Obinna Nsofor, Joel Obi Feature as Real Madrid Legends Edge Inter Legends

Former Nigeria international stars Victor Obinna Nsofor and Joel Obi were in action for Inter Milan Legends, who suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid Legends in the 13th edition of the Corazón Classic Match at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

The annual charity fixture, organised by the Real Madrid Foundation, brought together some of the greatest former players from both European giants. This year’s edition was staged under the theme, “A Match with the Soul of Childhood,” with proceeds dedicated to social and sports development initiatives aimed at supporting children around the world.

Inter Legends looked on course for victory after taking a first-half lead, but the hosts produced a spirited second-half comeback to delight the home crowd.

The opening period was evenly contested before Inter broke the deadlock in the 41st minute. Former Brazil international Hernanes converted the rebound after Real Madrid goalkeeper Koke Contreras had initially saved his penalty.

Inter’s impressive lineup featured several club greats, including Javier Zanetti, Maicon, Lúcio, Esteban Cambiasso, Rodrigo Palacio, Giampaolo Pazzini, Goran Pandev, and Francesco Toldo.

Real Madrid Legends responded strongly after the restart and eventually found the equaliser in the 69th minute when former Portugal defender Pepe rose highest to power home a header.

The turnaround was completed six minutes later as former Spanish striker David Barral latched onto a cross into the penalty area and finished beyond Toldo to hand the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Inter pushed forward in search of a late equaliser, introducing Nigerian duo Obinna and Joel Obi in the second half to inject fresh energy into their attack. Both former Super Eagles midfielders made positive contributions as the Italian side increased the pressure in the closing stages.

However, Real Madrid Legends stood firm defensively to preserve their advantage and claim victory in the prestigious charity encounter.

Although Inter fell short on the scoreboard, the event once again showcased football’s ability to unite legendary players for a worthy cause, with Obinna and Joel Obi proudly representing Nigeria on one of the game’s most iconic stages.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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