In remembrance of their teammate Wilfred Ndidi, a few Super Eagles players visited the 2025 Maracana Children’s Fest on Saturday.
The renovated Maracana Stadium in Tolu, Ajegunle, Lagos, served as the venue for the yearly event, which was sponsored by Ndidi, a midfielder for Leicester City.
At least 3,000 children attended the event, which featured a number of elite players, including Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen and Super Eagles stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong.
Former international Jonathan Akpoborie, Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge, Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen, and Frank Onyeka of FC Augsburg were also in attendance.
Both visitors and stadium spectators were enthralled as the kids displayed their football prowess on 19 five-a-side fields.
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When Osimhen, the top scorer in the Turkish League and a former African Footballer of the Year, arrived, the crowd erupted.
Youngsters were clearly thrilled about the unique chance to meet Osimhen in person as they joyfully chanted his name.
Speaking at the function, Ndidi conveyed his appreciation and sense of fulfillment for returning to the village where his football career started.
“I’m delighted and in awe. Over the last two years, this competition has gotten better. Usually, it takes place in December or June.
“The children’s smiles are very endearing. Every year, they genuinely look forward to it.
Even though I enjoyed watching football on TV as a kid, I always found it more thrilling to meet players in person.
We invited the Super Eagles players in order to give the kids that special moment.
It’s obvious that the kids are thrilled to watch the Super Eagles. It inspires them and gives them hope for the future.
“We want to invest in the children’s future and give them more attention. It means a lot to them to see someone like Osimhen,” the Super Eagles player stated.
According to Ndidi, Maracana Stadium was specifically chosen because of its history of turning out Nigerian football heroes.
He claims that Odion Ighalo is among the many celebrities that Ajegunle has created. He also mentioned that Maracana Stadium was a well-known football stadium while he was growing up.
Even though I didn’t play here as a kid, I understood its significance. The legacy of Maracana is preserved in part by this initiative.
Our goal is to preserve Maracana’s reputation and keep motivating Ajegunle’s future champions.
“Super Eagles players’ attendance demonstrates their support for the initiative. “They came voluntarily; nobody was coerced,” he claimed.
Ndidi expressed gratitude for his colleagues’ attendance, stating that it was very meaningful to the kids and the neighborhood.
“Seeing my teammates here today makes me happy. They had the opportunity to meet and engage with the kids.
“We’ve already found gifted children. However, it’s crucial to remind them to continue their education.
“They can’t give up on their studies for football. No matter how gifted they are, education is crucial,” he continued.
Oladotun Coker, the Lagos State Football Association’s (LSFA) vice chairman, also praised the occasion.
“This is a great initiative. It’s an excellent method of encouraging the growth of football at the grassroots level.
The kids had the opportunity to meet their heroes in person. They will never forget that moment.
“LSFA will continue to support such initiatives.” It is a commendable endeavor, Coker continued.
Football fans, traditional leaders, and Mr. Fatai Ayoola, Chairman of the Ajegunle Development Council, were among the dignitaries present.
