by Clark Gillies
When rumours of Scotland’s first friendly of a World Cup year for March 2026 friendly started, excitement swept across the fan base like wildfire, igniting imaginations and sparking vibrant conversations. Supporters eagerly speculated about dramatic showdowns—visions ranged from facing Argentina in the shimmering heat of Qatar to battling Iran under Newcastle United’s St James Park floodlights. Ultimately, the announcement came that Scotland would play Côte d’Ivoire at Everton’s dazzling new Hill Dickinson Stadium in the docklands of Liverpool. It proved to be a masterstroke, seamlessly blending the city’s thrill of football with a rich tapestry of cultural diversity.
As the home of The Beatles, its influence still echoes around the world, and there was something fitting about fans from Scotland and Côte d’Ivoire gathering in a place that gave us “All You Need Is Love”—a sentiment that could easily apply to football’s power to bring people together across continents. The match day atmosphere carried that same spirit: unity, colour, and shared passion.
In previous fixtures, we collaborated closely with dynamic diaspora communities to identify deserving local charities, ensuring our donations would make a meaningful impact. This time, however, the search for a fitting beneficiary required extra ingenuity and teamwork, given the smaller Côte d’Ivoire presence in the UK, particularly around Liverpool and Manchester. Despite these challenges, we are thrilled to celebrate our 110th donation, awarded to Tackle Africa—an organisation whose influence reverberates far beyond the football pitch, reaching hearts and minds throughout the continent.
Founded in 2002 by passionate UK volunteers with deep connections to Africa, Tackle Africa uses the universal language of football to deliver transformative messages about HIV, AIDS, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). By empowering local coaches to become educators, they orchestrate weekly sessions where football drills are seamlessly intertwined with vital health education. These dynamic gatherings not only foster teamwork and discipline, but also spark open and honest conversations, equipping thousands of young people in Côte d’Ivoire and twelve other African nations with the tools they need to seek answers, build resilience, and access trustworthy information.
From those early grassroots beginnings, the organisation has grown into a network spanning twelve African nations, including a strong and impactful presence in Côte d’Ivoire. Today, thousands of young people—some as young as nine—benefit each week from sessions that blend the joy of football with life-saving education. It is football with purpose, where every drill and every match carries meaning beyond the game itself.
On the afternoon of the match, the presentation took place at the Old Bank Pub in Liverpool, thanks to the continued support of our friends at the Merseyside Tartan Army. In true Tartan Army fashion, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and inclusive—kilts, songs, and stories shared long before kick-off.
We were delighted that Yianny Ioannou, representing Tackle Africa, made the journey from the south of England to accept our £3,000 cheque. He was joined by several of Tackle Africa’s coaching staff, whose experiences working across West Africa brought a powerful authenticity to the occasion.
Their stories—of young players learning not just how to play, but how to protect themselves and support one another—were both humbling and inspiring.
Yianny explained that this donation will directly fund two youth football tournaments in Côte d’Ivoire. These events are far more than competitions; they are vibrant community gatherings where education and sport go hand in hand. Coaches, trained as peer educators, will use the tournaments as platforms to deliver engaging, culturally relevant programmes on HIV awareness and SRHR.
The impact of this work cannot be overstated. In communities where access to healthcare and education can be limited, these initiatives empower young people to make informed decisions about their health and futures. They promote voluntary HIV testing and counselling, challenge harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, and provide crucial support for those affected by gender-based violence.
Much like the great footballing traditions of both Scotland and Africa, this is about more than results—it is about community, resilience, and hope. And in a city where the echoes of The Beatles still meet the legacy of King Kenny Dalglish, it felt especially fitting that this gathering of fans would lead to something lasting beyond the match itself.
We at the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal are immensely proud to support such a deserving organisation. On a night where Scotland met Côte d’Ivoire in friendly competition, this donation ensures that the legacy of the occasion will continue far beyond the final whistle—reaching communities across Africa where football remains a powerful force for education, empowerment, and change.
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