It was an electrified atmosphere at the Campos Mini Stadium Lagos Island on Tuesday, December 26th as the annual Asisat Oshoala Celebrity All-Stars Match took centre stage.
The event which got underway with an entertaining exhibition match between the Asisat Oshoala Academy and Flourish FC served the best of Women’s football with the girls from Flourish Academy throwing the stadium into a frenzy with three exquisite strikes to secure a 3 -1 victory in the pulsating tie.
The MVP of the match Effiong Sandra of Flourish FC received a 40-inch TV, while the most outstanding goalkeeper, Kuti Taiwo, also of Flourish Academy got a Microvave courtesy of one of the partners of the event, MTN.
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The Much anticipated fixture was the Celebrity Game that saw Team Naija All-Stars captained by former Super Eagles forward, Obafemi Martins, lock-horns against Team Naija Celebrity led by ace Comedian and Actor Ayo Makun known as AY. It was a fixture that started with “Fun Games” between both sides as they engaged in a run challenge while having a ball between each player closed together on a straight line – team Naija Celebrity came tops in this one.
As expected, the match proper was an action-packed affair that got the capacity crowd all on their feet as they followed the brilliant display of football from their favorite stars and some very funny moves from nonprofessionals.
At the end of hostilities, Team Naija All-Stars came from a goal down to win by 4-2 with chief host, Asisat Oshoala, putting her name on the scoresheet with a late penalty that made it four for the Naija All-Stars.
At the end of the event, an elated Asisat, in her closing remarks, thanked her colleagues as well as the Naija Celebrities for coming out in their numbers to support her.
In her words: “I have been doing this for the 8th year running and must say it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my fellow footballers as well as the celebrities who have always shown up in their numbers to support me.
“I must also commend my manager, Mr. Lanre Vigo, and the team for putting this together, as well as our headline sponsor Providus Bank and other partners which include MTN, Pepsi, Flutterwaves, Idomie, game, PROkicks, just to mention a few. Together, I believe we can consolidate on the successes recorded today as we take it notched further with subsequent editions.”
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The coordinator of the event, Mr. Lanre Vigo, who also doubles as the chairman of the organising committee, said it took months of planning and consultations with the football stars, celebrities, and sponsors to make the 2023 edition a huge success.
“We were more strategic with our planning this time. Our focus was to have the crowd in their numbers as well as bring in some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry to complement the football stars and this we were able to achieve,” Vigo said.
The co-founder of Plug Sports thanked the headline sponsor of the 2023 edition Providus Bank and other partners for making the 8th edition a massive success.
“I can’t leave out my team for the dedication and commitment they exuded towards making this a reality, let me say I sincerely appreciate their loyalty and belief in the project, it can only be up and forward ahead of the 9th edition in 2024, he stated.
The annual Asisat Oshoala Celebrity All-Stars Match has been adjudged the biggest and most consistent celebrity game in the country over the years.
