The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria this Saturday hosted the Abuja Diplomatic Soccer Tournament in celebration of Canada’s role as one of the co-hosts of the ongoing FIFA Senior Men’s World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, with the event serving as a platform to promote diplomacy, inclusion and the unifying power of sport.
The one-day tournament, held at Monoliza Amusement Park, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, drew participation from diplomatic missions, civil society groups and football enthusiasts in an atmosphere defined by camaraderie, competition and mutual respect. A total of eight countries — Canada, USA, Colombia, England, Nigeria, Japan, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire — featured in the tournament, underlining the international character of the event and the shared spirit of the beautiful game.
Speaking on the sidelines of the competition, Head of the Political Section of the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria, Omar Al-Hassi, said the tournament was conceived as part of efforts to celebrate Canada’s hosting of the World Cup while also strengthening ties among diplomatic communities and civil society in Abuja.
“We’re having a soccer tournament, this is in celebration of Canada hosting the senior men’s FIFA World Cup alongside Mexico and the USA,” Al-Hassi said. “So we thought at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja that it would be a good thing to put together a tournament of the diplomatic community as well as civil society, so that we can celebrate the World Cup spirit and bring people together as part of our public affairs work.”
Al-Hassi noted that beyond the competition, the event was deliberately designed as an inclusive gathering, with a Para Soccer team also taking part in a novelty match to emphasise the importance of equal participation in sport.
According to him, the inclusion of para athletes reflected the broader message the High Commission hoped to project through the tournament. “We’re here to celebrate everyone; it’s about inclusion. That’s why we had the para soccer team take part in the novelty match as well, so that all people are included, because that is what sports is all about, and para soccer is a demonstration of that spirit,” he said.
He added that the turnout recorded at the event was encouraging and further highlighted the role of sport as a powerful tool for bringing people together.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, who was represented by Mrs Mariam Motunrayo Akande, described the tournament as a celebration of the deeper values football represents. “Today is not just about football. It’s about what football represents — collegiality, respect, and the power of play to connect us,” she said. She noted that with the 2026 FIFA World Cup drawing closer, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico, events such as the Abuja Diplomatic Soccer Tournament serve as a reminder that football remains “a universal language of shared humanity, goodwill and hope.”
Akande also used the occasion to reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to inclusive sports development, stressing that the participation of para athletes aligned with the Commission’s broader vision under its RRR agenda — Reset, Refocus, Relaunch. While acknowledging Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, she said the country would continue to celebrate the achievements of African teams that qualified for the tournament. “While Nigeria will miss the 2026 World Cup, we celebrate our African brothers and sisters who qualified. Their success is our continent’s pride, and a challenge to all of us to invest more in the game at home,” she said. She added: “Today’s showcase of Para Soccer drives the point home: disability is not inability. With the right structures, support and mindset, persons with disabilities compete, lead and win. Sport is one of our most powerful tools to break down barriers, build dignity and create equal opportunity for all.”
In the end, the tournament delivered more than just football action — it reinforced the enduring capacity of sport to unite cultures, deepen friendships and create a sense of shared purpose beyond the boundaries of competition.
