TopTier brings African football legends to Lagos as Nigeria beat Team Africa 2-1

TopTier Sports Management brought some of Africa’s biggest football legends to Lagos, where Nigeria’s golden generation defeated Team Africa 2-1 in a Legends Football Game at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.

The match, which brought CANEX WKND 2026 to a rousing close, celebrated the legacy of Nigerian footballers who helped establish the country as a dominant force in African and international football.

It also marked 30 years since Nigeria’s historic achievements at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where the Dream Team won Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal, defeating Brazil and Argentina along the way. The celebration also recalled Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Tunisia.

Speaking after the match, Chichi Nwoko, Chief Executive Officer of TopTier Sports Management, which organised the event, expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to bring the African football icons together in Lagos.

“I am fulfilled and glad that we had an opportunity to bring Africa to Lagos,” she said.

Ms Nwoko disclosed that the initiative began with a conversation with the vice-president of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

“Honestly, it was a conversation with the Vice President of Afreximbank that we needed to do something about football,” she said.

“I am a lover of sports, the VP of Afreximbank is a fan of football, and the chairman of Bet9ja, Mr Kunle Soname, is the biggest supporter of football in Nigeria.”

According to her, the convergence of their interests created an opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s football heritage.

“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.

On the pitch, Nigeria paraded several members of its celebrated generation, including Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba and Austin Eguavoen.

Team Africa also featured an impressive collection of former international stars, led by Ghanaian legend Samuel Kuffour. Others included Cameroon’s Alex Song, Côte d’Ivoire’s Salomon Kalou and Didier Zokora, Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf and former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah.

Despite the star-studded opposition, Nigeria emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko was also among the goalscorers.

Ms Nwoko acknowledged the contributions of the players, government officials and corporate partners who supported the event.

“I want to thank the legends for coming out. We thank the Nigerian government, the National Sports Commission, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. Thank you to Bet9ja. CANEX WKND has been wonderful,” she said.

Organised by TopTier Sports Management in collaboration with Bet9ja, the game was conceived to honour footballers who shaped Nigeria’s and Africa’s standing in the global game.

Beyond celebrating past achievements, the initiative also sought to draw attention to the welfare of former players and the need to create more opportunities for athletes after their professional careers.

The gathering in Lagos provided an opportunity for fans to reconnect with some of the personalities behind Nigeria’s most memorable football achievements, while celebrating a generation whose contributions continue to define the country’s football history.