Last Goal Wins – Broadway Theatre, Catford

The Ryan Calais Cameron Season at Catford’s Broadway Theatre kicks off with Last Goal Wins, a play in which it’s all to play for as the last spots on Nigeria’s World Cup squad are decided.

Last Goal Wins

I had the privilege, before seeing Last Goal Wins yesterday evening, of hearing from some of those involved in Broadway Theatre’s Ryan Calais Cameron Season. Including the man himself. It’s a great initiative, which I encourage South East Londoners, and Londoners generally, to get behind. The season is made up of three plays by early career Black and Global Majority playwrights based in Lewisham, of which Last Goal Wins is the first. It means appropriately-paid opportunities for a variety of actors and creatives and, from all I’ve seen on this and previous visits, the continuation of Broadway Theatre as an important community asset. What a great way to give back!

Justice Ezi is the playwright behind Last Goal Wins. Being that the plot revolves around World Cup selection, it couldn’t be more timely. The play sees Victory (Benjamin Akintuyosi) and Youssef (Alexander Lobo Moreno) preparing to battle it out for the final spots on Nigeria’s World Cup squad. Coach Kamso (Jerome Ngonadi) would love to see both of them take their place on the national team, but seems to have a soft spot for Victory in particular. Will would-be manager Zanza Azuka (Kossim Osseni) see what Kamso sees? Or is it just possible that he’s got a wildcard up his sleeve?

The quality of the writing belies Ezi’s early career status. Each of the characters is fully developed, with a complex web of personal and political motivations emerging. Those final two spots mean something to each of the characters, but mean everything to Victory. The audience roots for him as he pursues what he feels is his final chance, and as he learns that football isn’t just about football, after all. Marketing, sponsorship, and public opinion all play their part. So who really calls the shots?

How Far Would You Go to Fulfil a Dream?

One thing Last Goal Wins does very well is to question how far each of us would go to fulfil a dream. Two of the players up for the final spots have options. More than one nationality, and a decision to make about which team to pick. It’s topical. About a quarter of the players in the 2026 World Cup are representing a country they weren’t born in. The decision is deeply personal, but unearths questions of identity, belonging, racism, and fairness.

On the sidelines, Azuka and Kamso are grappling with a dilemma of their own, as sponsorship by Shell offers opportunity but feels like blood money. This thread allows Ezi to quietly introduce the oil industry’s trail of destruction, pollution and violence in Nigeria. Again, a very timely topic, with Shell alleged only this week to have misled the UK courts over oil pollution in the Niger Delta.

A script of this much nuance over only 75 minutes requires a good cast to keep up with it. Luckily, Last Goal Wins has just such a cast. After seeing Benjamin Akintuyosi earlier this year in MILES. I knew he was a talented actor, and he has proven this even more in a role he can truly make his own. Alexander Lobo Moreno and Cameron Forrest each bring a subtlety to their characters that brings them to life. Jerome Ngonadi and Kossim Osseni, meanwhile, very ably evoke a decades-long friendship and shared struggle. With some fancy footwork thrown in by Forrest and some light audience participation, it becomes a really engaging play. I’m not sure who is behind the set design, but the simple and versatile set is also excellent.

Do go and see Last Goal Wins if you can. The Ryan Calais Cameron Season is off to a great start, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more from several of those named above.

Salterton Arts Review’s rating: 4/5

Last Goal Wins on until 12 July 2026. More info and tickets here.