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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.
Al-Ahram Weekly
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Eto'o, Adebayor, Okocha play exhibition game in Somalia - Africa
Three African football legends -- Samuel Eto'o, Emanuel 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", which 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 currently has to play its matches in neighbouring Djibouti or Morocco. The national stadium in Mogadishu 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 considered "a historic day" by the sports ministry. 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 great day for me -- to watch a player like Eto 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 requested FIFA and CAF to re-evaluate its security situation to be able to hold future fixtures. Delegates from the Confederation of African Football and Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations were present for the match. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
FA unveil brand new tournament featuring several ex-England stars
The Football Association are launching a new five-a-side tournament that will provide an opportunity for former professionals and non-league stars to play together with local community heroes The Football Association is launching a new five-a-side tournament that will include former England internationals. The likes of former Tottenham and Sunderland star Jermain Defoe will lace up his boots once again to compete in the coming weeks. With the finalists of the FA Cup now decided, after wins for Manchester City and Crystal Palace, Wembley is primed for its showpiece event. And while the pair will battle it out for their last chance at domestic silverware this season, tournament sponsors Emirates will launch a new competition. Four teams are set to play in a tournament based at St George's Park, according to reports. The home of the FA and England's national team setup will play host to former professionals, non-league stars, influencers and community heroes. And that will see a number of England internationals return to the pitch. Three former Three Lions star will each will be taking on leadership of a team, with an ex-Nigeria international taking on a fourth. Defoe will be joined by goalkeeper-turned-YouTube star Ben Foster, former Chelsea and Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, and ex- Newcastle United forward Shola Ameobi. They will be linked to Emirates Flight Hubs in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle. Those hubs will also be linked to destinations in Indonesia, Dubai, Thailand and Cambodia. That could prove particularly interesting to the players involved as prizes await. The tournament's top goalscorer and best player could find themselves winning an enticing reward. Winners of those awards could end up being gifted a flight to their corresponding country. No date for the competition has been confirmed, though it is expected to be be streamed live on YouTube. The FA Cup final takes place on May 17. The kick-off time for the showpiece event has yet to be confirmed. The BBC however are said to be lobbying for a 3pm start due to the Eurovision Song Contest being scheduled for the same date. The final will see no conflict from Premier League action this year. The top-flight fixtures will all take place either side of City's match with Palace. Chelsea are scheduled to take on Manchester United on the preceding Friday evening, with the remaining fixtures to take place on the Sunday following.
Al-Ahram Weekly
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Ex-leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria to lead DRC peace process - Africa
African countries appointed a trio of ex-leaders to oversee a push for peace in eastern DR Congo while an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor arrived Tuesday to investigate the upsurge in violence. The Rwanda-backed M23 has in recent weeks seized two major cities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), giving the armed group a major foothold in the region since taking up arms again in late 2021. It is the latest outbreak of violence in the mineral-rich region that has seen some three decades of unrest and war, claiming millions of lives. "We are extremely worried about recent developments in Congo, we know the situation particularly in the east is acute," ICC prosecutor Karim Khan told reporters on his arrival in the capital Kinshasa. Two regional African blocs -- the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) -- have come together in recent weeks in an attempt to install a ceasefire. They said late Monday that ex-Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta, ex-Ethiopia prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn and ex-Nigeria president Olusegun Obasanjo had been appointed "facilitators" of a new peace process. The EAC and SADC agreed at a summit on February 8 to merge two separate peace processes -- based in Luanda and Nairobi -- that were operating before the latest escalation of violence. But numerous calls for a ceasefire have so far gone unheeded as the M23 continues its advance, meeting little resistance from the Congolese army. M23 fighters -- which UN experts say are backed by thousands of Rwandan soldiers -- took control of South Kivu provincial capital Bukavu just over a week ago, after capturing Goma, the capital of North Kivu and main city in the country's east, late last month. "The message has to be conveyed very clearly: any armed group, any armed forces, any allies to armed groups or armed forces don't have a blank cheque," Khan said. - '7,000 dead' - The statement from the EAC and SADC said their key goals were an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" as well as humanitarian supplies and securitisation of the airport at Goma. It said they would hold a ministerial meeting on Friday to "work on the details of the ceasefire". DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka said Monday that "more than 7,000" people have been killed in the region since January. The numbers could not be independently verified. "The security situation in eastern DRC has reached alarming levels," she told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The UN reported at the beginning of February more than 3,000 deaths since January 26 in east DRC around the time of the M23 offensive which saw the group capture Goma. The UN's humanitarian agency OCHA said Monday that as of February 14 there had been 842 deaths in hospitals in Goma and the outskirts of the city. The day after Bukavu was taken, life in the city "returned to normal, but local sources reported an increase in crime", particularly burglaries by armed men, OCHA said. "This increase in crime is due to the circulation of weapons abandoned by the soldiers" of the DRC army, it added, saying this "raises the risk of an increase of insecurity in the province". Short link:
