Germany’s Antonio Rudiger Reflects on Family Escape From Sierra Leone Civil War

Antonio Rudiger reflected on his family’s escape from Sierra Leone’s civil war following Germany’s 7–1 victory over Curacao in their FIFA World Cup opener.

Rudiger came on as a substitute during the match at Houston Stadium and said afterward that his extended family watched the game with pride.

However, he noted that his life could have taken a very different path if his parents had not fled Sierra Leone during the country’s decade-long civil war.

“There was only the decision to get out of there,” Rudiger said, describing discussions with his brother about the family’s escape and the difficult journey they undertook.

He recounted how relatives travelled from Kono in eastern Sierra Leone to the capital, Freetown, in search of safety. The distance between the two locations is roughly 210 miles (340 km).