When COVID-19 struck, Kamagra says it “took a lot of my life.” Before the pandemic, he had a business and even a chapati stall that were running well, but they were badly affected and collapsed during the lockdown. Like many Ugandans, he was forced to start again from scratch.

It was in 1995 that Owakubariho took his first drink of waragi. He remembers it was during the grasshopper season. What began as a one day thing later developed into a habit.

Mumbere’s journey began with strong family expectations for him to pursue civil engineering, a course chosen largely to fulfil his mother’s dream and belief in his academic potential. Although he accepted the decision with the hope of making her proud, he quickly discovered that the course did not align with his passion or identity.

According to Mbonye, the addiction began with alcohol which sent him into a depression, and then cigarettes got into the picture. The substances, he says, made him create illusions of bonding, friendship and happiness. But this new lifestyle did not come without costs.

In their opening match against Brazil, Morocco fielded 11 foreign-born players, the highest number by any team in a World Cup match. Many of those players grew up in European countries before choosing to represent the land of their parents or grandparents.

Artan was not the only person whose World Cup experience was affected by immigration issues. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was also unable to join the Black Stars for their opening match after Canada denied him entry because of an ongoing legal rape case in the United Kingdom.