By Emmanuel Aziken
This weekend, the eyes of football lovers across the continent will be fixed on Abuja, where glamour meets generosity as some of the most iconic names in world football converge for a cause that transcends sport.
At the magnificent Moshood Abiola National Stadium, the Barcelona Legends will lock horns with the African Legends in a charity exhibition match that promises nostalgia, excitement, and above all, compassion.
The event, holding today, Saturday, October 25, at 3 p.m., is inspired by Mrs. Zahra Buhari-Indimi, daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari, through her philanthropic platform, the ZMB Homes Foundation.
For Zahra, who has maintained an admirable low public profile despite her famous lineage, the event is much more than a star-studded reunion. It is a rallying call to use sport—the world’s most powerful unifier—to give hope to the less privileged.
Over the years, the ZMB Foundation has quietly intervened in areas of maternal health, youth empowerment, and orphan welfare, transforming lives with little fanfare. This match is her boldest statement yet.
Saturday’s fixture will feature household names who once lit up television screens and electrified stadiums across Africa and Europe. The African Legends, coached by former Super Eagles manager Samson Siasia, parade an intimidating line-up—Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, El-Hadji Diouf, Mark Fish, Obafemi Martins, Victor Ikpeba, Julius Aghahowa, Salomon Kalou, and Emmanuel Adebayor—a constellation of talent that defined generations.
Their opponents, the Barcelona Legends, are no less glamorous. Led by coach Albert Ferrer, they include Vítor Baía, Gaizka Mendieta, Ludovic Giuly, Javier Saviola, and Nigeria’s own Haruna Babangida, who came through the Catalan giants’ famed La Masia academy. For many fans, seeing these figures again—this time in Nigeria’s capital—will be a dream fulfilled.
The game is organised in collaboration with the Attom Foundation, founded by entrepreneur and fashion executive Yahaya Attom, whose creative brand, Obsession Apparel, is also one of the event’s sponsors. Together, ZMB and Attom Foundations are demonstrating how public-spirited individuals can collaborate to create lasting social impact through sport and entertainment.
Speaking ahead of the match, Zahra Buhari-Indimi said the event represents “a unique fusion of sport, charity, and continental friendship.” She emphasised that all proceeds would be channelled into supporting women, children, and youth across the country, adding that the initiative aims to build sustainable projects rather than one-off donations.
“This event is not just about football,” she declared. “It’s about using the universal language of the game to unite people and bring hope to communities that need it most.”
Her words resonate deeply in a country where football often offers momentary escape from the harsh realities of daily living. By blending the glamour of celebrity sport with grassroots charity, Zahra Buhari-Indimi has struck a balance between philanthropy and public engagement—a rare feat in Nigeria’s often showy charity space.
While her name commands instant recognition, those who have followed her journey say Zahra Buhari-Indimi has chosen a path of quiet impact rather than public flamboyance. Even at the height of her father’s presidency, she refrained from political visibility or undue privilege. The most prominent moment many Nigerians recall from that period remains her 2016 wedding to businessman Ahmed Indimi, a ceremony notable not for its extravagance but for its grace and modesty.
Behind the scenes, however, the ZMB Homes Foundation has been changing stories. Orphans have found new beginnings; widows have received economic support; and several beneficiaries have, through her network, been empowered to join the civil or armed services—many now serving as mid-level officers. It is this quiet transformation that gives substance to today’s football spectacle.
That the charity match is taking place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium is not lost on observers. The arena itself bears the name of one of Africa’s greatest philanthropists, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, whose generosity and vision extended far beyond politics. Hosting the ZMB charity event in this space gives the occasion a sense of poetic continuity—an intergenerational reminder that wealth and influence find their true meaning in service to humanity.
While Zahra Buhari-Indimi may not yet command Abiola’s scale of reach, her initiative is significant in its intent. She has used her privilege not as insulation but as a platform to act—demonstrating that legacy is built not by noise but by impact.
In a society where celebrity and philanthropy often blur into vanity, Zahra’s model stands apart. She neither chases the limelight nor allows her foundation’s work to become a publicity tool. Instead, she channels her resources into structured interventions—housing initiatives, vocational training, and community health programmes that create tangible outcomes.
Her father, she often notes, remains her inspiration. “Baba came from a modest background but rose to achieve so much for Nigeria,” she said in a recent statement. “I’m committed to helping many more people with similar backgrounds realize their potential, just as my father did.”
In that personal philosophy lies the deeper message of today’s match: that privilege must serve purpose, and that leadership—whether on the field or off it—is measured by the lives one uplifts.
As the players take to the lush green turf this afternoon, the match will be more than a display of ageing but graceful skills. It will be a reunion of legends, a celebration of African resilience, and a powerful reminder that the human spirit thrives most when it gives.
From Okocha’s artistry to Saviola’s finesse, from Kanu’s charisma to Giuly’s precision, the day will blend nostalgia with hope. The roars from the Abuja stands will echo far beyond the ninety minutes of play, carrying with them a message that sport, when wielded with compassion, remains one of humanity’s greatest instruments of change.
And at the heart of it all stands Zahra Buhari-Indimi—a woman using her name, her network, and her heart to write a different kind of legacy: one where football becomes philanthropy, and where every goal scored translates into another life touched. In our hearts, she is the referee of a good cause which many in and outside of government remove their eyes from.
