The SA Embassy hosted the opening event of the Orange African Cup of Nations 2013 in Brussels on 19 January 2013. Although we could not feel the beat of the African drum tremble through the stadium, we were certainly there in spirit as we witnessed the vibrant opening ceremony which set the tone for Africa’s greatest sporting showcase.
The event was attended by Brussels based diplomats and their families. At the opening, Ambassador Nkosi welcomed all the guests and thanked them for supporting the event in their numbers. He observed that, “the Africa Cup of Nations is emblematic of African unity, and that 2013 edition in particular is significant in that it takes place on the 50th anniversary of African unity”. For her part, the Ambassador of Cape Verde, Ms Maria de Jesus Mascarenhas thanked the SA Embassy in Brussels for hosting the event, and wished both well in the competition.
The afternoon was celebrated in high spirits with friends of Africa as SA & Cap Verde supporters cheered for their teams during the opening match. The Embassy also used this occasion to raise funds for a local charity by auctioning “Cafusa”, the official ball of the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.
Thank you to Fatboys Sports Bar for sponsoring this venue & a special thank you to all who availed themselves to celebrate Africa with us.