Three African football legends, Jay-Jay Okocha, Samuel Eto’o, and Emmanuel Adebayor, took to the pitch in Somalia on Tuesday for an exhibition match aimed at restoring the country’s image.
The match was part of a Fifa-backed “peace tour” to help Somalia host international fixtures once again.
The sports ministry considered the match a “historic day,” with Security Minister Mohamed Ali Haga saying it was 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, with hundreds of fans showing up hours in advance.
Fans were enthusiastic, waving the Somali flag and cheering for the legendary players. Mowlid Ali, a fan, said, “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.”
Abdirahman Dhere, another fan, added, “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.”
Somalia has been in a state of conflict since 1991, and its national team currently plays its matches in neighboring countries.
Somalia has requested FIFA and CAF to re-evaluate its security situation to host future fixtures.
Delegates from the Confederation of African Football and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations were present for the match, which aimed to showcase Somalia’s renewed commitment to football and peace.
