Robert Eremugo has his eyes on the prize.
The 23-year-old has laced up his boots for a football tournament close to his heart.
The African Cup NSW brings together players from across the diverse continent, showcasing the local diaspora's athletic ability over several weekends in western Sydney.
Vivid colours, loud music and hearty laughter combine as crowds celebrate their culture and heritage.
Eremugo was born in Uganda during the civil war and moved to Australia with his parents in 2005.
Growing up in Blacktown, he trained with the South Sudan squad and played in junior comps.
His talent was quickly recognised and he was soon picked in the adults' side.
The team tasted victory in 2021 and Eremugo was named player of the tournament.
The star forward is hungry for more success.
"It's been two years now and it feels like it's been forever," Eremugo told AAP.
"Such an achievement brings our community together and we keep growing.
"Our South Sudanese people in Sydney always come around to watch and support us at the African Cup."
The annual tournament has been running since 1999 and is reaching the final stretch.
Following a series of group stage games, teams will soon compete in knock-out finals before the winners are crowned in early-December.
Hussein Makalele competed for Congo, a country he fled with his parents 18 years ago.
He sought refuge in Malawi before arriving in Australia in 2007, getting a taste for Tasmania before moving to Melbourne and eventually settling in Sydney.
"Now I am here with the boys from my community playing soccer," he said.
Makalele said the war in Congo was tough on him and his family.
"I was five years old when my parents escaped from Congo to find safety, so most of the time I was getting carried on the shoulders, especially when we walked a very long distance from Congo to Malawi," he said.
"Ever since I arrived in Australia, life has been really good."
Now a mechanical engineer, the 26-year-old has loved football since he was young and sought out the Congolese squad soon after shifting to Sydney.
The centre-back said there was something special about the African Cup.
"Whenever Congo is playing every member of the community knows we are playing, so they always come down and support the squad," he said.
Congo was eliminated by Sierra Leone in the round of 16, with a penalty shootout deciding the game after scores were level at full time.
Deen Kargbo, 34, plays for Sierra Leone.
He arrived in Australia in 2018 and is awaiting a decision on his asylum claim.
Sierra Leone were once a powerhouse team but has slipped in recent years.
Kargbo wants to see his side recapture its former glory.
"We are training hard for this tournament with keen interest to win the trophy," he said.
"In the past, we used to be one of the best teams in the African Cup, but the past three years have been challenging."
Kargbo promised to give it his all in the competition's crucial final weeks.
"This year we are assuring our community that we will be playing to put a smile on their faces," he said.
"Sierra Leoneans love soccer, it is one of the events that brings us together."
