The Ghanaian Community in Finland has etched its name into the history books after winning the 2026 TAT International Cup for the first time, following a resounding 5-2 victory over the Kurdistan Community in the grand finale at the Myyrkäki Football Stadium.
The annual tournament, which brings together various national communities residing in Finland, is designed to promote unity, friendship and cultural integration through football. The competition features teams made up of players born in Finland to immigrant families, Ghanaian residents in Finland, non-professional footballers and players currently without club contracts.
Ghana’s triumph marks a significant milestone for the community, crowning them as champions of the prestigious multicultural tournament and outlining the football powerhouse figure the country always boasts of.
A total of 18 communities participated in this year’s competition. Group A featured Sudan, Somalia, Ask United and Angola, while Group B consisted of Kurdistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Latinos. Group C included Ghana, United Arabs and Team Sisu. Group D was made up of DR Congo, Algeria and Zambia, while Group E featured Rwanda, Afro Nation and Morocco.
Throughout the tournament, Team Ghana displayed determination, discipline and attacking flair, progressing through the competition before producing a dominant performance in the final against Kurdistan. Their five-goal haul underlined the team’s quality as they secured a memorable victory in front of an enthusiastic crowd and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Coach, Alhaji Moro, could not hide his excitement after the final whistle, describing the achievement as a reward for years of hard work and perseverance.
“This is a very special moment for the Ghanaian community in Finland. We have come close before, losing twice in the semi-finals, but this time the players showed tremendous character, determination and belief. They played for each other, for the community and for the pride of Ghana,” Alhaji Moro said.
The Ghanaian coach praised his squad and technical staff for their commitment throughout the competition and highlighted the importance of the victory to Ghanaians living in Finland.
“I am extremely proud of every player as well as my technical team. Many of them are not professional footballers, yet they showed great passion and commitment. They sacrificed their time to prepare for this tournament and today they have been rewarded. This trophy belongs to the entire Ghanaian community in Finland.”
Alhaji Moro also commended the organisers of the tournament for creating a platform that promotes harmony among different nationalities and lauded his technical team for a tremendous work done to achieving this feat.
“The TAT International Cup is more than football. It brings people from different backgrounds together and strengthens relationships among communities. We are grateful to the organisers and all participating teams for making this tournament a success.”
“To my technical team, led by our Patron, Emmanuel Payo, Technical Advisor Ladi Ayoola Babalola and Oppong Kyeremateng a huge pillar in this journey as well as other staff including Christopher Ametepe-Bolo, Bilal Remix, Musa Essuman, Nasiru, Maiga and Hadi Mohammed, I can only commend them and urge them to keep the bond, understanding and cohesion to enable us defend the title next year. They have done a yeoman’s job and deserve commendation,” he added.
The historic victory sparked celebrations among Ghanaian supporters in Finland, who turned out in large numbers to cheer their team to glory. With the trophy finally in their hands, Team Ghana has set a new benchmark and will now look forward to defending their title when the competition returns next year.