Africa’s Jewish Sporting Revolution: Inside the Formation of MAC

IN RECENT times, the practice of Judaism by many Jews living in Sub-Saharan Africa has expanded beyond Shabbat and festivals, which are the main religious aspects of the faith. It has notably evolved into areas like sports development, media ownership, philanthropy, entertainment, and tourism. Education at different learning stages is springing up, as well as adaptation of technology in tackling food insecurities and cases of climatic change.

In the area of sports and youth development, history will soon be recorded among African Jews as a new Jewish organization, tentatively known as the Maccabi African Confederation (MAC), is on the verge of revolutionizing sporting activities on the continent. The organization will be an offspring and affiliate of the Maccabi World Federation—a Jewish organization that uses sports to empower sports-loving Jewish lads—when it finally becomes a reality.

The proposed formation is a historic step toward uniting African Jewish sports under one formidable umbrella. According to the organization’s proposal document, the organization will ensure the strengthening of Jewish identity around Africa through athletic excellence. It will also foster talent collaboration to ensure that African Jews’ full representation within the global Maccabi movement is actively efficient.

We cannot over emphasize the impact of the proposed MAC organization on African Jewish communities. As a continental organization, it is evident that it has the potential to make a significant impact on both existing and emerging Jewish communities in Africa. With a focus on promoting Jewish identity, community engagement, and sports excellence, the body can provide a platform for African Jewish youth to develop their skills, build confidence, connect with their heritage, and escape some of the limitations and challenges that are still prevalent in this part of the world.

If recognized and formally launched, Maccabi African Confederation involvement in African Jewish communities will help address some of these challenges. The formation of the confederation will provide both stakeholders and supporters with a powerful tool to transform expectations of the African Jewry into reality. By providing access to sports training and competitions, the platform will help young people develop important life skills, such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. Additionally, emphasis on Jewish identity and community engagement can help young people connect with their heritage and build a sense of belonging as they become a part of the global Jewish sports community.

The potential benefits of MAC’s involvement in African Jewish communities are not only significant but also promising. These benefits include the promotion of Jewish identity and the idea of inclusivity irrespective of affiliation, race, or region. The organization’s outlined programs can help young people develop a stronger connection to their Jewish heritage and community. Therefore, build a stronger and more connected, flourishing community across the continent in the long run.

The historic formation of this sporting organization, currently awaiting formal recognition and approval, has already in its background sighted prospects in numerous African countries that were previously undetected by the Maccabi World Union radar. Currently, active football teams from various Jewish communities exist in Nigeria, while basketball and netball activities thrive in Uganda. Kenya organizes track events, indoor games like table tennis, and outdoor court games like lawn tennis. Dedicated Jewish leaders in Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Ghana are prepared to contribute their efforts towards the recruiting and development of sports in their respective countries.

The proposal to form the organization and officially affiliate with the Maccabi World Union was conceived and proposed by the Maccabi South Africa Union. However, it all began after a sports editor of an Israeli newspaper stumbled upon an article, “Making History in Jewish Football,” by Eben Cohen, published on the African Jewish Voices. In the weeks that followed, after back-to-back interviews and fact-finding, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper headline in Israel broke the news, which eventually got many people talking.

From Nigeria to the Maccabiah: Nigeria’s Jewish soccer team aiming to compete in Israel. The Igbo Jewish community, claiming to be descendants of a biblical Israelite clan, hopes to play against other teams in Israel and cement their Jewish status in what’s known as the “Jewish Olympics.”

With other Israeli news outlets picking up on the trending information, Ros Goldin, a former director of the Maccabi South African Union, reached out, offering guidance to see things through. The push for the historic inclusion of the Nigerian football team got underway with Ros and Cliff Garrun, the head director of the Maccabi Union in South Africa. However, due to limited timing for formal application and the structural fixation of the already participating football teams, getting onboard didn’t look feasible. But with the breakout of the 12-day Israeli/Iranian war, the unexpected yet necessary decision was taken by the Israeli government— Maccabiah postponement: now scheduled for 2026.

Further discussion followed, going beyond Nigeria and South Africa, as our radar beamed light on the other parts of the continent, revealing the sporting landscape of sporting activities across most parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The fact that the Jewish population exists from one country to the other means that Jewish sporting activities are also developing at a rapid pace. The discussion led to the ultimate question— why is there no Maccabi Continental platform that can organize these Jewish talents into one-fold, just as obtainable in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Europe, and Asia?

Examining the extent of activities at the continental level reveals a variety of sports involving male and female participants, as well as age-group engagement, all contributing to a growing number of active participants. The South Africa Maccabi organization has a long-established history of active participation in various sports and has consistently attended the Maccabiah Games in Israel since the event’s inception.

In Nigeria, the Maccabi Football Club is already formidable, taking the lead in getting prepared to reap the benefits that will come with the official recognition of the Maccabi Africa Confederation (MAC). The team comprising youths from Gihon Hebrew Synagogue and Tikvet Israel Synagogue has been the most active football team in West and Eastern Africa, preparing and hoping to participate in future editions of the Maccabi Olympics in Israel. The team is actively training, organizing friendly matches in Abuja, and recently featured in a football match during the Camp Sarah 2025 held in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

Another active Jewish team is Ha’arachaman FC in the southern part of the country. It is owned by the Beth Ha’arachaman Jewish Community in Akwa Ibom State. It was among the 32 teams that participated in a state government-sponsored football tournament in 2024. The team regularly plays friendly matches with other teams in the neighborhood to keep players fit and ensure they have adequate playing time, helping them to improve significantly. Mehamizrach FC and the National Jewish Youth Team, based in eastern Nigeria, are among the other Nigerian football teams. Both teams usually meet during the quarterly national youth Shabbat gatherings to compete against each other in a football match that has 100% Jewish identity

A women’s netball team is currently active in Uganda, East Africa. And on the other hand, a male basketball team is gearing up for formation in the country, aiming to form the first-ever Jewish basketball team in the region. There is also a swimmer and chess player available to compete in Uganda. Kenya hosts Jewish athletes in table tennis and lawn tennis, as well as long-distance runners, all of whom are Jews from the Jewish communities. In Ethiopia, they have longdistance race athletes and swimming activities on the island of Madagascar off the east African coast. In Morocco, there exist football activities too, while Ghana and Zimbabwe are developing frameworks to establish football teams within their respective countries.

In a conversation with Avraham Ben Abraham, the director of media and communication for Maccabi FCN, he emphasized the significance of the initiative to establish the Maccabi Africa Confederation. He stated that young African athletes can discover a route to professional play in Europe and America through sporting tournaments held on African soil or in Israel. Avraham stated that if they succeed in establishing the African Confederation, a new frontier will emerge, presenting numerous opportunities for young Jews aspiring to engage in sports.

“We are embarking on a new journey in community development through sports. Success in the creation of MAC (Maccabi Africa Confederation) would be unprecedented.”

The Maccabi African Confederation will serve as a continental body that unites, coordinate, and represent Jewish sporting organizations and individuals. And if successfully created, the organization will be a recognized platform that will promote Jewish identity through sports and foster unity among African Jewish communities through a well-organized sports and cultural exchange.

According to the document proposing the formation of MAC, which was made available to us, the Confederation is on a mission to revolutionize Jewish sports participation across the continent as they focus on encouraging community ownership, youth engagement, inter-country collaboration, and partnerships with established sports institutions. Furthermore, the organization is poised to make a lasting positive impact on the Jewish world through sports.

In August 2025, after a series of months of online meetings with progressive discussions between the Nigerian Maccabi management and their South African Union counterparts, who oversee the continent and official representatives to the Maccabi World Union, the first meeting in Johannesburg was held. The SAJA (Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance) network and the African Jewish Voices effort were instrumental in discovering most Jewish athletes across several countries. This initiative was praised as a historic move, even though it is still a work in progress; the athletes embraced the vision, and country representatives volunteered to manage and enhance their community sporting activities. The countries with existing sports teams are commencing revitalization awareness, while those with none are putting effort into organizing talented youths to form teams.

During the strategic meeting in Johannesburg, Jator Abido, Executive Director of Maccabi FC Nigeria and Head of SAJA’s International Working Committee, sat with Cliff Garrun to advance discussions on the proposed MAC formation and explored practical pathways toward its establishment. The growing presence of Jewish athletes and active sporting activities across Africa provides a strong foundation for forming a continental confederation. With hundreds of athletes already engaged in different sports, the momentum for a unified Maccabi structure is steadily gaining ground.

Speaking after his return from South Africa, Jator expressed deep optimism about the outcome of the meeting. He noted that the discussion also featured virtual participation from Avraham, media director of Maccabi Nigeria, who joined online from Kenya, where he was working on identifying and organizing country coordinators in East Africa and beyond as part of the wider MAC groundwork.

“The meeting was wonderful,” Jator emphasized. “We raised important issues about structure, planning, and how to ensure that every country progresses together. While some communities are already organized and advancing in sports development, others will require assistance, particularly in areas such as training, athlete recruitment, and sponsorship. Financial sustainability remains essential, as sports development cannot succeed without it.”

Generally, the progressive report so far looks promising. However, long-term success hinges on sustainability and engaging all age groups in different sports. Active collaboration is key, providing grounds for regular training, just as seen by Maccabi FC Nigeria’s recent partnership with Xriso Sporting FC, a football club in Abuja, to share training facilities and engage in friendly matches to allow players more training time and improve their performance and skills. Other teams should absolutely emulate this type of partnership.

Furthermore, the existence of Jewish owned primary and secondary schools in Uganda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon would ensure a continuous supply of young athletes, securing the sustainability of the Maccabi program. Large-scale media and promotion are equally instrumental in increasing visibility and attracting supporters, sponsors, and global donors. Both regional and country coordinators selected as volunteers need to give their best by holding their responsibilities firmly, keeping teams motivated and performing, while awaiting the establishment of this proposed territorial organization.

In summary, it is essential for Jews worldwide to back the Maccabi African Confederation because of its considerable potential influence on Jewish communities in Africa. This organization is set to both organize and host upcoming African Maccabi tournaments while also creating opportunities for more African athletes to participate in the Israeli Olympics in the future. Likewise, the confederation aims to assist young individuals in African Jewish communities in creating a more promising future for themselves and their communities. This goal will be achieved through access to sports training and competitions, the promotion of Jewish identity and community involvement, and the encouragement of life skills development.

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