First-Time Participants Aim to Win the Dana Cup

Although the Centre Sport de Bamako U19 boys are making their Dana Cup debut, they have not come to Hjørring as tourists. Their ambition is clear.

"We're here to win," says Hamidon Gamby, Vice President of Centre Sport de Bamako.

And it is not just confidence. The team has just won promotion from the second division to the first division, where they compete against adult men.

Centre Sport de Bamako is also one of the leading football clubs in Mali and is based in the country's capital, Bamako.

For the players, this is their first tournament outside Africa.

"The team has previously taken part in tournaments in countries such as Senegal and Burkina Faso, but this is their first time in Europe. I had heard about the Dana Cup and got in touch with Frank Petersen, who is responsible for Dana Cup's cooperation with African teams. The players had to travel to Ghana to obtain visas for Denmark because there is no Danish diplomatic representation in Mali," explains Moussa Dembele in fluent Danish.

Dembele is married to a Danish woman and lives with his wife and two children in Aarhus, where he runs his own football agency.

Danacup Hjørring 2026
Foto: Hans Ravn

Danacup Hjørring 2026
Foto: Hans Ravn

Danacup Hjørring 2026
Foto: Hans Ravn