Africa United

Africa united behind Ghana’s Black Stars in the quarterfinal

The hope of an African team winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup was finally dashed when Uruguay beat Ghana on penalties at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. However, the sense of pride that an African team had progressed so far in the football tournament reverberated around the world.

By Jean Pierre Kepseu - 6 July 2010 - Africa United, Photo, Race, reconciliation and xenophobia

Africa Loses

There was nothing gallant about Ghana’s white-flag act in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals. Inept failures of nerve at the World Cup have become an African trademark since Italia ‘90. And against Uruguay, Ghana became the latest African team to self-destruct in the pressure-cooker of football’s ultimate contest. Sadly, like all African teams before it, Ghana’s naïve suicide act will be greeted by patronizing ‘hard-luck’ cheers instead of the scathing condemnation it deserves. Joe Opio writes a damning post-mortem.

By Joseph Opio - 5 July 2010 - Africa United, Race, reconciliation and xenophobia, Text

Rainbow Nation

There has been much talk of unity as the 2010 FIFA World Cup has kicked off in South Africa. After such a long history of division, has the Rainbow Nation been truly united across colour and race boundaries during the international soccer tournament?

By Simone Scholtz - 30 June 2010 - Africa United, Multimedia, Race, reconciliation and xenophobia

African Support

Evidence of interest in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Nigeria.

By Adolphus Opara - 30 June 2010 - Africa United, Photo

Soccer Africanised

Does Bafana Bafana reflect the demographics of the Rainbow Nation?

By Joseph Opio - 29 June 2010 - Africa United, Race, reconciliation and xenophobia, Text

United by Soccer: A history of South African football from apartheid to hosting the FIFA World Cup

From 1958 to 1992, South Africa was suspended from international soccer by FIFA, as a sanction against the prevailing racial segregation in the country. Black populations in country nevertheless played the game and used the discipline in the sport to circumvent association bans enforced by the white minority, as well as to maintain ties with militants in exile.

By Anne Mireille Mbiacob Nzouankeu - 28 June 2010 - Africa United, Race, reconciliation and xenophobia, Text

African Misery

An analysis of Africa’s soccer failures.

By Kennedy Gondwe - 24 June 2010 - Africa United, Text

First African Win

June 13, 2010 is a day that may never be forgotten by Ghanaian football supporters. It will go down in history as the day that the national team, The Black Stars, became the first African team to win a match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

By Rosemary Mroba Gaisie - 17 June 2010 - Africa United, Photo, Text