The Canadian authorities have announced that Ghana, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria and Burundi are the African countries whose citizens have sought asylum in Canada after travelling for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the data from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Ghanaians recorded the highest number among them with 25 claims. Egypt had 15 claims, Senegal and Nigeria each had 10, while Burundi had five.
According to DW Africa’s Post, 175 persons, who received World Cup-related temporary visas later applied for asylum and that Canada approved more than 26,000 visa applications linked to the tournament.
It noted that the other applicants were from China, Colombia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Ecuador.
The report recalled that this was not the first of such case involving Ghana and that after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, about 200 Ghanaians reportedly sought asylum, citing religious persecution.
However, the Ghanaian government dismissed the claims at the time as baseless, according to the report.
The report also stated that the Canadian authorities have not said whether the latest applicants were players, team officials, support staff or ordinary visitors.
GIK/APA