African football legends, thousands of spectators, and top regional sports leaders participated in a historic peace football match at Mogadishu Stadium on Tuesday.
It was a symbolic moment of unity, recovery, and hope for Somalia’s sporting future. Augustino Parek Maduot, President of the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA), attended the match, in which legendary players like Samuel Eto’o, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Emmanuel Adebayor competed against a team of former Ocean Stars from the Somali Premier League.
Also present at the stadium were Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and Djibouti Football Federation President and FIFA Council Member Suleiman Waberi, who both joined the celebration of sport and peace in a country long affected by conflict.
“We must always support our members in the Zone. To show his support for Somalia’s resurgence in sport, CECAFA President Maduot stated, “It is always good to be united as a Football family.
” Thousands of ecstatic fans attended the event, which was described as Somalia’s most important sporting event since the civil war.
Though the final score of 8–4 in favor of the legends-led squad was noted, the spirit of the match went far beyond competition — it represented the revival of national pride and a renewed sense of unity.
Prime Minister Barre called the match a major milestone in rebuilding Somalia’s sports identity, saying: “The presence of international stars and sports leaders shows that global confidence in Somalia is returning.”
The match wasn’t just symbolic; it also had practical uses. It was also used to assess Somalia’s preparedness to host international fixtures and to showcase the ongoing efforts to upgrade the country’s national sports infrastructure.
The visiting football icons are expected to stay in Mogadishu for several days, touring local facilities and meeting with officials to discuss strategies for rebuilding and promoting Somali football.
Their presence has already begun to inspire a new generation of Somali athletes and send a message to the international sports community: Somalia is ready to rejoin the global stage.