Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are kicking off the second day of their trip to Nigeria with an engagement related to the Invictus Games.
On Saturday, May 11, Meghan — who stepped out in a black and white cutout silk midi dress by Johanna Ortiz — and Harry attended a training session for Nigeria: Unconquered, a national charity working in collaboration with the Invictus Games Foundation. Their visit focused on sports recovery, and they observed a basketball match and training session with athletes.
Upon arriving at the Defense Headquarters Officers’ Mess in Abuja, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was promptly escorted to watch a sitting volleyball game. As they settled into their seats in the arena, they were presented with scarves in Nigeria’s green and white colors. After about 15 minutes, Harry was invited to join in. His colleagues shouted, “Team Harry!” Animated Meghan clapped for every point, regardless of which team scored, but she had a big smile and cheered when Harry scored his first point.
Once Harry took his place on the court, a young girl named Tiwa Akanbi, 9, was ushered forward to meet the Duchess of Sussex.
“She said Prince Harry loves to play volleyball and that he’s very good at it. And she asked me if I play volleyball in my school. And I said yes,” Tiwa tells PEOPLE. Adds her mom, Desola Akanbi, 47: “She’s always wanted to meet her. She said last night, ‘When am I going to meet ‘Auntie Meghan?’ ”
At the end of the match, Harry was surrounded by players and their families, and Meghan walked over to join the group photo with the teams. As the impromptu photo opportunity concluded, Meghan was warmly embraced by a crowd of women eager to show their appreciation.
Many of them were wearing dresses made from the same black, white, and gold fabric to represent the Invictus Games colors, and they handed some to the Duchess. “We are friends and family supporters of Harry and Meghan,” Peace Adetoro, 57, tells PEOPLE. “They are a beautiful couple and we love them so much. We support them 100%.”
