Clement Motale, director group sponsorships at Standard Bank comments on the exclusive rights to the Trophy Tour:
“The initiative to take the trophy to the fans across the continent is a special one. We are also delighted to have Abedi Pele representing Standard Bank as he is respected across Africa for both his expertise and commitment to football's growth, development and administration.”

“In 2010 Africa will have what the world wants. Africa's got Adebayor, Eto'o and Drogba - football's heroes in one place for one tournament. It is time for the continent to walk tall. It is Africa's time to shine,” Motale added.

Standard Bank will also be running a competition across Africa - the “Open, Use and Win” competition. The competition will offer people opening accounts a chance to compete for a grand prize of an all expenses paid trip for a lucky fan and partner to the 2010 event. There will also be monthly draws for hampers of footballing merchandise and cash prizes as the kick off in Luanda draws near.

The aim is to ensure football fans across the continent will become part of the event in Angola and be involved in the tournaments to be staged in Luanda, Cabinda, Benguela, and Lubango.