AMELIA POWELL

African nations are going from strength to strength in the international sporting field. Every year we see more and more tournaments taking place on African soil, and more African athletes achieving great success abroad. This is brilliant news for two reasons. Firstly, African countries are earning respect for their sporting talent and excellence. Secondly, their success in team sports also encourages a culture of sportsmanship and teamwork that can spread to other areas, such as work, family, school and community.

The booming team sports industry is clear to see, especially when it comes to Africa’s favourite sport: football.

FOOTBALL

Football is the most popular sport in almost every African country. Young people in cities and in villages across the continent can enjoy the game, as it is accessible and doesn’t need complicated equipment. It is an excellent way for young people to stay healthy, spend time with friends, and learn about teamwork. Many of Africa’s most talented football stars started their careers on local pitches, as “grassroots” level players.

After the first game of football in Africa 155 years ago, professional African football teams and leagues were soon formed, and they have been growing rapidly ever since. There are leagues on local, regional and continental levels. The main international football league in Africa is the Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place every two years. Sixty years ago, there were only three nations competing in the event, but this year it was announced that the tournament will expand to include a total twenty-four nations. This shows just how successfully the sport is growing, and becoming a major business. The current champions are Cameroon, who won for the fifth time this year and will host the event in 2019.

This outstanding football success can also be seen on a global level. More than 100 African athletes play in first division leagues in Europe, the US, and South America. African football personalities have become household names and achieved international fame, including Samuel Eto’o, Emmanuel Adebayor and Didier Drogba. According to FIFA there are six African nations in the world top 40: Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Tunisia, Cameroon, and Nigeria.

OTHER SPORTS

However, football is not the only team sport taking off in Africa. Rugby is growing rapidly in popularity, and South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and Ghana have all been excelling on an international level. Namibia are on a winning streak at the continental Africa Cup, an annual rugby tournament that they have won for the last four years. Kenya’s rugby scene is also thriving. Every year the Safari Sevens tournament is hosted in Nairobi, and teams come from all over the world to take part. Last year the Kenyan national team won the tournament for the ninth time. The country now has 40000 registered players, including 30000 teenagers, so it looks like the sport is set to grow even further in future.

The growth of these team sports in Africa is positive for both local and international communities. The rising sports industry means more income and investment for teams at all levels. This can be invested in better equipment and infrastructure, to make the sport accessible to more people. It has been shown that athletes who start at a local level can go on to achieve international success, and greater investment means more of these talents might be discovered, so that African teams can go on to achieve further sporting success in future.

And young people can see athletes as role models for positive citizenship. They represent core values of teamwork, respect, and cooperation, as well as a willingness to follow the rules of the game. These concepts are essential to both a sports team and a community, and team sports are an enjoyable and accessible way to teach them.

[related_posts_by_tax posts_per_page=”4″]