Road to the Maccabi Games: A Nigerian Youth Soccer Team Set to Make Debut in the Jewish Olympics?

Football, all over the world, has not only been a source of entertainment, but also a strong uniting factor that brings people together. Whether it’s at the grassroots level, clubside, or even countrywise, the pattern is the same: uniting people into one shared purpose and aspirations. Over the years, youth football in Nigeria has fostered strong bonds across synagogues, communities, and tribes, resulting in improved national cooperation within the over 100 existing Jewish enclaves across the country. Even though these games happen once in a while, usually at the end of every national youth Shabbat, their results have been impactful both in the interim and long term.

Gihon Hebrew synagogue, Jikwoyi Abuja, had on Friday, the 2nd of August, hosted a national youth shabbat, being the second this year after the youth shabbat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in the month of March. This is usually a special shabbat set aside a few times in a year where hundreds of youths in Nigeria come together in a host state to celebrate Shabbat, interact, pray, study, and learn from each other with the sole aim of getting familiar with one another and forming more friendship bonds. Interestingly, this youth shabbat had a massive turnout, with representatives from over 9 states across Nigeria. It was marked with an exciting prayer service, Torah reading, Torah study, introductions, and an amazing havdallah service to crown it all. It was graced also with the presence of some of our brothers and sisters from Israel who were part of the Jewish camping that has arrived in Nigeria with the opening of Camp Sarah. 

After an amazing shabbat, Sunday morning was set aside for a friendly football match between the host state and the National team made up of visiting players. The match started with a ceremonial kickoff taken by Jator Abido, director of the Initiative for Progressive Judaism Development, IPJD, who is one of the major sponsors of the match. The IPJD has been at the forefront as one of the indigenous charitable Jewish organization in the country. And among several things they do is also the fact that it acknowledges that football is a global sport, and their objective remains to organize and train a national Jewish football squad to represent Nigerian Jews in international competitions. 

In the thrilling match at the Rihinna secondary school field, just close to the synagogue, the home team, Maccabi FCN, dominated the visiting team, Mehamizrach FC, with a convincing 2-0 victory. From the opening whistle, the Maccabi FCN showcased their attacking prowess, with their star striker Promise scoring the first goal in the 25th minute. Promise skillfully crafted a header from a precise pass, effortlessly slotting the ball past the Mehamizrach FC goalkeeper. The home team continued to press, with their defense looking solid and their midfield controlling the game’s tempo. The visitors, on the other hand, struggled to create scoring opportunities, but luck wasn’t on their side. 

Despite a late surge from the away team, the Maccabi FCN defense held strong, securing a second goal, which was scored by Bezellel, who was their midfielder. It was a well-deserved 2-0 victory. In the first half, all goals were scored. The win came with a lot of jubilation from the winning team, and the rest of the spectators were jubilant about the victory. The second half saw the Mehamizrach FC struggle to get past the goalkeeper, all to no avail. At the 90th minute, the referee, Aminu, blew the last whistle, declaring the match over.

During a ceremonial post-match activity, Shimom Yaakov Ben Abraham, from Abuja-based Maccabi FCN, received the man of the match award and a certificate from Jator Abido. Subsequently, he delivered concluding remarks, encouraging them to maintain a positive attitude as this crucial football match initiates the journey to bring the first black African team to the Israeli Maccabi Games. The IPJD management also provided refreshments for both teams. The supporters of the home team, as well as the rest of the Abuja Jewish youths, praised the team’s performance, stating, “The win was well deserved, and there was no way Mahamizrach FC would come to their home and collect it from them.”

Further revelations from Shlomo Ben Yaakov, a senior hazan in Gihon Hebrew Synagogue, and also one of the teachers in Camp Sarah taking place in Tikvat Israel Synagogue Abuja, highlighted some of the future plans going forward. 

Youths in Abuja have been involved in active football activities round the year, including training and friendly matches between synagogues in Abuja, and we intend to build a formidable squad that would consist of talented players from other parts of Nigeria.

Shlomo, who recently did the brit milah of his first son, is the team manager of Xriso Sporting Club, an indigenous football club based in Abuja that supports street talents with the intention of developing young players suitable for the European and African football markets.

The choice to name the Abuja-based team Maccabi Football Club of Nigeria was truly inspiring, I’d say. The Maccabi-games is a goal we aspire to, and I have full confidence that the new club’s name will inspire us to push ourselves every day until we proudly represent Nigeria in the Jewish Olympics. I understand that this will not be so easy, but I am committed to leveraging my influence to foster collaboration with the Xriso Sporting Club. Together, we can share training facilities and occasionally train alongside each other to keep the team prepared and fit to favorably compete with other teams in our debut outing in Israel.

Undoubtedly, football is gaining popularity among the Jewish community in Nigeria, making a significant impact on youth development. In December 2023, the Beth Harachman Jewish community in Akwaibom witnessed the emergence of a Jewish football club that participated in a state football competition alongside 24 other teams. The Avraham Ben Avraham Foundation’s donation of jerseys to the Harachman Football Club was highly commendable, as it encouraged the team.

Finally, I had a conversation with Mr. Avraham, the chairman of the A.B.A. Foundation’s board of trustees, and he shared his thoughts on the ambitious plan to secure a West African representative for the Maccabi tournament.

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to Kulanu for their involvement in not only the jersey donation, but also for their promise to garner significant media exposure for the aspirations of team Nigeria. Be’zrat Hashem, with the involvement of one or two other Jewish organizations and some influencers and negotiators, would make what seemed impossible possible. If not the Maccabi games in 2025, then most likely in 2029.

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