Awer Mabil has declared that his crucial penalty kick in Australia’s shootout victory against Peru was a “thank you” to the nation that took his family in after they fled Sudan.
The 26-year-old gave Australia the lead in penalty shootout sudden death with his side’s sixth kick.
He then watched on as goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne denied the South Americans for the Socceroos to secure a spot in a fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup finals.
That will now signal a remarkable journey for Mabil, from a Kenyan refugee camp to the showcase finals in Qatar later this year.
He has now dedicated his penalty kick to the nation that took in his family in 2006.
“I knew I was going to score. It was the only way to say `thank you’ to Australia on behalf of my family,” Mabil said after Monday’s match, which finished 0-0 after extra time.
“I was born in a hut, a little hut. My hotel room here is definitely bigger than the hut, the room we had as a family in that refugee camp.
“For Australia to take us in and resettle us, it gave me and my siblings and my whole family a chance at life.
“That’s what I mean by thanking Australia for that chance of life, that chance of opportunity they allowed my family.”
Mabil was born in a Kenyan refugee camp after his family fled conflict in Sudan, surviving on one meal a day as a child, but found a distraction in football.
He is now hopeful his contribution can inspire other refugees.
“I scored, a lot of my team-mates scored, everybody played a part and maybe that refugee kid played a big part,” Mabil said.
Australia complete Group D for the World Cup alongside France, Denmark and Tunisia, with their opening game falling on Nov. 22 against Didier Deschamps’ defending champions.