Ahead of Saturday’s Champions Cup showdown at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, Barcelona legends midfielder Gaizka Mendieta said on Friday that supporters should expect an “exciting time and fun memories.”
Speaking at a media briefing organized by the Attom Foundation, the former Spanish international said: “I’m honoured to be in Nigeria and I thank the organizers for making it possible for us to visit for the Champions Cup match.”
Persecondnews reports that Mendieta, who grew up in Bilbao, highlighted his professional debut as the defining moment of his career, recalling, “It represents all your dreams of making it in football.”
Goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba expressed his delight at participating, saying the event gives him “the chance to see players I only ever watched on television” and promising fans a fun evening due to the high quality of the players.
Transcorp Hilton, a key partner, announced its involvement, with the General Manager stating they are excited because the match allows them to engage local communities with the “superstar legends.”
The GM capped off the announcement by predicting a 3-3 scoreline.
Zainab Mohammed, Chief Medical Consultant of the Attom Foundation, explained the charity’s “people-focused” vision.
She outlined their ambitious goals for the year: following up on reaching 5,000 cataract patients last year, they are now targeting 20,000 girls (aged 10-18) in 50 underserved public schools.
This extensive outreach will include mental health support, providing disposable sanitary products, training health volunteers and teachers, and establishing clubs to teach menstrual hygiene, with the ultimate aim of fighting stigma and improving school attendance.
The upcoming clash will feature a star‑studded lineup: Barcelona Legends such as Ronaldinho, Ludovic Giuly, Javier Saviola, Jesús Angoy, Samuel Okunowo, and Mendieta, alongside African icons Emmanuel Adebayor, El‑Hadji Diouf, and Austin Jay‑Jay Okocha.
The charity match, scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, is expected to draw a full stadium and will raise essential funds for the Attom Foundation’s girl-child mental-health and menstrual-hygiene programme.
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