Former Super Eagles captain and global football icon, Kanu Nwankwo, has confirmed his participation in the exhibition match, alongside fellow Nigerian greats Jay Jay Okocha, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi, and several other African football legends. Kanu disclosed this during an interaction with journalists on the sidelines of the ACFTA Fest in Abuja on Thursday.
Describing the event as unique, Kanu said the Legends United Gala Match would go beyond entertainment, combining football with a broader mission to celebrate African culture and empower grassroots communities.
“It’s happening in Nigeria and the legends are going to be there,” he said. “They’ll do what we know how to do, perform on the pitch, and everyone will enjoy it. But more importantly, we are involved because we want to promote African culture and empower the grassroots.”
Kanu explained that while football legends exist across the world, the event is intentionally focused on African icons, using sport as a tool to inspire younger generations and strengthen continental identity.
“This is about African legends,” he said. “We want young people growing up to think about their continent—Africa—and understand the importance of giving back. That’s why myself, Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, and others agreed to be part of this match on March 28.”
Echoing similar sentiments, former Cameroonian international and football legend, Eyond Enoh, highlighted unity as one of the core values driving the initiative. According to him, the ACFTA Fest will run from March 26 to March 28, with the Legends Gala Match scheduled for March 28 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
“Unity doesn’t happen by itself,” Enoh said. “You need deliberate initiatives to drive it. We have many ideas and promises in Africa, but the real challenge is action—and this festival is about action.”
Reflecting on Africa’s shared history, Enoh noted that colonial borders should no longer define African identity.
“The only difference between Cameroon and Nigeria is a line drawn colonially,” he said. “I don’t see myself only as a Cameroonian. I see myself as an African. This festival is about shifting from lines that divide us to lines that unite us.”
He described the African Continental Free Trade Area and its accompanying festival as one of the most viable platforms for fostering unity across the continent, driven by the vision of “one Africa, one market, one future.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ACFTA Fest 2026 will feature a range of activities beyond the football match, including Startup Fames, Heritage Waves, and other cultural and economic showcases designed to promote integration, innovation, and shared prosperity across Africa.
With football legends leading the charge, the festival aims to blend sport, culture, and commerce into a powerful statement of African unity and possibility.