African football: documentaries to watch during confinement

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 African Nations Championship in Cameroon, qualifications for the 2021 African Cup of Nations and club competitions have been postponed. While waiting for the coronavirus crisis to pass, African football lovers can console themselves with this selection of documentaries.

Publicity

2010: THE ADVENTURE OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL (Olivier Monnot and Awa Ly)

This documentary in two parts of 52 minutes each was released just before the first World Cup on the continent, in 2010. It traces the history of the African football, from its (colonial) origins to its (passionate) expansion. He puts a lot of emphasis on the difficulties that African football and its players have had, and still have, to be recognized on the international scene. A must thanks to the quality of its archive images and the talent of its contributors: the ex-players Abedi Pelé, Joseph-Antoine Bell, etc; historians David Claude Kemo Keimbou and Paul Dietschy; journalists Franck Simon, Faouzi Mahjoub…

The Adventure of African Football: Birth of a Passion

The Adventure of African Football: Conquering the World

The Adventure of African Football : Birth of a Passion
The Adventure of African Football : Conquering the World

CAF: 60 YEARS OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL (Thomas Briat, Philippe Doucet and Sylvère-Henry Cissé)

60 Years Of African Football is more difficult to obtain than 2010 : The Adventure of African Football . And for good reason: it was specially made to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the African Football Confederation (CAF), in 2017. It was also screened for the first time in front of the CAF headquarters, a few hours before the defeat of Issa Hayatou against Ahmad for the presidency of the institution. Its 72 minutes are necessarily to the glory of it. We can also blame the low speaking time given to the players. But the excellent quality of its production and its speakers make it a must to see.

Trailer "CAF: 60 YEARS OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL"

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME : INSPIRING A CONTINENT (Victor Buhler)

A documentary (not in English) this time not historical, but showing the positive impact of sport-king on the life of hundreds of millions of people of the continent through six stories. Screened at the Sundance Festival and broadcast on Netflix, its 74 minutes are now available on video on demand . The testimonies of the South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu or the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan are worth the detour alone.

SADIO MANÉ : MADE IN SENEGAL (Peta Jenkin, Jermain Raffington and Mehdi Benhadj-Djilali)

This documentary devoted to the African superstar has just been released and it is available free of charge (provided you watch many advertisements). Two good reasons to dive into the exceptional journey of the Senegalese striker, from his beginnings in the small village of Bambali to his consecration in the legendary club of Liverpool. All with an exceptional achievement and comments from Aliou Cissé, but also from Jürgen Klopp, Mohamed Salah and other "Reds".

Trailer "SADIO MANÉ: MADE IN SENEGAL"

EVRY, THE OTHER CAN (Tristan Baudenaille-Pessotto and Thomas Porlon)

While the 2019 African Cup of Nations was in full swing in Egypt, another CAN was competing in Évry, a city near Paris. A big tournament between the inhabitants of the region, where each represents their country of origin and / or of heart. Two journalists made a 28-minute documentary full of energy and accuracy. This illustrates the fact that the passion for football (African, but not only) is just as present on the other side of the Mediterranean.

"EVRY, THE OTHER CAN"

EXIL FOOTBALL CLUB (Anne-Charlotte Gourraud)

The Mediterranean as well as other seas and oceans ... Many of them cross them, sometimes illegally, in order to realize their dream: to become a professional footballer and thus provide for the needs of their family who remained in Africa. This is the case of Tassirou Barry, a 20-year-old Guinean who left to try his luck in Thailand. This short documentary (30 minutes) is an illustration of the daily life of many African players. Behind the Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita or other Thomas Partey, there is a crowd of anonymous who crisscross the planet, in search of a better destiny.

NUMBER 12 (Anas Aremeyaw Anas)

A shocking documentary that has shaken all Ghanaian football and led to the downfall of the former president of the National Federation (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, suspended for life from any activity related to football. Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas traps managers, referees ... He thus shows the (dirty) back of the decor of African football. The title of his work takes on its full meaning: the "12th man", in many cases, is corruption.

"NUMBER 12"

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Sports
• Soccer
• Coronavirus