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Afreximbank and TopTier Sports Management unveil star-studded legends football match to be played at Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria

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Afreximbank

The event celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Super Eagles squad and Africa’s Creative Economy

LAGOS, Nigeria, September 11, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), through its Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, and TopTier Sports Management, What Media Group, today announced plans for a landmark Legends Football Match as a cornerstone event of the CANEX WKND 2026 programme.

 




  

The Legends Football Match, scheduled for 8 November 2026 at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, will bring together football icons from Africa and beyond. The event celebrates the 30th anniversary of the legendary mid-1990s Super Eagles squad—commemorating their historic 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph, 1994 FIFA World Cup run, and their defining 1996 Olympic Gold medal in Atlanta.

The 1996 Super Eagles did more than win Olympic gold; they re-wrote the global narrative

As part of CANEX WKND 2026—Afreximbank’s flagship platform for advancing Africa’s creative and cultural industries—the match will showcase the link between sports, entertainment, and the broader creative economy.

The event is expected to attract significant interest from football fans, the creative community and the wider public, with local and international media also attending.

Speaking during the press conference, Temwa Gondwe, Director of Creatives and Diaspora at Afreximbank said: “The 1996 Super Eagles did more than win Olympic gold; they re-wrote the global narrative, proving to the world that African talent is an unstoppable force. Today, the intersection of sports, entertainment, and culture is the heartbeat of Africa’s creative economy. The Legends Game is more than a celebration of our glorious past – it is a strategic and formidable platform to discuss the future commercialisation and empowerment of African athletes and creatives globally.”

Chichi Nwoko Founder and CEO of TopTier Sports Management, What Media Group, responsible for the planning and execution of the Legends Football Games said, “Thirty years ago, a generation of Nigerian footballers showed the world what African talent was capable of. The Legends Football Game is our way of saying thank you to them, and our chance to ask harder questions: what are we building for this generation and the next? We want to build the infrastructure that lets African athletes turn a playing career into a lasting one, on and off the field; this is a huge gap that must be addressed. That’s what this partnership with Afreximbank seeks to achieve.”

The Legends Football Match will also contribute to the broader CANEX WKND 2026 objective of positioning Lagos as a leading destination for Africa’s creative industries and demonstrating the power of major cultural and entertainment events to drive economic activity, tourism, investment, and international engagement.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

Sports

Former FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Kenny Jean-Marie Joins African Collaborations Group (ACG) Advisory Board to Advance Sport and Entertainment Districts Across Africa

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Jean-Marie led the launch of FIFA’s USD 2.25 billion Forward 3.0 development programme covering all 211 member associations worldwide

LONDON, United Kingdom, September 10, 2026/APO Group/ –African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com), the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems, today announced the appointment of Kenny Jean-Marie to its Advisory Board.

 




 
 

Mr Jean-Marie served as Chief Member Associations Officer of FIFA from 2020 to 2024, leading the global governing body’s relationship with its 211 member associations and overseeing the development, governance and institutional support programmes that connect world football’s central administration to the national federations that constitute it.

In this capacity, Mr Jean-Marie oversaw FIFA Forward, FIFA’s flagship football development programme, which provides tailor-made support to all 211 member associations and the six continental confederations across infrastructure, coaching, national teams, competitions, grassroots football and women’s football. He led the launch of the programme’s third cycle (2023–2026), representing a total investment of USD 2.25 billion in football development globally — a milestone widely recognised within world football as critical to the advancement of the sport’s global infrastructure and development programmes. He also played a pivotal role in the successful establishment of FIFA’s Paris office, strengthening the organisation’s day-to-day proximity to its member associations.

Prior to FIFA, he served at the Fédération Française de Football (FFF) from 2017 to 2020, first as Chief of Staff to the President and subsequently as Director of Institutional and International Relations, roles at the heart of French football’s engagement with public authorities, international governing bodies and its own federated network.

His presence on our Advisory Board reinforces the calibre of expertise we are assembling around ACG

Before entering sport administration, Mr Jean-Marie spent close to two decades in senior positions across French sovereign ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior, where he held territorial and central administration functions between 2009 and 2012, and the Ministry of Defence, where he served as a Naval Officer both at sea and in headquarters staff from 1998 to 2005. A graduate of France’s École Nationale d’Administration (ENA), he combines the rigour of French public administration with hands-on experience of institutional engineering and international governance.

A native of Guadeloupe, Mr Jean-Marie was appointed by the Fédération Française de Football in March 2026 as Préfigurateur of the future Ligue Guadeloupéenne de Football, with the mandate to rebuild the territory’s football federation on new foundations following the judicial liquidation of the previous structure. His mission covers the construction of a sustainable financial architecture, the establishment of a transparent statutory and regulatory framework, and the restoration of trust between clubs, federations, public authorities and international governing bodies including FIFA and CONCACAF — a live and highly practical demonstration of the institutional reconstruction capabilities he now brings to ACG.

His appointment to the ACG Advisory Board brings to the platform a rare combination of experience across the operational governance of world football, the leadership of a multi-billion-dollar global development programme, the institutional architecture of a major national federation, the discipline of senior public administration, and the current, active reconstruction of a football federation from its foundations — capabilities directly relevant to originating and structuring large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the African continent, where the interface between sport bodies, governments and international institutions is decisive.

“Kenny Jean-Marie brings a very particular and highly valuable profile to our Advisory Board — the combination of world football administration at the highest level, the leadership of FIFA’s multi-billion-dollar global development programme, the discipline and institutional literacy of French sovereign public service, and the current, active mission of rebuilding a football federation from the ground up. That combination is precisely what is required to originate sport and entertainment district projects that hold up under the scrutiny of governments, federations and development finance institutions alike. His presence on our Advisory Board reinforces the calibre of expertise we are assembling around ACG,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG.

The ACG Advisory Board provides strategic guidance as ACG originates and structures large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the continent, aligning governments, development finance institutions (DFIs), investors, sport bodies and infrastructure partners to support the development of financially sustainable, mixed-use district ecosystems.

Africa’s sport economy is projected to reach $20 billion by 2035, yet the continent continues to lack the integrated district ecosystems required to support large-scale development. ACG addresses this gap by originating bankable sport and entertainment district projects, moving beyond single-venue development models towards mixed-use, revenue-generating and financially sustainable district ecosystems.

Through its collaborative model, ACG convenes governments, PPP authorities and regulators, development finance institutions, private investors, developers, designers and engineers, legal and transaction advisors, operators, sport federations and leagues, event promoters, media and broadcast partners, academic institutions and host communities, creating structured pathways from concept to feasibility, bankability and delivery.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Collaborations Group (ACG).

 




 

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Former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura Joins African Collaborations Group (ACG) Advisory Board to Advance Sport and Entertainment Districts Across Africa

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FIFA

Ms Samoura served as Secretary General of FIFA from 2016 to 2023 and has been a member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Senate since 2022

Fatma Samoura is one of the most distinguished sport administrators of her generation

LONDON, United Kingdom, September 3, 2026/APO Group/ –African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com), the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems, today announced the appointment of Fatma Samoura to its Advisory Board.

 




 

 

Recognised as one of the most distinguished sport administrators of her generation, Ms Samoura brings more than three decades of international leadership experience spanning sport, development, humanitarian affairs and global governance.

Ms Samoura served as Secretary General of FIFA from 2016 to 2023, becoming the first woman and the first non-European to hold the position in FIFA’s history. During her tenure, she oversaw FIFA’s global administration across its major operational and institutional functions, including the delivery of two FIFA World Cups and two FIFA Women’s World Cups. She also played a leading role in strengthening FIFA’s governance, member association services and international development programmes.

Before joining FIFA, Ms Samoura spent more than 21 years with the United Nations, holding senior leadership positions in humanitarian and development operations, including with the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Her UN career took her across Africa, Central and South America and Asia, giving her extensive experience working with governments, international institutions and development partners.

She has served as a Senate Member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) since February 2022.

Her appointment strengthens the ACG Advisory Board with exceptional expertise in global sport governance, institutional leadership, international development, federation relations and the delivery of major sporting events — capabilities directly relevant to originating and structuring large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the African continent.

“Fatma Samoura is one of the most distinguished sport administrators of her generation. Her unique experience at the intersection of global governing bodies, national federations, governments and international institutions is precisely the calibre of expertise ACG needs as we originate a new generation of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems across the African continent. Her presence on our Advisory Board is a genuine strategic asset,” said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG.

The ACG Advisory Board provides strategic guidance as ACG originates and structures large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the continent, aligning governments, development finance institutions (DFIs), investors, sport bodies and infrastructure partners to support the development of financially sustainable, mixed-use district ecosystems.

Africa’s sport economy is projected to reach $20 billion by 2035, yet the continent continues to lack the integrated district ecosystems required to support large-scale development. ACG addresses this gap by originating bankable sport and entertainment district projects, moving beyond single-venue development models towards mixed-use, revenue-generating and financially sustainable district ecosystems.

Through its collaborative model, ACG convenes governments, PPP authorities and regulators, development finance institutions, private investors, developers, designers and engineers, legal and transaction advisors, operators, sport federations and leagues, event promoters, media and broadcast partners, academic institutions and host communities, creating structured pathways from concept to feasibility, bankability and delivery.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Collaborations Group (ACG).

 




 

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Mengniu’s Chinese Culture Pavilion Captivates the World at the FIFA World Cup

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FIFA World Cup

NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 July 2026 – On July 15 (EDT, GMT-4), the second semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place in Atlanta. Meanwhile, outside New York New Jersey Stadium, the host venue for this year’s World Cup Final, Mengniu, as an Official Sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unveiled a 400-square-meter Chinese Culture Pavilion created in collaboration with multiple partners. Using football as its bridge, the brand as its platform, and Chinese culture as its heart, the immersive pavilion seamlessly blended the passion of the beautiful game with the elegance of traditional Chinese aesthetics, presenting China’s stories to a global audience on one of the world’s greatest sporting stages.

Mengniu’s Chinese Culture Pavilion Debuts at the FIFA World Cup, Showcasing Chinese Culture to the World

On the pitch, a single football captures the attention of billions. Beyond the stadium, civilizations come together through cultural exchange.

The Mengniu Chinese Culture Pavilion marks the first comprehensive international presentation of Beijing Central Axis since its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and debuts at one of the world’s premier sporting events. Inspired by the architectural aesthetics of traditional Chinese architecture and the spatial order of Beijing Central Axis, the pavilion follows a symmetrical layout centered on a principal axis. At its entrance stands the monumental painting Magnificent Central Axis, offering a panoramic bird’s-eye view of Beijing’s historic Central Axis while conveying, through artistic expression, the Eastern philosophy and cultural values it embodies. As visitors explore the pavilion, football fans from around the world pause to experience its interactive exhibits, immersing themselves in the richness of Chinese traditional culture. Standing outside New York New Jersey Stadium, the pavilion continues to tell vivid, contemporary stories of China to a global audience.

Beyond Football: Mengniu Elevates Cultural Exchange on the World Cup Stage

For Mengniu, building a Chinese Culture Pavilion at this FIFA World Cup reflects a deeper understanding of the powerful connection between sport and cultural exchange. Mengniu believes that the FIFA World Cup is not only the pinnacle of football competition but also a global platform where diverse civilizations meet, connect, and learn from one another. As an Official Sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup from China, Mengniu sees it as both an opportunity and a responsibility to share China’s stories and showcase the richness of Chinese civilization with audiences worldwide. This commitment extends beyond football. During the Paris Summer Olympic Games and the Milan Winter Olympic Games, Mengniu, as a Worldwide Olympic Partner (TOP), continuously hosted its signature “China Night” events, integrating Chinese culture into the narrative of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions.

Beyond a Pavilion: Mengniu’s Multi-Dimensional Presence at the FIFA World Cup

As an Official Sponsor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mengniu’s presence extends far beyond traditional brand visibility. Its participation represents a comprehensive global strategy that integrates products, brand values, and corporate social responsibility.

On the product front, Mengniu Ice Cream has officially become the Official Ice Cream of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mengniu Ice Cream is available at all tournament venues and has simultaneously expanded into 11 major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and New York. By bringing world-class-quality products to international consumers, Mengniu continues to strengthen the commercial foundation for its global growth.

At the brand level, together with global brand ambassadors Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal, Mengniu brings its corporate spirit, “Born for Greatness,” to life on football’s biggest stage. The company has also partnered with Hisense to launch a series of coordinated Chinese-character pitch-side advertising campaigns during the tournament. Moving beyond individual brand promotion, the two companies present a united expression of Chinese brands, confidently demonstrating the growing global influence of Chinese enterprises.

In terms of corporate social responsibility, Mengniu not only brings Chinese culture to the international stage but also demonstrates the commitment of a responsible Chinese enterprise through meaningful public initiatives. At the opening match of this year’s FIFA World Cup, six teenage footballers from Inner Mongolia were selected by Mengniu to escort the FIFA flag onto the field, creating an inspiring example of how businesses can promote youth football development while fulfilling their social responsibilities.

From a glass of milk on store shelves to a cultural journey within the pavilion, Mengniu’s World Cup presence reflects the remarkable evolution of Chinese enterprises on the global stage. Looking ahead, Mengniu will continue to leverage the world’s premier sporting events to advance health, boost brand power, strengthen global presence, and fulfill social responsibilities, contributing the strength of China’s dairy industry to sharing China’s stories and showcasing the enduring appeal of Chinese civilization with the world.

 

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