Odumodublvck, Jeriq, Shoday light up Champions party

The UEFA Champions League final was the main attraction, but across Lagos and Owerri on Saturday, 30 May, football shared the spotlight with music, live performances and fan entertainment as Bet9ja Champions Party II unfolded simultaneously in both cities.

The event brought together football fans and music audiences for a day-long programme that blended live match screenings with performances from some of the country’s emerging and established acts.

At the Ikeja City Mall car park in Lagos, activity began long before kick-off. DJs, hype acts and fan engagement sessions kept crowds occupied throughout the afternoon as supporters gathered ahead of the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal.

As the evening progressed, the event moved between football and entertainment. Cheerleaders, raffle draws and halftime activities helped sustain the atmosphere, while performances from Azzi On The Beat, Ayo Santos, Kidd Carder and Shoday drew strong reactions from the crowd.

Later in the night, Odumodublvck took the stage as celebrations continued following the final. Titanium, Toby Shang and M.I.A. closed out the programme after fans remained on site to watch Nigeria’s Unity Cup clash against Jamaica.

A similar atmosphere played out hundreds of kilometres away in Owerri, where the Kanu Nwankwo Sport Center hosted the city’s first Champions Party activation. Activities opened with a five-a-side football match before performances from Kelly Sneh, DJ Big Swagz and MC Smile set the tone for the day.

During halftime of the Champions League final, Dre Ice performed for fans before Tuffking and Jeriq later headlined the post-match entertainment segment.

Reflecting on the atmosphere across both cities, Oluwatomi Sowunmi, Senior Associate at The Plug Global, noted that the event went beyond football for many attendees.

“Football was always going to be the main attraction, but what we saw throughout the day was people engaging with the entire experience. Some came early for the music and activities, others stayed long after the final whistle. There were conversations around the matches, live performances, raffle draws and different moments that kept people involved throughout the day. It created an atmosphere that felt much bigger than simply watching a game.”

By the time the final performances wrapped up in Lagos and Owerri, the Party had offered a reminder of how closely football and popular culture continue to intersect, particularly among young audiences who now consume both in the same spaces.