Podcast: The Africa Cup of Nations

My guest is Ben Jackson, whose book The Africa Cup of Nations: The History of an Underappreciated Tournament came out in time for the 2024 edition of AFCON.

We cover:

Origins of AFCON: The AFCON tournament started in the 1950s amid African countries seeking independence post-World War II. Founding members included Egypt, South Africa, Sudan, and Ethiopia, with Egypt winning the first tournament.

Political Influences: African football and politics are deeply intertwined. We discuss the 1966 African boycott of the World Cup and the exclusion of apartheid South Africa from AFCON that exemplify this connection.

Tournament Growth and Challenges: AFCON expanded as more African nations gained independence. Challenges include proving organisational capabilities to FIFA, political instability, and managing the diaspora of European-based African players.

Changing Player Dynamics: Historically, AFCON featured more domestic players, but now most players are based in Europe. This shift has both benefits and drawbacks, impacting player development and tournament logistics.

Impact of Diaspora: Countries like DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea have leveraged their diaspora populations to enhance their national teams, benefiting from players developed in Europe.

Historic Highlights: Key historical moments include Cameroon’s success in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly Roger Milla’s iconic performances, and Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic gold medal win.

Player Stories: Notable player stories include Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia, who survived a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of his teammates, and South Africa’s Mark Williams, whose decision to play in AFCON 1996 was pivotal for his career and national glory.

Research and Insights: Research for the book included interviews with people involved with AFCON and extensive use of archives from the FIFA Museum, revealing fascinating stories and incidents from past tournaments.

Future of African Football: Looking ahead, there’s optimism about the increasing competitiveness of smaller nations and the importance of having more domestic coaches. The podcast concludes with the significance of growing fan engagement and support for the tournament.

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The podcast is sponsored by Pibe de Barrio, the on-the-ground football experts in Buenos Aires, helping you live the Argentine matchday experience.