Tuesday May 27, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Mogadishu Stadium played host to a spectacle of unity and renewal on Tuesday, as some of Africa’s most iconic footballers joined former Somali internationals in a high-scoring exhibition match that symbolized Somalia’s return to the international sporting stage.
Thousands of fans lined the bleachers to watch as legends including Jay-Jay Okocha, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Samuel Eto’o led a team of foreign-based Somali Premier League players to an 8–4 win over a squad of former Ocean Stars. But the final score mattered little. For organizers and spectators alike, this match — Somalia’s most prominent sporting event since the civil war — was about the revival of the sport, of national pride, and of hope.
Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who attended the event, called the match “a defining moment in our efforts to restore Somali sport.” He added, “The presence of these global icons shows the world is beginning to believe in Somalia again.”
For Adebayor, the trip was more than ceremonial. “I’ve known Somalia for a long time. A Somali boy named Abdirahman Bihi lived in my home,” he said after the match. “I learned more about Somalia during my time in the EPL. It’s a joy to be here. I wish Somalia peace and stability.”
The match was the first of its kind since the civil war broke out in 1991, disrupting Somalia’s ability to host international fixtures. The event was designed not just as a celebration but as a statement: Somalia is open again — for football, for fans, and for the world.
The visiting stars will remain in Mogadishu for several days, touring stadiums and meeting with officials to discuss ways to rebuild the nation’s sporting infrastructure. Their presence is expected to inspire a new generation of Somali footballers and send a signal to international sporting bodies: Somalia is ready to return to the global game.