Nigeria and Rwanda will renew their international walking football rivalry on Saturday, October 24, when both nations meet in a friendly at Eagles Club, Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos.
The match, scheduled for 8:00 a.m., will proceed as a standalone international fixture following changes to plans for the inaugural African Nations Walking Football Championship, originally conceived as a four-nation tournament.
Ghana and Morocco were also listed among the proposed participants, but withdrawals have altered the competition’s original format, leaving Nigeria and Rwanda to maintain the international programme through the friendly.
Sportsbeat.ng reported on September 6 that the Waka Football Association of Nigeria was preparing to host the championship from October 23 to 25, with the event intended to provide a platform for international competition and promote the growth of walking football across Africa.
Saturday’s encounter will therefore offer both teams an opportunity to compete on Nigerian soil while sustaining efforts to establish a stronger international calendar for the sport.
Walking football, also known as Waka Football in Nigeria, is a modified version of the traditional game for fifty years old and above with emphasis on technical ability, tactical awareness and teamwork.
The format is particularly popular among older adults seeking to remain physically active and connected to football.
Beyond its recreational appeal, the sport provides an avenue for former players and lifelong football enthusiasts to continue participating in organised competition in a less physically demanding environment.
The Waka Football Association of Nigeria, incorporated in January 2021 following the activities of its founding members from 2020, has been working to expand participation through organised competitions and the development of playing centres.
The association has identified Lagos, Abuja and Ekiti among its established centres, while pursuing wider national participation and opportunities for Nigerian players to compete internationally.
Nigeria’s relationship with Rwanda in walking football also has a history. In September 2022, a Nigerian team travelled to Kigali for a two-day playing tour featuring international friendlies as part of preparations for the Walking Football Nations Cup scheduled for Manchester in 2023.
Saturday’s meeting offers another opportunity to build on that relationship and give players valuable international match experience.
With the original championship taking a different shape, the focus will now be on the encounter at Eagles Club, where Nigeria and Rwanda will seek to showcase the competitive and developmental potential of walking football.
The friendly also provides an opportunity to sustain public interest in a sport increasingly offering older football enthusiasts a pathway to remain active and involved in the game.
