United Nations Children’s Fund has utilized the French Super Cup to raise funds for its charity after the game was hosted by Gabon.
French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain lifted the French Super Cup after defeating Coupe de France winners Bordeaux by 2-1.
The game, which is the traditional opening fixture of the French season, was played in Libreville in front of an excited African crowd in the Gabonese capital. With the proceeds of the game to be devoted to charity, the game was played under the banner of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and part of the profits from the match donated to help needy children across Africa and the world.
The game was the third time in four years that Africa has hosted the French Super Cup match after Tunisia in 2011 and Morocco in 2012. However, the game in Gabon represented the first time it was hosted in sub-Saharan Africa with stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lucas Moura and Thiago Silva on display.
Hosted at the 42, 000 capacity Friendship Stadium which was constructed at a cost of $60 million, the French Super Cup was also played in Africa as a tribute to recognize the contributions of African football to the French game after several African legends plyed their trade in and helped develop the different tiers of the French league with names like Abedi Pele and Michael Essien coming to mind.
Currently, French football plays host to the largest number of African stars with more than 100 Africans featuring last season in the French football leagues.
