Forget the scripts. Forget the cameras. Forget the microphones.
For one unforgettable afternoon at the Main Bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, celebrities and broadcasters swapped their professional tools for football boots, and what followed was nothing short of blockbuster entertainment.
The NBMA Ambassador Segun Olusola Celebrity Football Match, held in conjunction with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and proudly supported by IBD IMPEX Limited and Rite Foods Limited, delivered goals, drama, laughter, friendly rivalry, and enough excitement to convince everyone that some celebrities have secretly been attending football training after movie rehearsals.
Leading the charge for the Actors Guild of Nigeria was ace comedian Akpororo, who reminded everyone that he doesn’t only score punchlines; he scores goals too! The humor merchant produced a sensational hat-trick, leaving defenders chasing shadows and spectators wondering if someone had mistakenly signed him from the Premier League.
Unfortunately for the entertainers, football has one cruel rule: a hat-trick doesn’t always guarantee victory.
The media team refused to be intimidated as Akinwale Kasali, Taiwo Odedeyi, and Joshua Ikogor each found the back of the net, ensuring the fiercely contested encounter finished 3-3 at the end of regulation time.
With neither side willing to blink, the match headed into a nerve-racking penalty shootout.
The media professionals proved that, beyond breaking news, meeting deadlines, and pushing pens, they also know how to keep their composure from twelve yards, triumphing 4-3 on penalties to proudly lift the prestigious Ambassador Segun Olusola Legacy Cup.
The encounter also produced memorable moments as the King of Stand-Up Comedy, Ali Baba, alongside several notable entertainment personalities, traded jokes for tackles and comic timing for football timing, delighting the crowd with spirited performances that showed there is indeed life beyond stage lights and movie sets.
Following the thrilling contest, prizes and the coveted trophy, courtesy of the Family of Ambassador Segun Olusola, were presented by the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria alongside the Chairman of the AGN Lagos State Chapter, celebrating not just victory but the enduring legacy of one of Nigeria’s broadcasting icons.
The football fiesta continued with another entertaining showdown as the Yaba College of Technology Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies locked horns with Emiloju FC.
If the first match was a thriller, the second quickly turned into a football masterclass.
Emiloju FC produced a ruthless attacking display, overpowering the students 5-0 in a commanding performance. Goals from ADETUNJI WARIS AYOMIDE, while FARUK ABUBAKAR and ROFEEK SAFIU grabbed a brace each, completed an emphatic victory, as YABATECH struggled to contain the relentless attacking firepower of their opponents.
Beyond the scorelines, the annual celebrity football match once again fulfilled its purpose of promoting friendship, healthy competition, networking, and strengthening the bond between Nigeria’s broadcasting and entertainment industries, while honouring the remarkable legacy of Ambassador Segun Olusola, whose contributions to broadcasting, culture, sports, and national development continue to inspire generations.
The successful football fiesta was proudly supported by IBD IMPEX Limited and Rite Foods Limited, whose invaluable partnership helped make the celebration a memorable blend of sports, entertainment, and broadcasting, while further reinforcing the ideals of unity, excellence, and youth engagement championed by Ambassador Segun Olusola.
One thing became crystal clear at the final whistle:
Whether it’s behind a microphone, in front of a camera, on a comedy stage, or inside the penalty box, Nigerians certainly know how to entertain.
