Afreximbank, TopTier Sports Management Unveils Plans for 2026 Legends Football Match in Lagos
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), through its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, and TopTier Sports Management—What Media Group, on Wednesday at a press conference in Lagos, unveiled plans for a landmark Legends Football Match. Scheduled for November 8, 2026 at Onikan Stadium in Lagos, the match will serve as a cornerstone event for the CANEX WKND 2026 programme.
The event is designed to bring together football icons from across Africa and around the world to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the mid-1990s Super Eagles squad. The match honours that generation’s historic achievements, including the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory, their memorable 1994 FIFA World Cup run, and the 1996 Olympic Gold medal victory in Atlanta.
As part of CANEX WKND 2026—Afreximbank’s primary platform for supporting Africa’s creative and cultural sectors—the game intends to highlight the economic links between sports, entertainment, and the creative industries. Organisers expect high turnout from football fans, the creative sector, the public, and both local and international media.
During the press conference, Temwa Gondwe, Director of Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank, spoke on the global impact of the 1996 team. “The 1996 Super Eagles did more than win Olympic gold; they re-wrote the global narrative, proving to the world that African talent is an unstoppable force,” Gondwe stated. He noted that the intersection of sports, entertainment, and culture drives Africa’s creative economy, describing the game as a strategic platform to address the future commercialization and empowerment of African athletes and creatives globally.
Chichi Nwoko, Founder and CEO of TopTier Sports Management and What Media Group, is overseeing the planning and execution of the match. She emphasised the importance of building long-term support systems for players. “Thirty years ago, a generation of Nigerian footballers showed the world what African talent was capable of. The Legends Football Game is our way of saying thank you to them, and our chance to ask harder questions: what are we building for this generation and the next?” Nwoko explained. She added that the partnership with Afreximbank aims to build the necessary infrastructure to help African athletes transition into sustainable long-term careers both on and off the field.
Ultimately, the Legends Football Match aligns with the broader goals of CANEX WKND 2026 to position Lagos as a primary hub for Africa’s creative industries. The organisers aim to demonstrate how major cultural and sports events can stimulate economic activity, tourism, investment, and international partnerships.
