Nigeria’s football legends secured a 2-1 victory over Team Africa in an exhibition match at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos State, bringing CANEX WKND 2026 to a memorable close.
The Legends Football Game was organised by TopTier Sports Management in collaboration with Bet9ja, according to a statement released by the firm on Monday. The fixture assembled stars from the generation that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and the 1996 Olympic gold medal in Atlanta, where Nigeria defeated Brazil and Argentina.
The Nigerian side featured Jay-Jay Okocha, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba and Austin Eguavoen. Team Africa was captained by former Ghana defender Samuel Kuffour and included Cameroon’s Alex Song, the Ivorian duo of Salomon Kalou and Didier Zokora, Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf and former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah.
The visiting side pushed the home team hard throughout the contest, but Nigeria ultimately had the final say, with Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, scoring the winning goal.
Chichi Nwoko, Chief Executive Officer of TopTier Sports Management, explained that the concept grew out of a conversation with the Vice President of Afreximbank about staging a football event.
“I am fulfilled and glad that we had an opportunity to bring Africa to Lagos,” Nwoko said. “I am a lover of sports, the Vice President of Afreximbank is a fan of football, and the chairman of Bet9ja, Mr Kunle Soname, is the biggest supporter of football in Nigeria.”
She noted that the timing was particularly significant, arriving 30 years after the 1996 Olympic triumph. “It was perfect timing, a perfect storm to really celebrate and remember the legacy of Nigeria as the kings of football 30 years after 1996,” she said.
Nwoko expressed gratitude to the legends, the Federal Government, the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Bet9ja for their support.
According to the organisers, the game was designed to honour the players who shaped Nigeria’s and Africa’s standing in world football, while drawing attention to the welfare of athletes and the opportunities available to them after their playing careers.
