Toronto’s Pan-African community is coming together in a big way for the FIFA World Cup, as fans across the diaspora will be gathering to support and cheer on Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, and Senegal, whose national teams will be playing matches in Toronto on June 17, June 20, and June 26, respectively.
Ghana could also play for a second time in the city in the Round of 32, as it is part of one of the two groups slotted to meet in Toronto on July 2.
Several events, many of which coincide with key World Cup matches, have been organized. They are expected to draw visitors from across the GTA and beyond, combining football watch parties with live music, dance, and food.
June 15: Black Stars Kickoff takes over Sankofa Square
The festivities will get underway on Monday with the Black Stars’ Kickoff at Sankofa Square, near Yonge and Dundas streets.
There will be performances by AC Mensa and the Black Stars Collective, Wamba Groove, Slim Flex, Zakisha, DJ Shorty, and others.
“The 15th is really just to kind of get the community ready,” said Akua Mensah, co-director of The Global Kickoff, a free two-day Pan-African Festival and Showcase that was created to created to welcome communities and visitors gathering in Toronto during the FIFA World Cup season.
The event, which will also include marketplace vendors, food experiences, cultural activations, and ticket giveaways, will run from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Mensah said organizers are expecting a strong turnout from Toronto’s Ghanaian community, which she estimates to be roughly 150,000 people across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
June 16: Senegal vs. France
On Tuesday, Sankofa Square will transform into a large-scale watch party for Senegal’s World Cup opening match against France, which will kick off at 3 p.m. in New Jersey.
The Toronto event will feature DJs, food vendors, wellness activations and community programming while bringing together members of Toronto’s Senegalese, French, and broader Pan-African communities.
The festivities will run from noon to 7 p.m. and are part of Sankofa Square’s broader World Cup programming schedule, which runs throughout the tournament.
“The World Cup means a lot to us, because it’s a way for us to celebrate Toronto and the diversity, but then it’s also a way for us to really celebrate the beauty of our culture,” said Mensah.
“I think that the respect for African football has definitely been rising over the years.”
She said organizers have spent months preparing.
“Since December, a lot of us have been working two full-time jobs to pull this together,” Mensah said.
“I hope that the city and the people really appreciate the commitment and the time and the effort that a lot of people behind the scenes have invested.”
PendAfrica, Toronto’s only Senegalese restaurant at 509 Oakwood Ave., is another spot where the community will be meeting to cheer on their team on Tuesday afternoon.
June 17: Ghana vs. Panama in Toronto
Celebrations continue on Wednesday when Ghana takes on Panama at Toronto Stadium at 7 p.m.
Ghanian fans can meet at Sankofa Square where there will be programming tied to Tribe Fest. There will be appearances by cultural leaders and performances from the Black Stars Collective before supporters head over to the match.
A separate “Ghana Village” watch party is set to take place at Zawadi Farm, at 160 Downsview Park Blvd., on Wednesday. That event will run from 1 to 10 p.m.
Several Ghanian eateries will also be hosting watch parties, including Nyamekya at 2965 Islington Ave., Unit 1 in North York.
June 20: Côte d’Ivoire vs. Germany in Toronto
Côte d’Ivoire, which beat Ecuador 1-0 on Sunday evening in Philadelphia, will be taking on Germany on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Toronto Stadium.
People from the diaspora will be gathering to watch the game at Ivorian eatery, Le Plato, at 785 Danforth Ave.
June 22: Senegal vs. Norway
People will be gathering at PendAfrica restaurant to cheer on the Senegalese team, which is affectionately known as Lions de la Téranga, as it takes on Norway in New Jersey.
June 23: Ghana vs. England
People will be gathering to watch Ghana take on England on June 23 in Massachusetts at Zawadi Farm in Downsview Park from 1 to 9 p.m.
Several Ghanian eateries will also be hosting watch parties, including Nyamekya at 2965 Islington Ave., Unit 1 in North York.
June 25: Côte d’Ivoire vs. Curaçao
People from the diaspora will be gathering to watch the Les Éléphants take on Curaçao in Philadelphia at Le Plato at 785 Danforth Ave.
June 26: Senegal vs. Iraq in Toronto
The Senegal/Iraq match is set for Friday, June 26 at Toronto Stadium.
People from the diaspora will be meeting at PendAfrica to cheer on the Senegalese team.
June 27: Ghana vs. Croatia
A third Ghana watch party will beheld on June 27 at North York’s Zawadi Farm on June 27 when the team faces Croatia in Philadelphia. That event will run from 1 to 10 p.m.
Several Ghanian eateries will also be hosting watch parties, including Nyamekya at 2965 Islington Ave., Unit 1 in North York.
With files from CP24’s Joanna Lavoie
