Africa United How Football Explains Africa
- 17 Feb 2011
- 9781847676597
- £10.99
- 320 pp
- 130×200mm
- 20 May 2010
- 9781847679079
- £8.79
- 320 pp
In a few words
A fascinating modern history of Africa
In a few words
A fascinating modern history of Africa
More than a sports book, Africa United tells how soccer keeps hope alive in across a troubled continent. It is an inspiring story of spirit, skill and doggedness in the face of hellish difficulties - in short it is the story of Africa itself
Reading this book makes you want to pack your bags and light out for the territory, however dangerous the territory may be . . . required reading for anyone visiting Africa for the world cup next month.
Giles Foden
Conde Nast TravellerMore than a sports book, Africa United tells how soccer keeps hope alive in across a troubled continent. It is an inspiring story of spirit, skill and doggedness in the face of hellish difficulties - in short it is the story of Africa itself
Reading this book makes you want to pack your bags and light out for the territory, however dangerous the territory may be . . . required reading for anyone visiting Africa for the world cup next month.
Giles Foden
Conde Nast TravellerMore about
the book
Football inspires competition and inflames passions nowhere as strongly as in Africa. Travelling across thirteen countries, from Cairo to the Cape, journalist Steve Bloomfield meets players and fans, politicians and rebel leaders, and discovers the role that football has played in shaping the continent. He recounts how football has helped to prop up an authoritarian regime in Egypt, end a conflict in Côte d’Ivoire and provide a tiny ray of light in war-torn Somalia.
Africa United is a superb, modern-day portrait of Africa, told through the game that unites it.
More about
the book
Football inspires competition and inflames passions nowhere as strongly as in Africa. Travelling across thirteen countries, from Cairo to the Cape, journalist Steve Bloomfield meets players and fans, politicians and rebel leaders, and discovers the role that football has played in shaping the continent. He recounts how football has helped to prop up an authoritarian regime in Egypt, end a conflict in Côte d’Ivoire and provide a tiny ray of light in war-torn Somalia.
Africa United is a superb, modern-day portrait of Africa, told through the game that unites it.
[Bloomfield] carefully weaves an intricate web showing how national politics and football intertwine, and that the whole continent is brought together by its passion for the beautiful game . . . the perfect balance of passionate prose and informed accounts of key moments both on and off the pitch.
A fascinating account of how football lies at the very heart of African consciousness.
The ideal bluffer's guide to African football, history and culture.
Precise, succinct and empathetic, this is a fine addition to football's internationalist canon.
Jonathan Wilson
Four Four Two[Bloomfield] carefully weaves an intricate web showing how national politics and football intertwine, and that the whole continent is brought together by its passion for the beautiful game . . . the perfect balance of passionate prose and informed accounts of key moments both on and off the pitch.
A fascinating account of how football lies at the very heart of African consciousness.
The ideal bluffer's guide to African football, history and culture.
Precise, succinct and empathetic, this is a fine addition to football's internationalist canon.
Jonathan Wilson
Four Four Two
