Ivory Coast has been crowned champion of the African National Teams Solidarity Tournament in Israel after defeating Nigeria 3-2 in a thrilling final.
The final match, played on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Beit Danny Pitch in Hatikva neighbourhood of Tel Aviv, climaxed a month-long football fiesta that brought the spirit of Africa to Southern Tel Aviv.
Eight teams participated in the competition which ran from September to October, drawn from African communities in Israel. The teams are Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Cameroon and Tanzania, grouped into two groups.
Sudan emerged as the fans’ favourite in the tournament, attracting hundreds of spectators to their matches in Hatikva, a community with a large concentration of Africans in Israel.
In the semi-finals, Ivory Coast defeated Sudan 5-1 in front of hundreds of fans who lined the fences to watch, while Nigeria triumphed over Kenya to book a place in the final.
The final itself was a spectacle between two West African football powerhouses, but the Elephants of Ivory Coast held their nerve to seal a 3-2 victory in the closing minutes.
The tournament was organized by a group of Sudanese asylum seekers led by Mohanad Abdelmoneim, who founded the Sudan national team in Israel, a development that inspired the creation of other African national teams in the country.
It was backed by Jewish philanthropist, Joey Low, who is renowned for supporting initiatives within Israel’s African community.
Pastor Alberts Wanga, founder of Africa Blesses Israel, an organization dedicated to strengthening ties between Africa and Israel, said there is a large community of Africans in Israel and the tournament was aimed at connecting them to the country.
For Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel, Ambassador Nkechi Ufochukwu, the tournament is a welcome development that promotes unity.
The Ambassador said sports connects people to people and people to a place, noting that football is an integral part of Nigeria’s identity and culture.
She added that events like this give African communities in the diaspora a sense of belonging and pride, while also promoting peaceful co-existence, solidarity and friendship among African nations in Israel, and commended the organizers while calling for its sustenance.
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(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
