Tuesday May 27, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Three of Africa’s most iconic footballers—Samuel Eto’o, Jay-Jay Okocha and Emmanuel Adebayor—landed in Mogadishu on Tuesday as part of a landmark visit aimed at supporting Somalia’s campaign to host international football matches on home soil for the first time in more than 30 years.
Dubbed the “Legendary Peace Tour,” the visit represents the clearest signal yet of Somalia’s ambition to re-establish itself as a legitimate host nation for FIFA-sanctioned home games. The delegation—organized with the backing of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF)—includes senior officials from both governing bodies and will assess Mogadishu’s stadium infrastructure, security environment, and institutional readiness.
“This (visit) is a turning point,” said Ali Abdi Mohamed, president of the Somali Football Federation (SFF). “Our goal is to host matches at home once again. The presence of these legends shows the world that Somalia is ready.”
Their arrival marks the latest chapter in a years-long effort by Somali authorities to reverse decades of footballing isolation. At the center of that effort is Mogadishu Stadium, once a casualty of war, now a symbol of national revival. The stadium—occupied over the years by Ethiopian forces, Al-Shabaab militants, and African Union troops—was returned to Somali control in 2023 and reopened for football in early 2024 after a 30-year absence.
The high-level delegation is expected to tour the stadium and other key sporting and cultural facilities, including Eng. Yarisow Stadium and the Somali Football Federation headquarters. A meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is scheduled at the presidential palace later this week.
FIFA and CAF have outlined a series of conditions that Somalia must meet before earning the right to host international competitions, including security benchmarks, infrastructure standards, and administrative reforms. This visit is widely seen as a key part of that evaluation process.
A much-anticipated exhibition match is also scheduled to take place Tuesday evening at Mogadishu Stadium, featuring Somali national team legends, government ministers, and the three visiting African icons. Somalia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Abdulkadir Ali, will captain the guest team. The Ministry has urged fans to arrive early, citing that the event will include enhanced security measures.
“The visit of these legends shows how far we’ve come,” said Minister Ali, a former footballer himself. “ We will show the world that Somalia is rebuilding—and football is a part of that story.”
The game was as much a political and symbolic statement as it was a sporting event. In a country where football has often been silenced by gunfire, the sight of international stars sharing the pitch with local players offered a powerful image of renewal.
