Wafu's bumpy ride

Amokachi played for Nigeria in the Wafu Cup

By Eniwoke Ibagere BBC Sport Online

In 1974, President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo donated the West Africa Football Union (Wafu) trophy for a contest between nations in the sub-region.

A tournament along the lines of the African Nations Cup was agreed on, and the Ivory Coast hosted the inaugural edition.

Wafu Cup fixtures

While other countries sent their national teams, Nigeria took a selected side to Abidjan for the event, which was won by the hosts.

But after a three year interlude, in which there were no competitions, a new format emerged.

The Ecowas Cup was introduced for national teams, while the Wafu Cup became a club competition.

Winners

Nigeria won the maiden edition of the Ecowas Cup in 1977 but there was no subsequent competition until 1983, when Ivory Coast clinched the trophy.

In 1985, Senegal won, followed by Ivory Coast again in 1987 and Nigeria in 1989 and 1991.

For Nigeria, the tournament proved beneficial.

It led to the discovery of talent that formed the nucleus of the side, which won the 1994 Nations Cup and made the country's World Cup debut in the USA.

Sadly, problems within the organization's membership have kept the tournament from being a regular affair.

Money problems

But Wafu's governing body decided to re-launch an annual regional event for national teams last year.

Some of the matches will be in Abidjan

It ruled that only players with domestic clubs can compete in the event, which will end with an eight-nation finals.

Interested companies put in sponsorship money amounting to $1m in order to raise the standard of the tournament.

The aim was to bring the Wafu Cup in line with its counterparts in Southern Africa (Cosafa), East and Central Africa (Cecafa) and North Africa (Arab Super Cup), who hold regional competitions for their own national teams.

But due to poor planning, TV Africa, the main sponsors, pulled out, leading to its subsequent cancellation.

TV Africa has been lured back to sponsor this year's event and is expected to provide a live broadcast of all the matches.