Igbo Jewish community in Nigeria seeks recognition, sends soccer team to 2025 Israeli Maccabiah Games

The 2025 Maccabiah Games in Israel may feature participants from a new region of the world if athletes from Nigeria’s Jewish Igbo community are permitted to register a team for the soccer competition.

The members of Nigeria’s Igbo community claim to be Jewish descendants of one of the lost Hebrew tribes – Gad. They observe Jewish holidays, perform circumcisions, wear kippot (head coverings), read from the Torah and observe Jewish fasting days. The Igbo population is estimated at 25-30 million, with less than 0.1% identifying as Jews, most of whom reside in Nigeria's Biafra region.

Their participation in the 2025 Maccabiah remains uncertain, as Israel's Chief Rabbinate does not recognize the Igbo community as Jewish.

During communal Shabbat meetings, the Igbo community developed the idea to begin competing in sports. Igbo synagogues took turns hosting Igbo Jewish youth who studied Torah together and played soccer tournaments on Sundays. 

“Establishing the club was a creative initiative to connect and develop talented young players,” Igbo Maccabi Soccer Club Spokesman Avraham Ben Avraham said.

“Our vision is to compete in the 2025 Maccabiah and future events. Most players are aged 18–26; 80% are Igbo, and the rest belong to other tribes with Jewish traditions. Our main challenge now is initiating the registration process for the Maccabiah.”

“We face logistical and financial hurdles in sending a team to an international tournament. We’re still figuring out what’s required, but as first-time participants, sending an email to Maccabi World Union won’t suffice. We’re working with a liaison in Israel,” Ben Avraham added.

Shlomo Ben Yaakov, a cantor at Gihon Hebrew Synagogue in Abuja, Nigeria, dreams of becoming Nigeria’s chief rabbi and is the driving force behind the push to register the team for the Maccabiah Games. He believes Israel should recognize the Jewish identity of the Igbo community.

“For those of us who know our roots, we are confident of our identity. If the Christians and Muslims can accept their own and support them, then I think the Jews should also show some encouragement,” Ben Yaakov told the BBC.

“Part of our preparatory steps for the Maccabiah involves a comprehensive training program in the sports facility in Abuja” Ben-Avraham elaborated.

“The team is training weekly and playing friendly matches to mentally prepare for the Maccabiah Games. The management intends to open camp four months ahead of the 2025 Maccabiah, embarking on maximum training to enhance the players' performance even as underdogs in the tournament.”

Kadmiel Imanuel (25), a member of Gihon Hebrew Synagogue in Abuja, said his team has been focused on going to the Maccabiah Games.

“Our goal is to be the first Jewish team from West Africa to participate in the Maccabiah Games. Ever since we heard about the competition, we've been working tirelessly to make sure we are fit and ready to compete if called to represent,” he said. 

The Nigerian soccer club has international support from Kulanu, a nonprofit organization that assists remote Jewish communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It also seeks funding from organizations in the United States and the United Kingdom. This support is essential, as participating in the Maccabiah Games can reach thousands of dollars per player – a sum that is beyond the means of most community members.

“If we eventually get into the competition, we'll not just be representing ourselves but Nigerian and other Sub-Saharan African Jews as a whole, so we're determined to do our best in the Israeli Olympics, even as underdogs.”

Also backing the effort are the Initiative for Progressive Judaism Development (IPJD) and the Avraham Ben Avraham (ABA) Foundation, two nonprofit organizations within the local Jewish community dedicated to promoting soccer among Nigerian Jews.

Shaul Meiselis, chairman of the Igbo Friends of Israel association, recently urged Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef to reconsider approving the community as being Jewish.

“I hope a door will open,” Meiselis said. “I reminded him that his father, Ovadia Yosef, spearheaded recognition for Indian and Ethiopian Jews and he could follow suit. The Igbos have been unfairly labeled as non-Jews due to past Christian conversions but they endure hardships for Judaism, even facing abuse from the Nigerian army and Boko Haram extremists.”