By Dan
Amor
As of Friday last week when this piece was written,
Senegal was the first African team to score a goal at the ongoing FIFA World
Cup in Russia. They recorded a 2-1 win over Poland in Tuesday's World Cup clash
in Moscow, to join Japan at the top of Group H. It was a huge relief for
Africa, the black continent, which was decimated and devastated with the 2-0
defeat of Nigeria by Croatia baring the 3-1 loss of Egypt to Russia on Tuesday.
Indeed, it wasn't a memorable start for Africa whose national governments see
soccer as a tool for political influence and personal aggrandizement.
The
atmosphere was very inclement throughout Africa, but the mood changed when
Nigeria demonstrated their superiority to Iceland with a 2-0 win at regulated
time. Nigerians and Africans at large, were now in a celebration mood as at
press time on Friday. This is because soccer is the opium of the youths, and
most adults alike. It is therefore the most unifying factor in any modern
society leading to attempts by successive administrations in Africa to make
enormous political capital from it. Consequently, the beautiful leather game
plays a monumental role in local and international politics.
