This year’s edition of the annual COPA Lagos show which took place at the Eko Atlantic City has taken art and entertainment a notch higher in Nigeria, having treated revelers to a variety of high profile shows.
It was the best of time for fun seekers who were treated to an international football match, a runway show of local designers with Nigerian Beachwear 2017 collection and a series of musical performances featuring some of the best of Nigerian artistes.
At the event which had in attendance notable dignitaries including the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the crowd was full of merry and cheers for the performers.
The day had begun with a thrilling beach soccer match between Enyimba FC beach soccer team and the Pepsi Football Academy. Next was a celebrity match between Team Dbanj and Team Victor Ikpeba. Team Dbanj included Peter Okoye of P-Square, Samson Adamu, CEO of Kinetic Sports, organisers of the event, and popular Beat FM OAP, Jimi. Ikpeba’s team had other ex-Nigerian internationals like like Aloy Agu in goal, Waidi Akanni, Victor Agali, Mutiu Adepoju, Ifeanyi Udeze and popular celebrity, Frank Edoho of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire fame. The Ex-Internationals won the match 2-1.
The main competition on the day was a game between Nigeria’s Super Sand Eagles and the Switzerland national beach soccer team. The Swiss lived up to their pre-tournament billing, beating Nigeria 8-3 in an electrifying encounter, which also saw the emergence of its star player, Noel Ott emerging as the Man of the Match.
The fashion show featured top Nigerian designers and upcoming talents who thrilled the audience with beach-friendly designs with a COPA lifestyle theme, personified by carefully curated pieces from clothing to accessories. The designers included Raya, Kinabuti, Krushil, Assian, Dap Mod and The Weave Hat Company.
Other highlights of the event included a food fair and a dedicated fan zones where sponsors like FCMB, Pepsi, Wakanow and Hero Lager treated fans to different games and contests, with some of the guests taking home a variety of exciting gifts and prizes. The event was rounded off with an all-night open air music concert anchored by Nigeria’s international award winner, DJ Obi.
The feat attained by this year’s COPA Lagos is a confirmation of the words of Samson Adamu, CEO of Kinetic Sports, organisers of the event, who said that COPA Lagos was much more than a football tournament, as it has grown over the years to become a major show capable of putting Nigeria on the global tourism map. He noted that while the football matches served as a fitting forerunner to the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations which comes up two days after at the same venue, the other activities were meant to celebrate other aspects of the passions of Nigerians.
“Despite this being a one day event, this year, we had a huge turnout and the experience this year not only focused on football, but on the different things our people are really very passionate about. We have since moved from being the first ever international beach soccer event in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa to being one of the most attended entertainment events in the region, as can be seen from the crowd here today,” Adamu said.
