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BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
African legends bring hope to Somalian football
When the wider world thinks of Somalia, the first things that are most likely to come to mind are conflict and the pirates who have threatened ships around the Horn of Africa in recent instability has restricted the development of sport in the country and the men's national football team, nicknamed the Ocean Stars, have not played competitively on home soil since game has historically united a population of around 17 million troubled by clan divisions, and Mogadishu could soon be granted permission to stage international matches at its 65,000-capacity National legends of African football - Emmanuel Adebayor, Samuel Eto'o and Jay Jay Okocha - travelled to the Somali capital this week to take part in an exhibition match which players and officials hope will help pave the way for the continent's top stars to return on a regular basis."This football showcase is truly a historic moment. It marks the day Somalia earned a golden place on the world stage," local youth coach and player Cabdulaahi Geesey told BBC Somali."Sharing the pitch with Okocha, Eto'o and Adebayor, wearing the same kit and even scoring a goal is a dream come true."The image these guests will carry back with them is of a peaceful Somalia, a united people and a football culture that is rising once again."Somalia deserves the trust to start hosting matches on home soil again." Former Arsenal and Real Madrid striker Adebayor hailed the match, part of a 'peace tour' backed by world governing body Fifa, as a "wonderful" thousands in attendance created an electric atmosphere in a stadium that has endured a chequered past."I know a little bit about Somalia," the 41-year-old former Togo captain said."We just pray for God to give you peace so that you can build your country."Yet the security situation in Somalia remains challenging, and the mood was tense outside the stadium, with a heavy police contingent guarding the State-aligned Al-Shabab militants launched a major offensive earlier this year and have made territorial gains since in April killed senior Somali military officials in a village 30km from Mogadishu, while several people died this month when a suicide bomber targeted an army recruitment centre in the security minister Mohamed Ali Haga described the match as a chance to "change the perception of the world towards Somalia and show the world that Mogadishu is peaceful". 'First step' to international return Somalia's footballers have always struggled to make an impact on the continental stage, and its men are currently ranked 201st out of 210 national teams in the world – with only Seychelles and unranked Eritrea beneath them in have never made it past the preliminary round in qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations and have only ever registered one win in qualifying for the Fifa World has become Somalia's most frequent venue for 'home' games during almost four decades in exile, during which time their stadium in Mogadishu was repeatedly requisitioned for military Football Association president Souleiman Waberi, who also holds high office at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and Fifa, says the legends game is the first step to the return of the Ocean Stars."Maybe the next step will be a friendly match with another country," Waberi added."Then the Somalia FA can send a letter to Caf to request them to come to check the stadium."If it meets all criteria, Somalia can host international games here in Mogadishu."Recent home qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup have been staged as far afield as Morocco and Mozambique, but supporters are eager for their side to return to home Maxamuud was among the thousands in attendance on Tuesday to see Adebayor, Eto'o and Okocha in action."I'm genuinely very happy having three world-renowned footballers visit us, be warmly welcomed, and return safely," she told the BBC."To Somalia, I say may this peace last."Just as these players came and left in peace and good health, I hope the same will happen for others." A new dawn for stadium Built in 1977 with Chinese assistance, Mogadishu's main ground was closed in 1991 when the country descended into anarchy after the overthrow of President Siad Barre's military from the United States and Pakistan used it as a base for two years until 1995, when it reopened for a nine-year troops were then stationed there before Al-Shabab made it their main Mogadishu stronghold between 2009 and 2011.A new internationally-backed government was installed in 2012, leading to a new peacekeeping force using the stadium as an operational suffered heavily during the years of military use, but artificial turf was laid and facilities restored during a renovation in official reopening for a game between Horseed SC and Mogadishu City Club in July 2021 drew a capacity is now hoped the legends match will help demonstrate that sport can reclaim a space once dominated by violence."I know Somalia," Waberi said."It's a people of sport. There's football every day."We have a legends game, you see the stadium is full. I am sure this stadium will host international games."
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Eto'o, Adebayor, Okocha play exhibition game in Somalia
THREE AFRICAN football legends -- Samuel Eto'o, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jay-Jay Okocha -- took to the pitch in Somalia on Tuesday for an exhibition match aimed at restoring the country's image. The three superstars were part of a FIFA-backed 'peace tour' that Somalia hopes will help it once again host international fixtures. Somalia has been in a state of near-constant internal conflict since 1991 and its national team has had to play matches mostly in neighbouring Djibouti. The national stadium in Mogadishu, the capital, was heavily damaged after being used as a base by Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab insurgents from 2008 and then by African Union peacekeepers who chased them out of the city. It was renovated and reopened for sports in 2020. The arrival of Cameroon icon Eto'o, former Togo striker Adebayor and ex-Nigeria playmaker Okocha for what was billed as the first high-profile match in three decades was labelled 'a historic day' by the sports ministry. The three stars led an international team to an 8-4 victory against a team of local players. 'We just pray for God to give you guys peace, so that you can build your country,' Adebayor told reporters after the match, adding that the occasion was 'beautiful and incredible'. Security Minister Mohamed Ali Haga described the match as a chance to 'change the perception of the world towards Somalia... and show the world that Mogadishu is peaceful and can host other African matches'. Security was tight around the stadium in southern Mogadishu. Hundreds of fans showed up hours in advance of the match, many waving the Somali flag. 'This is a great day for me -- to watch a player like Eto'o who has inspired me so much -- I cannot miss such a great occasion. It is like I'm seated in the Barcelona stadium,' one fan, Mowlid Ali, told AFP. 'The game here today is not a simple football match. This match will definitely demonstrate how Somalia is reviving from the war that has ravaged the country for a long time,' added another, Abdirahman Dhere. Somalia has reportedly asked FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) to re-evaluate its security situation to be able to hold future fixtures. Delegates from the CAF and Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations were present for the match.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Eto'o, Adebayor, Okocha Play Historic Match in Somalia
THREE AFRICAN football legends -- Samuel Eto'o, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jay-Jay Okocha -- took to the pitch in Somalia on Tuesday for an exhibition match aimed at restoring the country's image. The three superstars were part of a FIFA-backed 'peace tour' that Somalia hopes will help it once again host international fixtures. Somalia has been in a state of near-constant internal conflict since 1991 and its national team has had to play matches mostly in neighbouring Djibouti. The national stadium in Mogadishu, the capital, was heavily damaged after being used as a base by Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab insurgents from 2008 and then by African Union peacekeepers who chased them out of the city. It was renovated and reopened for sports in 2020. The arrival of Cameroon icon Eto'o, former Togo striker Adebayor and ex-Nigeria playmaker Okocha for what was billed as the first high-profile match in three decades was labelled 'a historic day' by the sports ministry. The three stars led an international team to an 8-4 victory against a team of local players. 'We just pray for God to give you guys peace, so that you can build your country,' Adebayor told reporters after the match, adding that the occasion was 'beautiful and incredible'. Security Minister Mohamed Ali Haga described the match as a chance to 'change the perception of the world towards Somalia... and show the world that Mogadishu is peaceful and can host other African matches'. Security was tight around the stadium in southern Mogadishu. Hundreds of fans showed up hours in advance of the match, many waving the Somali flag. 'This is a great day for me -- to watch a player like Eto'o who has inspired me so much -- I cannot miss such a great occasion. It is like I'm seated in the Barcelona stadium,' one fan, Mowlid Ali, told AFP. 'The game here today is not a simple football match. This match will definitely demonstrate how Somalia is reviving from the war that has ravaged the country for a long time,' added another, Abdirahman Dhere. Somalia has reportedly asked FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) to re-evaluate its security situation to be able to hold future fixtures. Delegates from the CAF and Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations were present for the match.
Arab News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Former star Eto'o elected to CAF executive by acclamation
JOHANNESBURG: Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o was elected to the CAF executive committee by acclamation in Cairo on Wednesday as he was the lone candidate from the central Africa region. The 44-year-old became eligible only last week after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned a CAF ban on the ex-Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea forward. His elevation to the executive of the African governing body came at a CAF extraordinary general assembly — an annual meeting of top football officials in the continent. Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Eto'o now joins the supreme decision-making body in Africa. The gathering at a hotel overlooking the pyramids also confirmed that South African Patrice Motsepe would serve a second four-year term as CAF president. He was unopposed. Motsepe was elected by acclamation in Morocco four years ago, succeeding Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad, who had been suspended by FIFA over financial misconduct. CAF secretary general Veron Mosengo-Omba is among those who have credited Motsepe with improving the finances and governance of the organization. 'Patrice was a gift for African football. In 2021 CAF was a toxic body. He brought good governance to all levels of the organization,' Mosengo-Omba said ahead of the meeting. The CAF ban of Eto'o came last year after the three-time Champions League winner was found guilty by the Cairo-based organization of an ethics breach. Last July, CAF said the Cameroonian had 'seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship' by becoming a brand ambassador for a betting organization. Apart from the suspension, the four-time African Footballer of the Year was fined $200,000 (EUR185,000). This was later quashed. Born in the Cameroon port city Douala, Eto'o has been involved in several controversies since becoming FECAFOOT boss in 2021. He was caught on video assaulting a football supporter outside a stadium after a match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He later apologized, saying: 'I would like to apologize for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. It was an unfortunate incident.' Last year, he was banned by FIFA from attending all Cameroon men's and women's national team matches for six months after an incident at the Women's under-20 World Cup in Colombia. The world body found Eto'o guilty of 'offensive behavior, violation of the principles of fair play and misconduct of players and officials.' When Belgian Marc Brys was appointed national coach of the Cameroon men's team last year, he clashed regularly with Eto'o. Eto'o enjoyed a glittering career, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest African footballers. He helped Cameroon win the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games football tournament and was part of the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)-winning teams. Eto'o featured at four World Cup and six AFCON tournaments and scored a record 18 goals in the African tournament.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Motsepe is re-elected unopposed as Caf president
Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected unopposed as Confederation of African Football (Caf) president for a second term in office. The 63-year-old South African, who has been Caf president since 2021, had announced his decision to stand again in October 2024. His re-election for another four-year reign was confirmed at the Caf extraordinary general assembly in Cairo on Wednesday where Fifa president Gianni Infantino was in attendance. Motsepe, a mining magnate who also owns South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, had said he was looking to continue the "good progress" he had made since coming to office four years ago. Although Motsepe's re-election was a formality, elections were held for positions on Caf's executive committee with Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto'o winning a seat. The continent's representatives on the Fifa council were also voted in during Wednesday's executive general assembly. Motsepe's second term in charge of African football was decided before Wednesday's events in Cairo after he became the first and only contender to run for office. The lack of challengers could be seen as a vote of confidence in the South African's presidency so far, having come to Caf at a time of crisis. In 2021 he succeeded Ahmad of Madagascar who had become the first Caf president to be banned by Fifa. Since then, the African football body has grown financially, making a $72m (£55.5m) profit from last year's Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) - a sum 18 times bigger than that generated by the previous edition in 2022. When declaring his intent to run for a second term, Motsepe told the BBC progress had been made, "but there is still a lot of work to be done". During his speech on Wednesday, he highlighted the issue of national stadiums across Africa as one of his key areas of focus. "In 2021, there were 36 countries that were not playing football in their countries. The number has come down to 12 but for us, this is still a big number," he said. "At Caf and Fifa, it is our job to continue supporting the development of sports infrastructure." The election of four-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o on to Caf's decision-making executive committee was among the big talking points from Wednesday's events in Cairo. Eto'o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), was elected unopposed as he was the only candidate from the central Africa region. Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld an appeal by Eto'o who won the right to be included on the list of candidates after initially being ruled out of the contest by Caf's governance committee in January. The 44-year-old former Cameroon striker was suspended last year by both Fifa and Caf for violating disciplinary regulations. Caf had banned him after an inquiry into purported breaches of its ethical and integrity standards when he took up a role as ambassador for a betting company. The ban and a $200,000 fine were later lifted on appeal. Eto'o was greeted warmly by delegates around him when his name was announced along with the five other elected members on Caf's executive committee. The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker has been in charge of Fecafoot since December 2021 but has seen his tenure mired in controversy. Last September he received a six-match ban from attending Cameroon games while one former international team-mate described him as a "dictator" for his handling of the appointment of Indomitable Lions head coach Marc Brys. Motsepe aims to continue 'good progress' at Caf Who is Caf's new billionaire president Motsepe?
