Former Super Eagles star, Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Nosa Ikpeba were part of the glitterati of ex-players lined up for Tuesday night’s all-stars’ match to commemorate the 2018 Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards in Dakar, Senegal.
Bother players are past winners of African Footballer of the Year award, with Kanu claiming it in 1996 and 1999, while Ikpeba got it in 1997, such that they were among the privileged few called up for Tuesday’s game.
Footballlive.ng gathered that the game at Léopold Senghor Stadium in Dakar was billed as the first CAF Legends Match, in memory of former Senegal captain and coach, Jules Bocande.
Bocande, who died six years ago aged 53, is regarded as one of Africa’s finest football stars ever, having won the top scorer award in the French top-flight in the 1985/86 Ligue 1 season with 23 goals for FC Metz.
Aside Kanu and Ikpeba, also invited to form the CAF Select side for the match were Samuel Eto’o, Mohammed Aboutrika, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Sammy Kuffuor and Mark Fish.
They will play against the history making Senegal 2002 World Cup squad that reached the quarter-final of the global tournament in Japan/South Korea, with players like Diouf, Tony Sylva, Aliou Cisse, Papa Bouba Diop, Khalilou Fadiga and Salif Diao.
CAF deputy general-secretary, Anthony Baffoe said the game is in line with the vision to get more former players involved in affairs of African football at the highest level and to celebrate them for their efforts.
Baffoe added: “This match to be played annually is part of the promise by CAF President Ahmad to get more of former footballers involved in the affairs of CAF.
“The legends must be celebrated and CAF is taking the lead with such matches for us to celebrate the role their have played in making Africa football better.
“This will also give CAF the chance to directly connect with the former players as their experience and expertise will be sought to improve the game in Africa.”
