CALIFORNIA: Born in refugee camps to parents displaced by conflict in Africa, three players will show the changing face of Australian soccer at the World Cup and look to answer the nation’s call for goals.
Coach Tony Popovic is putting his faith in attackers Mohamed Toure and Nestory Irankunda, two young talents eyeing their first World Cup minutes in the Socceroos’ opening match against Turkiye on Saturday.
At 30, Awer Mabil is the duo’s “older brother” and will be on hand to support them as a mentor at his second World Cup.
The three have a shared experience as the children of asylum seekers who rose through the footballing ranks in Australia’s sleepy state capital of Adelaide.
Already feted among Australia’s 500,000-strong African diaspora, their chemistry may be key to Australia’s hopes of advancing through the group phase and winning a World Cup knockout match for the first time.
