Africa

African Expectations

Hopes were so high for Africa, prior to the start of the first staged World Cup tournament in South Africa. With the early exit of five of her six representatives, and the painful knock out of the last African team, Ghana, at the quarter final stage, what story has Africa got to tell?

By Rosemary Mroba Gaisie - 7 July 2010 - Audio

Africa Scores exhibition opens

On 11 June, the Africa Scores (AfrikaScoort) exhibition opened at the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam coinciding with the start of the World Cup.

By Carly Diaz - 6 July 2010 - Latest news

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

Ways and Means

Players throughout Africa consult juju men, traditional healers known elsewhere on the continent as muti men. Many players believe in the power of spirits to influence their destiny, others go along to build their confidence.

By Michael Tsegaye - 16 June 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Photo

Incurable Optimism

With the World Cup coming to Africa for the first time, fanatic football fans, carried away by emotion, have projected that an African team will emerge victorious on July 11. However, one only has to have a cold, hard look at the facts to see how wildly far-fetched a prediction this is.

By Joseph Opio - 8 June 2010 - Text

Faith and Football


The issue of fasting and playing football has come to the fore on the international stage recently. Foreign stars who practice religious fasting are involved in various leagues around the world and, whilst various medical experts claim it has effects on the players’ games, it seems opinion is divided.

By Francis Kokutse - 27 May 2010 - Text

Kids News Network teams up with Twenty Ten

Twenty Ten and Kids News Network have partnered to tell African stories around football to the children of the world.

By Carly Diaz - 26 May 2010 - Latest news