Hosted by Kwangu Liwewe
Featuring Segun Odegbami and Ponga Liwewe
Produced by Finbar Anderson
Listen to and follow The Lede
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Podbean
The world of soccer has changed markedly since the days when Segun “The Mathematical” Odegbami played for Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s.
“During our time, the migration to Europe was in trickles or none at all,” he tells Global Insight host Kwangu Liwewe. “These days, the opportunities are legion. … African countries are generating more and more very gifted players, and the movement to Europe continues.”
Players of African origin dominated the recent Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Germany, with England’s Bukayo Saka and Spain’s Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal scoring crucial goals throughout the competition before their two teams faced off in the final. But the prevalence of racism in the game became apparent just a few days after the tournament ended, with Argentinian players, celebrating victory in the Copa America, live-streaming themselves singing a racist chant referencing French players of African origin.
“On the sports field, it’s your talent that speaks for you.”
“Racism is as old as the human race. It has always been there,” says Odegbami, noting that the issue is pervasive throughout society and not just in soccer.
Ponga Liwewe, a journalist who has written extensively about soccer and its relationship with Africa, agrees.
“Racism is a reflection of the whole society,” he says. He argues, nevertheless, that progress has been made over the past few decades. “Cultures have changed towards foreigners and towards Black people,” he says. “I think there’s been a wholesale change in how people of African origin or Black people are perceived in Europe.”
Being from an immigrant background may even have encouraged players of African origin to rise to the top of the European game, Liwewe suggests.
“Football is an avenue that gives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to young Black African players,” he says. “When you look at the number of North Africans coming through France, coming through Spain, there are disadvantages in where they grew up, where they went to school that curtails other opportunities. But on the sports field, it’s your talent that speaks for you. And this is one of the reasons why African players have been able to shine at the higher levels of the game in Europe.”