Table of Contents
- Somalia football exhibition match saw Samuel Eto’o, Jay-Jay and Emmanuel Adebayor play in Mogadishu
- The legendary trio in African football played on Tuesday in a peace tour backed by FIFA
- Hundreds of fans attended the match
Three retired African footballers, Emmanuel Adebayor, Jay-Jay and Samuel Eto’o, recently graced Somalia football exhibition match.
The legendary trio in African football played on Tuesday in a peace tour backed by FIFA. Somalia hopes to earn rights to host international fixtures in the future.
Eto’o, Jay-Jay Okocha and Adebayor are FIFA’s peace ambassadors using their football skills to preach peace and restore Somalia’s lost glory.
This country in the Horn of Africa hasn’t enjoyed peace like its East African peers, such as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, since 1991.
It has contended in playing big football tournaments in Djibouti but is now seeking to change that.
Where was Somalia Football Exhibition Match Held?
A local Somalia team ready for an exhibition match in Mogadishu. Photo/Ministry of Youth and Sport Somalia
Mogadishu National Stadium hosted the Somalia football exhibition match. It was one of the big matches hosted here since 2020 when it was reopened.
The stadium was in tatters for many years due to the war, which damaged it, forcing its people to play in Burundi.
Outlawed militia groups, Al-Qaeda linked to slain leader Osama bin Laden, and the Al-Shabaab used this stadium in Mogadishu as a base since 2008.
They only vacated years later following the deployment of a UN Peacekeeping force, AMISOM. The UN force successfully drove the insurgents out of Mogadishu and reclaimed the stadium, albeit in a bad infrastructural state.
However, it was renovated and reopened in 2020. The Ministry of Sports in Somalia excitedly welcomed Eto’o, Adebayor and Jay-Jay to the Horn of Africa.
Heroic Welcome
Minister of Youth & Sports Abdikadir Ali led a delegation from his ministry to welcome the three retired African footballers at Aden Adde Airport.
The players were accompanied by CAF officials on this historic visit to Somalia.
Eto’o (Cameroon), Adebayor (Togo) and Jay (Nigeria) held a local Somali team to an 8-4 win in a highly attended Somalia football exhibition match.
Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o arrives at Aden Adde Airport in Mogadishu. Photo/Ministry of Youth and Sports Somalia
Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Barre was one of the high-ranking government officials who attended the match.
“Historic match at Mogadishu Stadium! Somali Legends faced African Legends in a thrilling game that ended 8-4 in favor of the visitors. PM Hamza Barre opened the match, joined by CECAFA & Djibouti FA heads. Minister of Youth & Sports scored Somalia’s first goal! the ministry posted on X.
The trio said that it was an honour to play in Mogadishu and they were humbled by the love they got from fans.
Adebayor’s wish was God’s mercy to be with Somalia so that it rebuilds itself. He said that the country was too beautiful and the world needed to see it.
Peace Tour
Mohamed Ali Haga, the country’s Security Minister, hailed Somalia football exhibition match as a gamechanger in Somalia’s quest for peace.
Ali said the presence of Eto’o, Jay, Adebayor and hundreds of local fans in Mogadishu was a statement of a better and secure Somalia.
A local Somalia team ready for an exhibition match in Mogadishu. Photo/Ministry of Youth and Sport Somalia
He hopes that Somalia will host a continental football tournament in future. He reiterated that the government is keen on maintaining peace across the country.
Security apparatus kept the stadium safe throughout the match as fans streamed in their numbers, brandishing the Somali flag across the stadium.
Somalia petitioned FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reassess its current security situation in a bid to host football tournaments.
Musa Ahmed was one of the local fans who attended the match and was thrilled.
“Seeing this in Mogadishu is something to be grateful for. Ten years ago, no one ever thought that Mogadishu could host such an event but we are here today.
