Thousands of fans gathered at the Mogadishu Stadium on Tuesday to watch a match featuring international players from across the African continent.
The highly anticipated match featured former African stars including Jay-Jay Okocha, Emmanuel Adebayor, Samuel Eto’o and others, who were playing against a team of former Somali stars.
The exciting match pitted former Ocean Stars stars against foreign stars playing in the Somali league, along with the three international legends. The match ended in an 8-4 victory for the former African stars.
Somali Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre, who attended the historic friendly match, said that the event is an important step in the government’s efforts to restore the prestige and power of Somali sports, noting that the presence of international stars and sports leaders demonstrates the return of international confidence in Somalia in the field of sports.
These stars, who are renowned and respected in African football, will be visiting the country’s stadiums and sports facilities during their stay in Mogadishu, and have already participated in a match to honor their arrival at the Mogadishu Stadium.
“I know something about Somalia, it is a pleasure for me to be here today with these players,
“I had a Somali boy named Abdirahman Bihi living in my house, I learned to read the EPL from Somalia and I wish him peace and happiness,” said Emmanuel Adebayor.
Somalia last hosted international matches before the country’s civil war in 1991, and is now trying to gain credibility through its relationship with the host country.
