Former Chelsea striker and Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba arrived at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos on Saturday, 7 November 2026, to inspect the venue ahead of the day’s activities as part of the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2026.

The centre, formerly the National Theatre, hosts the main programme of the African Export-Import Bank-backed event running from 5 to 8 November.

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The 48-year-old’s visit forms part of a wider gathering of African football icons in the city.

Organisers of the Legends of Africa Football Game, staged in collaboration with Toptier Sports Management, Afreximbank and CANEX, have confirmed Drogba’s participation alongside Nigerian greats including Emmanuel Amuneke, Austin Eguavoen, Garba Lawal and Mutiu Adepoju.

The fixture, pitting Super Eagles legends against other continental icons, is scheduled for the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, with a celebrity match earlier in the day. Gates for the programme open at 1.30pm.

CANEX WKND 2026 at the Wole Soyinka Centre features a broad cultural programme that includes sessions with Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, film screenings, exhibitions and business discussions aimed at linking African creativity with global markets.

Drogba’s presence underscores the event’s blend of sport and culture.

The former Chelsea captain, who scored 164 goals for the club and led Ivory Coast to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, has long maintained ties with Nigeria through previous visits and sporting initiatives.

His arrival has heightened anticipation among fans for both the cultural sessions and the legends match. Local reports noted his inspection of the renovated centre, which was officially rededicated in 2025.

While no formal statement from Drogba was immediately available, the sight of the former forward at the venue has already circulated widely, adding star power to the Lagos programme.

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The combination of football heritage and creative industry focus reflects growing efforts to position Lagos as a continental hub for both sport and the arts during the CANEX weekend.