African fans warm up for Champions League

Manchester United and Chelsea are two of the most popular teams among Africans and on Wednesday, they clash in one of the year's biggest games - the European Champions League final in Moscow.

Manchester United has long been a global brand, while Chelsea's rise to prominence and cluster of African stars has attracted wide audiences on the continent.

Here, passionate African supporters of the two teams share their feelings ahead of the showpiece match.

JENNIFER, KENYA

I have been a Man Utd fan almost as long as I can remember and for as long as I knew what soccer was.

I first got into football when I was a teenager. I was a bit of a tomboy and used to hang out with guys who watched Premier League games on television.

Name: Jennifer Gakunga Town: Nairobi Age: 33 Job: Commercial lawyer Have Your Say

The Premier League is very big over here in Kenya and they show it on one of the main channels - Nation TV - and cable channels.

At college I used to go to bars and watch games. I started to identify with the team.

On Wednesday night I shall go the Tamasha sports bar and restaurant in Hurlingham in Nairobi. It is quite middle class and upmarket but it is open to everyone and it has a fantastic atmosphere.

Everyone knows everyone in Nairobi, so a lot of people will go to watch the game there. The bar will be full of friends of mine.

There are about six screens there, as well as one giant screen. There will be hundreds of people there and they will spill over onto the veranda outside.

If you want a seat you have to know the owner or one of the waiters. We often send one of our friends along early to reserve some bar stools for us.

A lot of people stand up at the sports bar. When Man U score, the only people sitting down will be the Chelsea fans.

We will give the Chelsea fans a hard time, but within limits. After the game, we will still be friends with them and will buy them drinks.

There are never any fights - after all it's only a game. When the match is finished, life goes on.

I love Man Utd because of the depth of their squad. They have proven themselves time and time again. They have real character. Alex Ferguson is a fantastic coach and he has found a balance of young and old players.

There is a seamless transition to the new players. If you look at Arsenal they do not bring the young players through the training system and Chelsea just buy the best players. But with Man U it is like a family.

Ryan Giggs is my favourite player - it seems like he has been there forever. I hope he will play in the final.

There are more and more women football supporters now in Kenya. Nairobi is very metropolitan.

My husband is amazed how much I love football. He supports Arsenal so we tease each other a lot. We have a six-month-old baby daughter and I hope she will follow football. Maybe she will support the local team, Mathare Utd.

Kenyan soccer has matured and we now have the Kenyan Premier League. But the English Premier League is still the most exciting football in the world to watch.

I think that Man U will win 3-2.

OLUSEYI, NIGERIA

I have been a Chelsea fan for more than 12 years, since I was 17.

At first it was just the colour blue that appealed to me, but after that I began to like the players and the way they played.

Name: Oluseyi Adeyomoye Town: Lagos Age: 29 Job: Photojournalist

I particularly liked Babayaro and Desailly.

I can remember in 2000 when we lost to Lazio in the Champions League - I was so disappointed.

When we got to the final this time I was so excited, I celebrated as if it was my wedding day.

I think playing in Moscow will almost be like playing at home because that is where [Chelsea owner Roman] Abramovich comes from.

If I had my way, I would watch the game in Moscow, but I shall see it at one of the local "view centres" near where I live in Ajah, Lagos.

I prefer to watch games with lots of other people - whether it's in a stadium or a packed bar.

The view centres show games at the weekend and during the week on cable channels. There are always at least 500 people watching the games, but for big ones like this there could be around 1,000. The view centres have about four screens and there is always lots of beer.

People celebrate and get drunk after the match. The losers have less appetite for beer after the game, but we all come together as one and analyse the game afterwards.

Everyone at the view centre wears their team's shirts. Right now I am wearing the blue Chelsea shirt that my uncle bought for me when he went to London.

I am such a big Chelsea fan that everything has Chelsea pictures on it - my mobile and my lap top have Chelsea screensavers.

My brother is an Arsenal fan, so there is a lot of rivalry. I always call him after the games and we argue at the top of our voices.

When Arsenal lost to Barcelona, he was so depressed he could not sleep for two days.

I like Chelsea because they play good football. I love the current players - like Drogba who we call "Mr Goal" and Essien who we call "Caterpillar" because he is so strong.

I am just waiting for the day when I can visit Stamford Bridge. I am saving up for that day.

I think the score will be 1-0 to Chelsea.