Soccer is not only the preeminent sport on the African continent but is the single greatest cultural unifier. Nothing else unites people from Ras ben Sakka in Tunisia to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa like the round ball. And yet there are still opportunities to make even more significant inroads, spurring economic activity through bolder linkages with local communities. Increased connections between soccer and the cultural and creative economy, which includes entertainment, the culinary world, fashion, the visual and performing arts, and tourism, will make the already dominant sport even more dynamic. But with soccer’s success in Africa, more investment can still be made to build a more robust soccer culture on the continent, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent’s governing body, has a critical role to play.
SOURCE: QUARTZ AFRICA