Nigeria won the second annual Consulate Cup after defeating Mexico in a thrilling final.
Players from 16 different countries participated in the event, which New York City Football Club sponsored at Socceroof in Brooklyn. The players were there to represent their individual consulates in New York City.
The international diplomatic community is linked by the fundraising competition, which also allows kids access to the sport easier.
Mexico’s path to the championship included victories over tenacious Slovak Republic and Swiss teams, while Nigeria’s path included victories over outstanding teams from Peru and the United Arab Emirates.
More than 100 players, representing nations from every continent, played in the championship, encouraged on by a fervent contingent of spectators.
After Burkina Faso won the first edition, an African team won the tournament for the second consecutive year.
“It was really exciting to compete in our first Consulate Cup and the atmosphere was great,” said Lami Adamu, the captain of the Nigerian team. “As a team, we had a special cohesion and after losing early in the tournament group stage, we came back, regrouped and we focused our attention. I felt great pride winning. Green, white, green pride,” she reflected, noting the striped colors on the Nigerian flag.
The following nations, in addition to the teams that advanced to the knockout rounds, gave it their all during the group stage:
Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Panama, Slovak Republic, Turkey, Angola, Australia, El Salvador, Indonesia, Japan, and the United States of America.
The Consulate Cup, which is currently in its second year, aims to bring together New York City’s worldwide diplomatic community in order to increase youth soccer accessibility.
The money earned from the event will help City in the Community, the organization that the club is delighted to support, thanks to the registrations of the many consulates. The expansion of the nonprofit’s free soccer activities throughout all five boroughs will be made possible by those donations.
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, the Consulates General of Mexico in New York, Switzerland in New York, the United Arab Emirates Consulate General, and the NYC African Advisory Council collaborated to host the Consulate Cup alongside NYCFC. The primary sponsor of the competition was Etihad Airways.