The closing ceremony of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in January 2026 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
“Football in Africa is more than a sport. It is a scene of dreams, stories of post-colonial expectation, and an image reflecting the continent’s frictional integration into the global capitalist system. From its colonial introduction through the independence era to the age of football as ‘big business,’ the game has been continuously adapted by Africans. Yet while the world celebrates stars like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Didier Drogba, a closer look reveals a landscape marked by neoliberal economics, talent drain, and a growing gap between European-based diaspora and struggling local leagues. Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, this essay traces African football’s journey from colonial adoption through political awakening and World Cup heartbreaks and victories, to its current era of commodification, governance struggles, and a growing divergence between the financially successful Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the continent’s struggling domestic leagues. …”
Africa Is a Country