The 4th edition of the Minnesota Africa Soccer Cup tournament kicked off last weekend in Brooklyn Park with a dizzying eight matches in two days involving eight teams.
The pace continues this weekend with the elimination rounds games which culminate in the title game on September 17.
The semi-finals on Sunday will determine the two teams that will battle it out for the title on Saturday, September 17. The first semi-final game will kick-off at 3:00 P.M.
The tournament is the brainchild of Guinea born Kemo Camara who saw soccer as a way to build a stronger sense of community among Africans in Minnesota. The tournament is modeled after the Africa Cup of Nations back in Africa.
The organizing committee this year is dedicating the tournament to Mshale Newspaper which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and which Mr. Camara says is “an important community resource and has been a strong supporter of the Africa Cup”.
To mark the 15th anniversary of Mshale winning teams will receive trophies bearing the Mshale logo.
At last weekend’s games, the following were the results:
Day 1 (Saturday)
Sierra Leone 5 vs. Guinea 5
Kenya 4 vs. Somalia 1
Senegal 2 vs. Liberia 11
Gambia 1 vs. Cameroon 0
Day 2 (Sunday)
Liberia 11 vs. Cameroon 2
Gambia 3 vs. Senegal 0
Guinea 6 vs. Somalia 2
Kenya 2 vs. Sierra Leone 1
This weekend
Scheduled games for this weekend are as follows (all games are being held at Zane Sports Complex, 8717 Zane Ave., Brooklyn Park):
Day 1 (Saturday, September 10)
Group A / 10am
Kenya vs. Guinea
Group B / 12pm
Senegal vs. Cameroon
Group A / 3pm
Somalia vs. Sierra Leone
Group B / 5pm
Gambia vs. Liberia
Day 2 – Semi-finals (Sunday, September 11)
Group B1 vs. Group A2 / 3pm
Group A1 vs. Group B2 / 5pm