Important match for Lions?
This clue is a double definition.
'important match' is the first definition.
(a big sports game)
'lions?' is the second definition.
(lions are big game in the hunting sense)
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for big game that I've seen before include "Significant match" , "supplier of trophies" , "Cup Final perhaps" , "The larger animals once hunted for sport" , "aim of African sportsmen" .)
'lions?' is the definition.
(lions are big game in the hunting sense)
'important match' is the wordplay.
'important' becomes 'big' (similar in meaning).
'match' becomes 'game' (I've seen this before).
'big'+'game'='BIG GAME'
'for' is the link.