Ammar’s story: how football is helping refugees to build new lives
mardi 14 octobre 2025
Résumé de l'article
Ahead of the 2025 Unity EURO Cup in the Netherlands, we talk to Ammar Mahmoud from Sudan who has competed at all three editions and will be coaching France’s national refugee team.
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Corps de l'article
Before Ammar Mahmoud fled Sudan’s civil conflict in 2017, playing football offered a weekly outlet for his competitive instincts – as well as a welcome break from studying to become a customs officer. But since being granted asylum in France and qualifying as a full-time coach, football has formed the foundations for a new start, professionally and as a philosophy of life.
“As a player, I was competitive. As a coach, I became responsible for others,” says Ammar, who now manages and mentors players at several local clubs, “I learned to focus on inclusion, not just performance. I encourage everyone to play, regardless of their skill level. Over time, even the strongest players started asking to be paired with less experienced ones to balance the teams. That’s the spirit we want.”
“On the pitch, differences disappear. We’re just people playing together.”
Unity EURO Cup 2025
Both Ammar’s new career and egalitarian coaching owe much to a non-governmental organisation called Kabubu, a partner of the French Football Federation (FFF) that supports refugee integration through sport (see insert). Around two-thirds of participants in Kabubu’s free football sessions are refugees while the remainder are members of the local community.
Building connections
Ammar heard about Kabubu at a time when he was struggling to adapt to a new country and culture. “I knew it was for me,” he recalls, “I found people like me, refugees from different countries and also locals. We played together every week. I was often the first to arrive and the last to leave.”
“Playing football helped me build connections and break down prejudices. On the pitch, differences disappear. We’re just people playing together.”
Unable to complete customs officer training in France, Ammar decided to enrol in Kabubu’s training programme, FIT. He went on to earn a professional diploma (BPJEPS APT), opening the door to professional and personal fulfilment. “Thanks to sport, I’ve made friends, met my partner and even seen others build families. Sport breaks barriers and shows the beauty of multiculturalism,” he says.
Unity EURO Cup
Kabubu employ Ammar as a coach and, on Wednesday, they will be representing France at the Unity EURO Cup, an annual tournament organised by UNHCR and UEFA for European teams made up of refugees and members of their host communities.
“It’s a huge honour. The first time I was invited by UNHCR, it felt like a dream,” he says, “I never imagined I’d take part in a tournament organised by UEFA, meet so many different players and referees, and connect with other refugees from different countries.”
Ammar, who has competed at all three Unity Cups, still remembers the moment France’s team bus arrived at the inaugural tournament in Frankfurt two years ago. “Some schoolchildren saw us getting out of the bus in our France kit and thought we were stars. They asked for autographs, it was amazing,” says Ammar, “That moment brought back dreams I had almost given up on. It gives me new motivation to keep believing in myself.”
“Talk to someone, even for a minute. That conversation can break down a lot of misconceptions.”
Ammar’s message
Today, UNHCR often invite Ammar to advocate about the role that sport can play in refugee integration. He has the same advice for refugees and host communities. “Take the first step. Talk to someone, even if it's just for a minute. A simple conversation can be enough to dispel many preconceived ideas fueled by our prejudices. At heart, we are all human beings, and there is no reason to be afraid of each other.”
Ammar hopes his story will inspire other refugees across Europe to believe in their own dreams. “Never give up, no matter the challenges. Stay on the right path, even if it feels like the world is against you. Keep going – things will get better.”
🤝 Partners for inclusion
Kabubu and the French Football Federation (FFF) teamed up in 2022 to promote inclusion through refereeing. In 2024, the partnership was incorporated into the FFF’s broader federal engagement plan which promotes football’s role as a driver of unity. Initiatives include:
- Training programmes for refugees and exiled referees, helping them reconnect with football and integrate into local clubs.
- Kabubu’s participation in the Unity EURO Cup, including player selection and event coordination.
- Workshops at amateur clubs and during school holidays, raising awareness of football’s power to create social bonds.
- Joint initiatives like ‘Football & refugee days’, celebrating diversity and inclusion across communities.
But Kabubu’s mission is not limited to football. As Stéphane Oyono, Communications and Project Manager at Kabubu, explains: “We run around thirty free weekly sports sessions open to everyone, not just football, but also basketball, handball, taekwondo, dance, boxing, cycling, swimming…”
“Sport is a powerful tool for inclusion,” he says, “Our dream is that initiatives like the Unity Euro Cup will inspire other federations and sporting disciplines to create similar events that bring people together through the universal language of sport.