Media Amalgamated beat The PUNCHERS 2-1 in the much-anticipated novelty match to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper, The PUNCH.
Two goals in the first half in between an Adekunle Sulaiman equaliser for The PUNCHERS ensured the Amalgamed Team – made up of journalists from other newspaper houses in the country – won on the afternoon.
The match played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Lagos, had in attendance the Chairman, PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Angela Emuwa; directors Mrs Wunmi Tunde-Obe and Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi; the Managing Director and Editor-In-Chief of the newspaper, Mr Adeyeye Joseph; former MD, Mr Ademola Osinubi; General Manager, Digital and Publication, Mr Ademola Oni, other members of the management staff and the teeming PUNCH staff who turned out in beautiful colours to support their team.
Earlier before start of hostilities, Emuwa took the ceremonial opening kick while urging both teams to be sportsmanlike.
Six minutes into the match, the visiting side went ahead before Sulaimon restored parity for the hosts two minutes later to the delight of the home crowd
A foray of half chances followed before the visitors went ahead again in the 21st minute.
The goal proved to be the difference as The PUNCHERs chased an equaliser late on.
The golden jubilee celebration continues on Wednesday, February 28, with a three-day photo exhibition at the Alliance Francaise de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event will afford PUNCH readers and other Nigerians opportunities to view the best photographs from its extensive pictorial archive of the biggest news events in the nation’s history.
The high point of the anniversary is a distinguished public lecture to be held on Thursday, February 29 at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The lecture is expected to play host to leaders from the public and private sectors.
The weeklong activities will continue on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, where PUNCH will host a black-tie dinner to acknowledge the contributions of its stakeholders to the success of the organisation.