Winnipeg’s African diaspora unites on the soccer pitch as 6th Cup of Nations tournament kicks off

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Peggy

Winnipeg’s diverse African communities came together once again for a competition meant to unite all of them through their common love of soccer.

The sixth-ever Manitoba African Cup of Nations kicked off at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex in Fort Garry on Saturday.

Six years ago, only four teams — Ghana, Senegal, Eritrea and the Democratic Republic of Congo — were in the competition.

This time around, 16 teams representing national communities from all across the African continent — and one representing Canada — will face each other on the pitch to determine which one ends up taking home the annual tournament’s trophy.

“Africa is a big community, it’s a big continent … but [if] there’s one language that we all can understand is the language of soccer,” said Canadian African Cup of Nations president Gode Katembo.

“The tournament is about bringing communities together, creating that safe space for where youth, but also athletes can have a platform where they can showcase what they’re capable of doing.”

People playing soccer — Kenya took on Team Ivory Coast in one of the two matches that opened the tournament Saturday afternoon. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)

For the first time, the tournament’s finals will play out in a professional soccer field. The two teams that make it all the way to the end will meet at Princess Auto Stadium, home of the Blue Bombers and Winnipeg-based Canadian Premier League team Valour FC.

“Every year, it grows,” said Seidu Mohammed, who founded the tournament with Katembo. “Everybody is ready to go and play soccer, so [it’s] bringing us together as a community.”

‘Every team has their own community’

Kenya took on Team Ivory Coast in one of the two matches that opened the tournament Saturday afternoon.

Ivorian coach Cedric Cotte said it’s not the first time he’s faced Dennis Maritim, who led the opposing bench.

“They’ve won all the time,” Cotte said. “We are trying as much as possible to beat them this time, and we’ll see if we can.”

Maritim, on the other hand, said it’s clear their rivals have done some recruiting.

A man wearing a red soccer jersey. — ‘We’re here to win the game and hopefully in the future win the finals and carry the cup,’ said Anjolaoluwa Paul Odedina. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)

“They stacked up, ’cause I’m seeing very, very good players on his squad,” he said. “They went and did some homework. I mean, we did some homework, too.”

Team Kenya player Anjolaoluwa Paul Odedina, who’s been in the tournament multiple times, said this year he’s there to “accomplish the mission.”

“We have more determined people. Our coach has been doing a lot of work, training day in, day out,” he said.

“We’re here to terminate, ravage and destroy. We’re here to win the game and hopefully in the future win the finals and carry the cup.”

On another pitch, two-time champion Democratic Republic of Congo faced off against Team Somalia.

A man wearing a hockey jersey with the colours of the Democratic Republic of Congo flag. — Congo player Issac Milambo said the stakes this year are as high as ever. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)

Congo player Issac Milambo said the stakes are as high as ever.

“If you’re a champion, every team is coming for you,” he said. “We’re supposed to repeat history and the expectation for us is very high. So we expect to win every game just as we … won last year.”

But while the pressure is high, that’s not prevented Milambo from keeping up with the latest goings in this year’s European Championship, and Canada’s first-ever Copa America.

He said this tournament makes him feel like he’s living some of that international football excitement himself.

“Being able to play this, it’s almost like a dream,” Milambo said. “Every team has their own community, their own fans, and we have our own fans…. When they start talking, we start moving and when they start dancing, we start scoring.”

The finals of this year’s tournament is scheduled for Aug. 4.