South Sudan beat Mali to lift African football trophy in Türkiye

Far from the pitches of Juba and Bamako, flags waved, drums beat, and chants rolled as South Sudan’s student football team defeated Mali 2–0 to lift the Africa Without Borders Football Championship trophy in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The final match of the competition, which took place on Sunday night, Sep 14, at the Mecidiyeköy Stadium, featured African undergraduate students and graduates in Türkiye.

The goals came from Victor Yohana, an architecture student at Beykent University, who slotted home the opener before teammate Hillary Jadisco, an economics student at Topkapı University, sealed the win and sent the South Sudanese bench sprinting onto the pitch in celebration.

A tournament more than goals

Organisers say the annual competition aims to strengthen the bond among Africans and African students in Türkiye.

The Istanbul competition is organised under the umbrella of Africa Without Borders, an association of African students and graduates in Türkiye.

“We created this tournament as part of the union of African youth,” explained Souandaou Athoumani Ali, the founder and president of the group, who is a PhD graduate in cancer biology.

“Our aim is to bring together students, graduates, and the diaspora in general, to unite them, entertain them, and enable them to feel at home away from home. Through the sporting spirit and interactions, we instill responsibility and unity and display the right image of Africa,” she tells TRT Afrika at the end of the game.

Her remarks on continental unity were reflected in the crowd that gathered: Somalis, Nigerians, Cameroonians, Congolese, Sudanese, and Ethiopians, each waving their nation’s flags.

Some of the students shared that the bond from the games helps dispel the sometimes lonely feelings that come with studying and living abroad.