Ammar: How Football Fit for Identity Matter for Naija Padi Dem

Brooklyn, New York

Meet Ammar, 23 years old, na footballer wey sabi grassroots movement well well. This guy no just dey hustle for ball, him dey chop life as youth activist wey dey connect people through football. Born to Sudanese parents for New York, Ammar’s house dey like FIFA World Cup, everybody get their club allegiance. Him papa dey yell Chelsea, him brother dey shout Manchester United, mama dey root for Manchester City, and sister dey wave Arsenal flag. Meanwhile, our guy choose Crystal Palace (see ehn, na serious business!).

Ammar no just pick Palace because dem fine for screen; e dey yan say him inspired by players like Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze. For him, football na like mirror wey reflect all di catchy things wey dey for him life. “E no dey hard to balance my identity as Sudanese American,” Ammar talk, “I watch am as beautiful instead of wahala.” (Because who wan dey get problem when you fit just enjoy life?)

Every game day, na early morning prayer first, then Palace match. E no matter if na for TV or for di road, the match go dey on while group chats dey pop with banter like popcorn. Na so di discussions dey hot! Dem dey argue who go win, who be di best player, and all di juicy matter wey dey happen around football. Ammar and him guys na second-generation citizens, so each of dem dey find small piece of identity for di clubs wey dem support.

Wekend wey no sweet with three points? No way! Supporting Palace no be just about di winning; e be loyalty wey no get condition. Na reflect of how Ammar dey live him life: patient, grounded, expressive. “Football dey show di purest form of joy, especially for pitch,” he go tell you. “No matter where you from, football connect everybody with love for di game.” (Na true talk; e be like magic when people come together to play ball.)

Growing up, Ammar’s first touch with ball happen when e dey go Sudan; dem teach am how to play wey follow extra *swag.* From Brooklyn’s Parade Grounds to NCAA football, he dey carry him African roots join everything wey him learn for New York. “Being a black New Yorker in 2025 mean say I dey grateful. Na di experiences wey I don get, di perspectives, and di challenges wey don build me up.”

So, as he dey chase football dreams, Ammar dey show say wherever you come from, your true value no dey based on your origin. E dey waka through di streets of New York wey dey full with diversity, but at di end, football na di common language wey sabi pull people together, and nah di reflection of who he be na him football story shine well well. Make you catch di vibe; football and identity dey dance their own sweet dance.