Nigerian Woman Buys Portuguese Football Club

Nneka Ede, a Nigerian business entrepreneur, has purchased Lusitano Ginasio Clube, a Portuguese third division side.
This was confirmed in an official statement released by the club on Thursday, although it did not disclose the amount Ede purchased the club.
Ede has secured 100 per cent ownership of the 108-years-old club, which last played in the Portuguese top-flight division in the 1950’s.
The statement read: “After months of negotiations with different entities, an agreement has been reached with Mrs Nneka Ede, a sports enthusiast and entrepreneur from Nigeria, a country filled with people as passionate and fiery about football as us and which incidentally share the same green and white in their flags, towards the transfer of the ownership of the SAD to the latter that will help us in our mission to take Lusitano to the next level.”
Following the confirmation of the deal, Ede has become the first African woman to own a European football club.
She is also the second Nigerian to buy a Portuguese club after Kunle Soname, owner of Remo Stars, purchased second division side, Clube Desportivo Feirense, in 2015.
Ede said the football club acquisition will help foster a greater relationship between Nigeria and Portugal.
She said: “I am excited about this opportunity and I hope that this new chapter will deepen the already great sporting relation between Nigeria and Portugal.
“And to continue with the rich history of Lusitano club and provide a pathway for young talent to develop and shine through.”
Lusitano SAD was established as Lusitano Ginasio Clube on 11 November 1911.
The club reached its pinnacle in the 1950’s when the club competed for 14 consecutive seasons in the Primeira Divisão (first division or tier 1).
It was incorporated as Lusitano SAD in 2016.
The club has Abraham Adelaja, a Nigerian forward, in its squad.