Abuja is set to host football royalty as Barça Legends make their long-awaited return to Nigeria for their second outing of the season.
The star-studded side, managed by Albert Ferrer, will face a team of Africa Legends on Saturday, 25 October, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The exhibition clash, which kicks off at 3 p.m. local time (4 p.m. CET), is expected to draw over 60,000 fans eager to relive some of football’s finest memories. It follows the Legends’ recent 3–2 victory in Monterrey, Mexico, where David Villa stole the show with a hat-trick.
For the Abuja spectacle, Ferrer will be able to count on global icon Ronaldinho, whose flair and charisma remain timeless crowd-pullers. Joining him in the line-up are Ludovic Giuly, Javier Saviola, Jesús Angoy, Samuel Okunowo, Marc Valiente, Fernando Navarro and Roberto Trashorras, with more names set to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
This marks the Barça Legends’ fifth official visit to Africa, having previously showcased their talent in Mozambique (2017), Morocco (2019), Zambia (2023), and DR Congo (2023).
Nigeria has played its own role in that story. Four players have worn the famous Barça colours at first-team level: Emmanuel Amunike, a two-time league champion and Cup Winners’ Cup hero; Samuel Okunowo, a La Liga winner; Haruna Babangida, who debuted for Barça B as a teenager; and Elohor Godswill, who featured in the Copa Catalunya.
Since its launch in 2016, the Barça Legends project has brought together more than 80 ex-players, providing a platform to showcase the club’s brand of football across the world while giving fans a nostalgic taste of their heroes.
With Abuja now on the radar, anticipation is already soaring. For Nigerian fans, the chance to watch Ronaldinho and company light up the turf will be more than just a game!
