Organisers of the much talked about ceremonial international match planned to celebrate the contribution of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to sports development of Lagos State during his tenure have been made public to show how Saturday, 18 May, 2019 will look at.
The event tagged The Match International will see selected African football legends taking on their Nigerian counterparts in a friendly atmosphere at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.
The African XI representatives will pay a courtesy call on Governor Ambode on the eve of the event on Friday by 10a.m at the Lagos House at Alausa, Ikeja, while the activities on Saturday will kick off with entertainment by 10a.m. A female football match between Lagos U-15 and Kebbi U-15 will hold between 12 noon and 1pm after which 30 minutes of entertainment interlude will be observed.
Between 1:30pm and 2:30pm, another round of field action will take place between Lagos U15 male team, and Kebbi U-15. The organisers say entertainment, interlude and other activities will hold for the next 45 minutes after which the main match of the day, Africa XI versus Naija Legends XI will take place between 3:15pm to 4:15pm.
The last round of entertainment interlude will draw curtains on the event of the day by 5pm.
Chairman of The Match International, Waidi Akanni has confirmed the participation of the Liberian President, George Weah, who is a former World Footballer of the Year. Other African legends on the list are Yaya Toure, Diomansy Kamara, Peterside Idah, Geremi Njitap, Michael Essien, Lomana Lua- Lua, Samuel Eto, Didier Zokora, Kader Keita, Richard Kingston, Christian Karembu, El- Hadji Diouf.
On the Nigerian side are Peter Rufai, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Samson Siasia, Augustine Eguavoen, Joseph Yobo, Ike Shorunmu, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Jay- Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amunike, Phillip Shuaibu( Deputy Governor, Edo State), Taribo West, Victor Ezeji, Tijani Babangida, Emma Okocha, Ifeanyi Udeze, Uche Okechukwu and Garba Lawal.
