Football (Soccer) in Africa : Origins, Contributions, and Contradictions

This volume provides an analysis of the history, origins, and development of football in Africa. It brings together an edited assemblage of essays that describe and analyse football in nine African countries, including Cameroon, DRC, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda, from a social science perspective. The selection of these countries highlights the three major foreign languages and powers that have governed the continent; The English, the French, and Arabic, and provides a prism through which to analyze and compare how football developed in the various countries throughout Africa. This comparative methodology allow readers to identify similarities and differences in the progression of the game on the continent, and by focusing on football, an important relic of European colonialism in Africa, underscores the continued dependence on, and domination of Europeans on the Africans. In situating the genesis of the game, contributors examine and analyze the history, development, management, and mismanagement by bureaucrats at the political level as well as at various football federations throughout the continent.-- Provided by publisher Acknowledgments Contents Notes on Contributors Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction: Football (Soccer) in Africa: Origins, Contributions, and Contradictions Introduction The Confederation of African Football (CAF) FIFA and African Football, the Rift: Dominance and Defiance Women and Football in Africa Racism and Tribalism Tragedies Football Migration Inconsistency in African Football Theoretical Perspectives Chapter Synopsis Chapter 2: FIFA and Football Development in Africa Chapter 3: The Confederation of African Football (CAF): Origins, Accomplishments, and Challenges Chapter 4: Football in Cameroon, Best of Times, Worst of Times: Exploring the Paradox of Africa’s Venerable Football Nation Chapter 5: Historicizing Football Nigeria: Disciplinary, Governmentality, and Resistance Within Football Labor’s Struggle Chapter 6: Football in DR Congo: A Critical Account of “Congolese Football” Chapter 7: Football in Egypt: Between Joy and Politics Chapter 8: The History and Development of Football in Ghana Chapter 9: The Politics of Soccer Management in Kenya: The Rise and Decline of a Popular Sport Chapter 10: Soccer: Competing Sports, National Pride, Spectatorship, and Wealth in Senegal Chapter 11: Contradictions and Inconsistencies Facing the South African Football Association and the Premier Soccer League Chapter 12: The Origins, Status, Contributions, and Contradictions of Association Football in Uganda Chapter 13: Vicious Cycle: Cameroon(ization) and/or Foreign(ization) of the Indomitable Lions’ Head Coaching Chapter 14: Conclusion References Chapter 2: FIFA and Football Development in Africa Introduction African Football and Its Peripheral Status in the World System FIFA Leadership and the Formation of CAF Sir Stanley Rous, South Africa, and African Representation at the World Cup FIFA, Havelange-Blatter, and the Development of African Football Africa’s Turn: Sepp Blatter, World Cup 2010, and Legacy Infantino, Ahmad Ahmad, Patrice Moetsepe, and African Football’s Future Conclusions References Chapter 3: The Confederation of African Football (CAF): Origins, Accomplishments, and Challenges Origins and Evolution of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) CAF: Activist for Equality and Against Discrimination João Havelange and Sepp Blatter, the Men Who Changed Africa’s Football Trajectory João Havelange Sepp Blatter and CAF: 1998–2015 CAF and Women’s Football Politics and Corruption in African Football Under CAF Leadership Challenges for CAF CAF Under Ahmad Ahmad: Accomplishments and Challenges Concluding Remarks References Chapter 4: Football in Cameroon, Best of Times, Worst of Times: Exploring the Paradox of Africa’s Venerable Football Nation Introduction Football in Cameroon, from the Colonial Era to 1960 FECAFOOT and Football in Cameroon From Inter-Quarter Clash to Division One League Football in French or East Cameroon Attempts at Detribalizing and Deregionalizing Football in Cameroon Football in British Southern Cameroon or West Cameroon Lack of Consistency The Success of Football Clubs The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Its Meteoric Rise, Setbacks, and Prospects The Junior National Team Selection: A Personal Odyssey Conclusion References Chapter 5: Historicizing Football Nigeria: Disciplinary, Governmentality, and Resistance Within Football Labor’s Struggle Introduction Institution/Organization, Structure, and Issues of Power Historicizing Struggle Within Nigeria’s Football Early to 1950s 1960s to Early 1980s Mid-1980s to Present Problematizing Impact on Sustained High Performance Conclusion References Chapter 6: Football in DR Congo: A Critical Account of “Congolese Football” Introduction What “Congolese (DRC) Football” Means The Congolese Lived Football Experiences Congolese Football at the Elite Club and National Team Level The Glorious Years of Congolese Football “Football Celebrities and Charity Nexus” Concluding Remarks: The Future of Congolese Football References Chapter 7: Football in Egypt: Between Joy and Politics Football and Nationalism Football and Politics Football in Support of the Ruler Football and Political Opposition Conclusion References Chapter 8: The History and Development of Football in Ghana The Origins of Ghana Football Football Administration in Ghana Central Organization of Sports in Ghana The Expansion of Competitive Football Across the Country Why Football Prevailed Over Other Sports in Ghana Kwame Nkrumah and Football: How a Leader Changed Africa Initial Efforts at Building a National Team The Black Stars, One of Africa’s Football Giants The Birth of Club Football in Ghana: Real Republikan Sporting Club Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC Ghana, the African Football Confederation, and FIFA Real Madrid Invited to Play the Ghana Black Stars Confronting Domestic and International Turmoil Kwame Nkrumah’s Last Major Football-Related Action on the Global Stage Conclusion References Chapter 9: The Politics of Soccer Management in Kenya: The Rise and Decline of a Popular Sport Introduction Soccer in Kenya: History and Development Mixed Fortunes: The Decline of Soccer in Kenya The Politics of Soccer Management Conclusion: Back to a Competitive Future References Chapter 10: Soccer in Senegal: National Identity, Commercialization, and Acquisition of Wealth Senegalese Soccer in Historical Perspective, the Nation-State, and National Pride Commercialization, Spectatorship, and Wealth in Global Senegal Conclusion References Chapter 11: Contradictions and Inconsistencies Facing the South African Football Association and the Premier Soccer League Introduction and Historical Background Problem Statement Research Questions Research Objectives Research Methodology Good Governance (Conceptual Framework) Construction of Gender Biological Construction of Gender Socio-cultural Construction of Gender Literature Review Research Findings Recommendations Conclusion References Chapter 12: The Origins, Status, Contributions and Contradictions of Association Football in Uganda Physically Active Tradition in Uganda Introduction of Football in Uganda Colonialism, Football and the Reaction of the Indigenous People FUFA, National Competitions and International Football Contributions and Contradictions of Ugandan Football Background and Status of Club Football Conclusion References Chapter 13: Vicious Cycle: Cameroon(ization) and/or Foreign(ization) of the Indomitable Lions’ Head Coaching Indomitable Lions’ Head Coaching: A Burden of Hope Since 1963 Official Discourse: The Voice of the Decision-Makers Alternative Voices: The Discourse of (Un)Reason? References Chapter 14: Conclusion Women and Girls Challenges References Index