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AFCON soccer tournament brings a chance for 'diaspora bragging rights' for Africans in Massachusetts

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AFCON soccer tournament brings a chance for 'diaspora bragging rights' for Africans in Massachusetts


Paris Alston: This is GBH’s Morning Edition. We know that in the U.S., American football reigns supreme. But for the rest of the world, soccer is the most popular sport. And for local immigrants, watching various soccer games is a way to not only stay connected to home, but unite as members of their respective diaspora. Such is the case for a major African soccer tournament kicking off tomorrow called the African Cup of Nations, or AFCON. I found out about this from Mohamed Barrie, who, aside from being a freelance journalist and heading up the local youth journalism program Teens in Print, is a major AFCON fan himself and he joins me now in the studio repping Sierra Leone, right?

Mohamed Barrie: We’re not even qualified.

Alston: Oh, no. Okay, well, maybe next year, right? Well, Mohamed, for those who are unfamiliar, is this sort of like the World Cup on a smaller scale? And why does it matter locally?

Barrie: Yeah, the men’s African Nations Cup is basically held every two years. Twenty-four teams qualify. So this year’s edition will be hosted in the West African nation of the Ivory Coast, also known as Cote d’Ivoire. And the final will be held on Sunday, February the 11th. It happens as something that brings a different diaspora that live here, for instance, in Massachusetts, where we have more than a 100,000 foreign-born Mass residents who are from Africa. You will find a large number of people that are all tuned in to the AFCON. Many restaurants will show games and potentially decorate the space with flags. Fans like Terrence Sarkodieh, who is from Ghana, expressed how the AFCON is a moment to showcase the brilliance and the talent of the continent.

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Terrence Sarkodieh: You see the Ghanaian people cheering the Ghanainan people. You see the Nigerian people cheering the Nigerian people. And the rest of the world, when they see us, get to cheer us on. We’re not just an African continent. We are a continent of togetherness.

Barrie: He also says it’s a moment to reconnect with friends and family back home.

Terrence Sarkodieh: I would love to be back home during that period of time. Unfortunately, we came here to seek for greener pastures, but that doesn’t stop us from watching the game. You put it on your schedule. Everybody has a different work schedule, but watching … We don’t want to pay for it.

Barrie: Actually, this reminds me of, you know, watching it with my family. And as Terrence says, things really get spirited and —

Alston: Oh, I bet.

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Barrie: I can already tell you WhatsApp groups are being formed, and people will be on their phones, trying to figure out what their home nation and favorite players are doing.

Alston: Hey, even here, I’m sure people are checking the scores for games when they’re at work.

Barrie: I feel like that’s the case.

Alston: What’s at stake in this cup, and what are the larger implications?

Barrie: Honestly, diaspora bragging rights for those of us that are in the diaspora, and being able to call yourself or your country the best. But on a serious note, financially, for most players it’s a trampoline for their careers. Performing well at the AFCON can earn you a big summer move, but then also qualifying and getting far in this tournament means earning more money. So, for instance, the Confederation of the African Football, CAF, increased this year’s prize money to $7 million U.S. dollars.

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Alston: Wow.

Barrie: Yeah, and let’s say you lose in the semifinals, you will receive $2.5 mil. And let’s say you don’t get into the semis, but you lose in the quarter. You still get to go home with $1.3 mil as a team, which means money that a lot of these national federations and players can use. And then from a fashion perspective, AFCON is really the spot to be for those who are into soccer jerseys. Most brands like Puma, Adidas, really see the AFCON as a testing ground, a creative space for their designers to gifts us with fire fits, I might say. So the team release for jerseys is something a lot of fans look out to. And Nigeria honestly being the most sought-after jersey.

Alston: Oh, okay. So whoever wins this year’s AFCON, I’m trying to get a jersey, I’m just saying. So for people who may be interested in getting engaged with this, Mohamed, maybe they’re new to it, but they want to watch, where should they go and what should they do?

Barrie: So if you’re looking for the best space to be, I would say try African restaurants, sport bars, or just ask your African friends if they are hosting something. But places like Obosa in Roslindale, the Phoenix Landing in Cambridge and Anokye Krom in Worcester would definitely be spaces to go.

Alston: Okay, Mohamed, I know Sierra Leone is not in the tournament, but who are you going to be rooting for this year and who do you think will come out on top?

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Barrie: Personally, I have to go for the Gambia as a nation that I love. They won’t win it, but I’ll root for them. I think they’re in the most difficult group.

Alston: Sounds like a true fan to me. Well, that is Mohamed Barrie, who is a freelance journalist and also the program director at the youth journalism program Teens in Print. Mohamed, thank you so much.

Barrie: Thank you.

Alston: You’re listening to GBH News.





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Massachusetts AG Campbell accused of breaking professional conduct amid audit lawsuit

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Massachusetts AG Campbell accused of breaking professional conduct amid audit lawsuit


AG Andrea Campbell called Diana DiZoglio’s personal cell phone a day after an SJC justice moved the legislative audit legal case to the full court, a call that the auditor alleges violates the state’s professional conduct rules.

DiZoglio’s fight with Campbell is steaming ahead, even as the attorney general claims that there’s a “path forward” for the voter-approved audit of the state Legislature, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.

DiZoglio’s office argues that Campbell’s attempt to call the auditor on her personal cell phone violates Rule 4.2 of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibits lawyers from communicating directly about a case with an individual represented by another attorney without consent.

“The Attorney General is our state’s top law enforcement officer and should follow the Rules of Professional Conduct,” DiZoglio said in a statement on Wednesday. “I will not participate in dark, shadow conversations with the AG about this lawsuit.”

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“That she is trying to get me to speak with her alone, via private cell phone, without my legal counsel present, is unacceptable,” the auditor added.

Campbell’s office is firing back at DiZoglio’s claim, which it says is a “false and baseless accusation.”

“If the Auditor is interested in a solution,” the office said in a statement shared with the Herald, “the AG is available to speak with her or the Auditor’s staff can speak with our office – but as it stands, her office refuses to engage with us directly on a path forward.”

DiZoglio and Campbell have been locked in a legal tug-of-war since voters approved the audit in November 2024.

Siding with legislative leadership, Campbell has claimed that DiZoglio has not answered basic questions on the scope of the legislative audit. The AG argues that the auditor’s review may also violate the state Constitution.

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In February, DiZoglio sued House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka for refusing to comply with the audit. The auditor is asking the SJC to allow her to appoint an outside attorney, as Campbell is representing the top Beacon Hill Democrats.

DiZoglio spotlighted Campbell’s attempt to talk with her on her personal cell phone after the AG appeared on GBH’s Boston Public Radio on Wednesday. The auditor also released emails between the two offices regarding the call.

In her radio segment, Campbell admitted to calling the auditor after seeing her at a recent event in Worcester and that she had yet to hear back from DiZoglio. The AG said the message that she is trying to convey to the auditor is that “there’s a pathway forward.”

Speaking at an event on March 16, DiZoglio said, “I have only asked for financial receipts and state contracts. There is nothing unconstitutional about …  getting access to that information.”

Campbell argues DiZoglio has “changed” her stance on the audit’s scope.

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Deputy Auditor Michael Leung-Tat expressed his concerns about Campbell’s call to DiZoglio in an email on Monday to Assistant Attorney General Anne Sterman and First Assistant Attorney General Pat Moore.

Leung-Tat emphasized that the last time DiZoglio and Campbell spoke via phone was allegedly in November 2023, when the AG informed the auditor of her support of the legislative audit.

“They don’t have a relationship beyond our office’s official communications,” Leung-Tat wrote, “and, as you know, official business between our offices is conducted at the staff level. … it appears that the Attorney General was calling the Auditor about the pending litigation before the SJC.”

“As you are aware,” the deputy auditor added, “we have been engaged with your office seeking assistance in our efforts to audit the Legislature since 2023, so it is curious that the Attorney General only just now decided to call.

In an email reply, Moore said there was “nothing unethical” about Campbell’s call and that the AGO was “surprised to see” the auditor’s “unfounded assertion.”

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“The Auditor has also used her time in those forums make false allegations against the Attorney General and officers of every other branch of state government, recently including judges,” Moore wrote. “Having now heard multiple variations of these comments, the Attorney General felt it appropriate to reach to talk with the Auditor.”

After multiple exchanges back and forth, Moore refuted Leung-Tat’s claims that DiZoglio has answered Campbell’s questions to help the legislative audit proceed. The first assistant AG added that the office “takes pride in our professionalism.”

“We do not, just to pick one example,” Moore wrote, “claim that every state agency funded by legislative appropriation is corrupt; nor that the courts adjudicating our cases are.”

“Nor do we take exception to conferring with those against whom we are litigating,” he added. “We do that every day.”

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Massachusetts faces World Cup-test with friendly match in Foxboro

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Massachusetts faces World Cup-test with friendly match in Foxboro


Massachusetts will get a taste of World Cup action in Foxboro on Thursday.

There is a friendly match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium.

It’s being considered a test ahead of World Cup matches in June.

Massachusetts governor Maura Healey says dozens of agencies are involved in making sure the 7 World Cup matches are safe and secure.

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Thursday is a test for transportation for the World Cup.

The MBTA will have 4 trains going from South Station to Foxboro.

MassDOT expects heavy traffic to begin later this morning with new traffic patterns near Gillette for the match.

As for the teams, NBC 10 caught up with Team France at their practice.

Team France says it is excited to face off against one of the best teams in the world.

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France is ranked 3rd worldwide while Brazil is ranked 5th.

Parking opens at noon while the game’s kickoff is at 4:00 p.m.



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Gov. Maura Healey says Massachusetts is ‘match ready’ for World Cup

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Gov. Maura Healey says Massachusetts is ‘match ready’ for World Cup


Gov. Maura Healey spoke Wednesday about the public health and safety preparations it is making ahead of this summer’s World Cup matches in Massachusetts.

Gillette Stadium — to be called Boston Stadium — will be the site of seven matches between June 13 and July 9.

The state is carrying out planning and training with local, state and federal agencies on everything from transportation and crowd management to cybersecurity, public health, and emergency response.

“Residents and visitors alike can be confident that we are prepared to host a safe, secure and successful World Cup,” Healey said.

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Healey said the state secured about $76 million in federal funding to pay for security and preparedness.

The state has more information about the World Cup at Match-Ready Massachusetts.

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Gillette will host a friendly Thursday between France and Brazil as a warm up to the World Cup.

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