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First football tournament played in Raqqa since ISIL insurgency

First football tournament played in Raqqa since ISIL insurgency
Copyright  Omar Ouahmane
Copyright Omar Ouahmane
By Katy Dartford
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The grounds were the scene of harrowing executions during the years of insurgency by the self-proclaimed Islamic State.

Raqqa Municipal Stadium in Syria has hosted its first football tournament at the facility in years.

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Nicknamed “The Black Stadium" because of its dark concrete construction, the grounds became the scene of harrowing executions during the years of insurgency by the self-proclaimed Islamic State, who converted the premises into a prison.

French Journalist, Omar Ouahmane, attended the game and narrated the match being played between Manbij, in red and white, and Tabqa, in yellow and blue.

"About a hundred supporters and 'friends' convened," he says, while explaining that lines of play were freshly painted for the occasion.

The match marked the start of a tournament involving teams from Tabqa, Manbij, Deir Ezzor and host city, Raqqa.

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