Reviews

Africa United: Soccer, Passion, Politics, and the First World Cup in Africa by Steve Bloomfield

andrewfontenelle's review against another edition

3.0

A little dated as it deals with the period prior to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but it is still an interesting view of Africa from a footballing perspective. From Cape to Cairo, the author shows that despite everything, the game has the ability to be a unifying factor everywhere.
It would nice to get a feel as to how football has developed more recently in the countries the author visited, but the book is still a worthwhile read.

quigs07's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting lens with which to view modern events in Africa; somewhat dated now, the book was written in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup; but it is still worth the time.

repeatbeatpoet's review

informative medium-paced

3.75

While it doesn't have the depth I'd like per country, the book is a good whistle-stop tour of post-independence era African politics through the lens of football (or is it modern African football through the lens of politics?) Either way, it proves how in Africa, football are politics are inextricably intertwined, and it encourages further and deeper research into all the issues it raises; corruption in sport, the global economy of football, national development and individual footballers development, etc. 

smhinma's review

5.0

No book captures the soul of football and the soul of Africa so poignantly as this book. Some stories made me want to laugh and cry all the same time. A must read for anyone interested in Africa, football (soccer), or the triumph of the human spirit.