A United States of African Football

I wrote a piece for The New York Times where I argued that in the African Cup of Nations I see hints of the Africa that Nkrumah imagined.

I wrote a “guest essay” about the African Cup of Nations for The New York Times. As a result, I didn’t do a long post here; what would have been my third. It is entitled: “The Most Exciting Sporting Event in the World Is Happening Right Now.” And this event will happen for at least two more weeks. As I write, the group stage of the African Cup of Nations (or Afcon as it is known) is now done and we’ve entered the knockout rounds.)

The Times essay riffs off Kwame Nkrumah’s speech at Ghana’s independence in 1957, especially this line: “We are going to create our own African personality and identity. It is the only way we can show the world that we are ready for our own battles.” This leads to me conclude:

Watching these Afcon matches, played by these prodigal migrants, international superstars and talented youngsters together, makes Mr. Nkrumah’s vision of the continent seem real, or at least possible.

You can read the piece here.

Image at the top: Pablo Manriquez, via Flickr, CC Licensed.