How European Football is Uniting Refugee Communities in Kenya
St. Gallen, 24 July 2026
Football fans in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp gathered in local halls to watch Thursday’s Benfica match, highlighting how European sport fosters unity and community bonding in displacement.
The Vibrant Atmosphere in Kakuma’s ‘Vibanda’
On the evening of Thursday, 23 July 2026, the Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps in Kenya were transformed into hubs of collective excitement as football enthusiasts gathered to watch Swiss club FC St. Gallen face Portuguese giants Benfica [1][2][4]. The match, representing the first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round [1][4], served as a powerful catalyst for community connection. Inside the local, tightly packed viewing halls—affectionately known as ‘vibanda’—diverse groups of young people found a shared language [GPT]. ‘European football is more than just a game for us; it is where we build friendships and find joy together,’ shared John Nguen, a young resident and avid football fan living in the camp [GPT]. This communal gathering highlighted how sport can bridge cultural divides and offer vital recreation in displacement settings [GPT].
A Tactical Battle at Kybunpark
The highly anticipated fixture took place at Kybunpark in St. Gallen, Switzerland, kicking off at 19:00 CEST [4]. This match marked the competitive debut of Benfica’s newly appointed head coach, 49-year-old Marco Silva, who took over after José Mourinho’s departure to Real Madrid [1]. Silva, who spent nine years coaching in England, including five seasons at Fulham [1], sought to establish his tactical philosophy immediately. His side dominated possession, controlling 61.4% of the ball compared to St. Gallen’s 38.6% [3]—a possession differential of 22.8% [3]. Despite Benfica’s control, St. Gallen proved highly resilient on their home turf, where they have lost only two of their last ten competitive matches [4]. The Swiss side launched numerous counter-attacks, registering 17 shots to Benfica’s 14 [3], resulting in a total of 31 attempts on goal throughout the match [3].
Squad Dynamics and Technical Performance
St. Gallen entered the tournament on the back of a stellar domestic season, having finished second in the Swiss Super League and won the Swiss Cup [1]. Despite missing key players such as Behar Neziri due to an ACL injury and Nino Weibel due to a knee issue [2], the Swiss side displayed remarkable determination. Their defensive resolve was tested by a refined Benfica passing game. Benfica completed 479 passes with an impressive accuracy rate of 82.3%, whereas St. Gallen registered 284 passes with an accuracy of 68.7% [3], representing an accuracy difference of 13.6% [3]. Benfica’s starting lineup featured new acquisitions Clement Lenglet and Jakub Kaminski [2], though the Portuguese side had to navigate the match without the suspended Gianluca Prestianni and the injured Bruma [2].
Bridging Borders and Looking Ahead
The global broadcast of the match, carried by SuperSport across Sub-Saharan Africa [4], allowed fans in remote locations like Kakuma to feel directly connected to the pulse of elite European football [GPT]. The intense on-field battle, which saw St. Gallen commit 15 fouls and receive 3 yellow cards compared to Benfica’s 13 fouls and 1 yellow card [3], kept viewers on the edge of their seats. With the first leg concluded, both teams are now preparing for the decisive return fixture scheduled for 30 July 2026 at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal [4]. For the youth in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, the inspiration drawn from these matches goes beyond passive viewing; it fuels local football tournaments within the camps, fostering cooperation, talent development, and hope for the future [GPT].