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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

Ice covered highways, streets and sidewalks in Boston area rattled nerves during morning commute: “I’m ready for the thaw”

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Ice covered highways, streets and sidewalks in Boston area rattled nerves during morning commute: “I’m ready for the thaw”


It was a treacherous commute for drivers across Massachusetts Wednesday morning. Ice on roads and highways caused several crashes during rush hour.

In Danvers, 22 miles north of Boston, the ramp from Interstate 95 to Route 1 north was covered in ice, leading to three separate crashes involving twelve cars. Three people were taken to local hospitals.

In Danvers, Mass. the ramp from Interstate 95 to Route 1 north was covered in ice, leading to three separate crashes involving twelve cars on March 4, 2026.

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In Revere, just seven miles north of the city, two tractor-trailers collided on North Shore Road. Police said it will be shut down for most of the day. It’s unclear if this crash was caused by icy conditions.

Forty-four miles west of Boston, a tractor-trailer ran off the westbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westboro. One person was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with what were described by the fire department as “non-life threatening injuries.”

The ice wasn’t just a problem for drivers. People walking around Boston were also slipping and sliding Wednesday morning.

“I almost fell at least five times but I didn’t. I don’t know how. I screamed and caught edges,” Swapna Vantzelfde told CBS News Boston about her walk to work in the South End. It took longer than usual.

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“The internal streets they just don’t get plowed, the little ones that people live on and then these arteries, the big streets, they’re cleaned a lot better,” she said.

Those on two legs and four were all stepping gingerly across slick spots.

“A little treacherous. Very slick and icy out here,” said a father pushing a stroller. “Sometimes you have something to hold on to, which helps.”

With plenty of snow piled along sidewalks and between parking spots, most people are done with winter.

“I’m over it. I’m ready for the thaw,” said one man. 

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran


Massachusetts families are stuck in the Middle East amid the war in Iran, and Democratic Sen. Ed Markey says the State Department needs to do more to get them home.

The Trump administration is telling Americans to leave the region, and families would love to, but they haven’t been able to get out.

Stacey Schuhwerk of Hingham has been sheltering in place in a Doha hotel since Saturday.

“We hear the missiles outside,” she said. “We can see them.”

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The Hingham mother and her son are among nearly 1,600 Americans trapped in the Middle East with no way to get home.

“Airspace is shut down. There’s no planes,” said Schuhwerk. “There’s no way to leave.”

Flights between Boston and the Middle East are canceled or delayed as travelers express anxiety over the conflict.

At first, U.S. officials told people to shelter in place and register with the State Department — something Schuhwerk did days ago.

“There’s no help there. The last time we called was 20 minutes ago, and they continue to say that ‘We don’t know anything about any plans for government help to get people out,’” she said.

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Embassies and consulates across the region — including the U.S. Embassy in Israel — have now suspended services, saying they simply can’t get Americans out.

“They did not have a plan to conduct this war, and they clearly did not have a plan as to how to evacuate innocent families,” Markey said.

The senator says his office is hearing from Massachusetts families, and he’s pressuring the Trump administration to come up with an evacuation plan fast.

“We are going to apply that pressure on the State Department until every American who wants to leave that region is out,” he said.

Back in Doha, Schuhwerk keeps watching the war outside her window.

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“The talk here is ‘How much defensive ammunition’s left?’ Good question, you know, because the missiles aren’t stopping,” she said. “So how long are we going to be safe here?”

With no clear end to this conflict, she’s worried she could be stuck there for weeks.



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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


Happy Tuesday! While today started off dry, we’re already looking at snow out there across the area. While this event will primarily stay as rain on the Cape and islands, it will be an icy mix of snow, ice and rain for the rest of us.

The rain/snow line will continue to advance from the south to the north as the evening progresses. Before the changeover, there will be a quick coating to 2 inches for most of our area.

The threshold between the snow and rain will feature sleet and freezing rain, leading to that icing.

For the rest of the night, there will primarily be rain with continued pockets of freezing rain, leading to increasing spotty ice accretion. Be extremely careful on roads, especially since switching between rain and freezing rain can wash off any road salt.

The rain and freezing rain will exit by 6 a.m. Wednesday, but temperatures will still be close to freezing during the morning commute, so watch out for some spotty black ice.

The rest of Wednesday will be really nice! Highs will warm up to the mid 50s with the help of ample sun.

Thursday we start off in the mid 20s and top off in the mid 40s. We’ll be partly sunny with another chance for some wintry weather Thursday night. This primarily looks like some rain and freezing rain, rather than the triple threat with snow too. We’ll keep an eye on that for you.

That will continue into Friday morning. The rest of Friday: cloudy with a chance for a spot shower and highs cooler again in the upper 30s. Saturday will be dry, breezy and cloudy but gorgeous near 50 degrees! There’s a chance for some rain showers Saturday night. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you to go bed!

Sunday we start the day mild in the 40s and make it all the way into the upper 50s with more sun. Monday and Tuesday both look bright and in the 60s! Stay tuned.

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