By Ernest Bako WUBONTO
With less than four months until the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the High Commission of Canada in Ghana marked Black History Month by celebrating the deep football ties between the two nations and the vital role of the black diaspora in the beautiful game.
The event, titled “Football Legacies from Ghana to Canada,” which took place at the Accra Sports Stadium, brought together legendary Black Stars players, football administrators and partners ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which Canada will co-host with Mexico and the United States.
Chargée d’affaires at the High Commission of Canada, Françoise Nduwimana, speaking on behalf of the High Commissioner, highlighted the unique connection that will be on display this summer when Ghana’s Black Stars travel to Canada for the tournament.
“It is no coincidence that Canadians are so excited to welcome the Black Stars in Toronto and Vancouver for their first two matches. Canada has a long history of partnership with Ghana, and is home to a sizeable Ghanaian diaspora whose contributions to our national sport are profound,” she said.
Ms. Nduwimana reminded the attendees that Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal was scored by Alphonso Davies, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana-Buduburam before his family resettled in Canada.
She also highlighted current Canadian stars of Ghanaian descent, including Richie Laryea, Stephen Afrifa and Kwasi Poku, who continue to represent the dual heritage of both nations.
Touching on grassroots evolution, she added that from the West Indies United Toronto FC – the first non-white team to win the Ontario Soccer League in 1969 – to the Canadian African Cup of Nations in Winnipeg, football has been a tool for community building and claiming space in Canadian society.
“You can see the contribution of Black communities to our game in the history of Canadian clubs. Through the late 1970s and into the mid-2000s, the African diaspora in Canada used football both to create community and to integrate into Canadian society,” she emphasised.
Inclusivity and the rise of women’s football
The high commission emphasised that while hockey is often viewed as the national sport, football’s low barrier to entry makes it Canada’s most-played sport and a primary entry point for immigrants and girls.
“Soccer is now Canada’s most played sport, and a major entry point into organised sport for girls. The women’s national team were Olympic gold medallists in 2020, which has become a powerful symbol of what is possible when women’s talent is nurtured,” she added.
FIFA World Cup 2026
As the countdown to the World Cup begins, excitement mounts for the Black Stars’ first two matches, to be held in Toronto and Vancouver.
To facilitate this cultural and economic exchange, Air Transat will inaugurate a new direct flight route between Toronto and Accra, just days before the tournament begins.
“A new direct flight route between Toronto and Accra will also be inaugurated by Air Transat days before Ghana’s first World Cup match in Toronto, and will help facilitate and deepen these exchanges,” Ms. Nduwimana reiterated.
The event, hosted in partnership with Tribe Culture Fest, National Sports Authority (NSA), the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), honoured former players from the Black Stars and Black Queens.
Chief Operations Officer (COO), NSA, Yaw Kusi Gyamfi Awere, commended the Canadian High Commission for putting in measures that will facilitate Ghana’s participation in the major global tournament.
He assured the world that Ghana will bring all its experience over the years in football to bear, alongside its culture, and give the host nations and the world a thrilling performance.
Taking his turn, President of PFAG, Anthony Baffour, touched on his experience as the first Ghanaian diaspora born to play for the senior national team, highlighting the importance of the diaspora in the national teams, especially in crucial tournaments like the World Cup.
“A football career may be temporary, but the impact a professional footballer who plays to the highest level leaves transcends generations, and so it’s important to invest in sports and support the development of young talents. To the young players, know your roots, respect the journey and keep your identity,” he emphasised.
On behalf of the old players, he wished both the Black Stars and the Les Rouges (The Reds) of Canada all the best in the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament.
Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month also known as African-American History Month.
It began as a way of remembering important people and events in African-American history, before it spread to other countries where it could celebrate black people worldwide. It initially lasted a week before becoming a month-long observation since 1970.
Post Views: 1
Discover more from The Business & Financial Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
