Synopsis

The book is an insight into the unending intrigues, fraud, treachery, mismanagement, corruption, segregation, unfair trials and tribulations that African football has suffered over the years on the soccer superhighway, and its ceaseless struggle to overcome and establish a reputation of its own. . After carrying out investigation to bring out some untold stories about the game and its actors in the continent, it also examines the hidden power in African soccer and how it can be exploited to foster development in the continent.

For almost half a century, Africa has served as a reservoir of celebrated football talents who operate in renowned first class clubs in some Northern countries. In these foreign teams, they have seduced football lovers with fascinating spectacles. Their performances have driven them to central stage where, they are bargained for, at skyrocketing prices.

But, in spite of all this, African soccer is still neglected and snubbed by not only its managers, but also by beneficiaries of its products. It keeps going through all kinds of trials and tribulations as the international community rates it below standard, as infrastructure and other amenities required for its growth are lacking, and as its masters sometimes grossly mismanage their football industry. It continues to be marginalised by the movers and shakers of soccer both at continental and global levels irrespective of FIFA’s slogan “Football for all and all for football”.

This has, however, not discouraged some African football actors from making tremendous sacrifices that have gone a long way to get the continent’s soccer move forward..

That is why today, it is able to make major breakthroughs that are shattering the myths and the superiority complex that has surrounded football and impose itself. As football has become the world’s third largest industry very few people or country are indifferent to it these days. It appears there is no longer any age, sex, cultural or class barrier as far as loving the game is concerned.

Can we imagine what the world would be like today without football ?

The book in turn takes up Africa’s first faltering attempts participating in the World Cup competitions, her take off in 1990, the 1994 fiasco, the 1998 saga, the period between 2002 – 2006, her management upheavals, and ends up with a projection into the future of football in the continent.

African football has indeed come a long way !

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