How the Africa Cup of Nations Became a Powerful Propaganda Tool

When the Africa Cup of Nations was first held in 1957, it was an inherently political event. The majority of Africa was still under colonial rule and, as such, its very name (then 'the Africa Nations Cup') was an appeal to the nationalism which was sweeping the continent like wildfire. To put things in context, inaugural winners Egypt had only gained true independence from the United Kingdom in 1952, while Britain would not emancipate its last colony in Africa for another 23 years. The Africa Cup of Nations was meant to be a clarion call to ideas of national identity, and a statement of cultural and sporting independence from countries which had long been governed by their supposed superiors in Europe. Since its inception, however, it has been used to further political agendas of all different stripes, and utilised as a powerful propaganda tool by some of Africa's most ruthless regimes.

The first ever Africa Cup of Nations took place in a fraught political atmosphere. The founding nations, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and South Africa, were all facing critical developments in the domestic sphere. Gamal Abdel Nasser had taken full power in Egypt several months prior, while the Suez Crisis was fresh in the collective memory of the African and Arab worlds. There was serious tension between Egypt and the former colonial powers in the region, along with with the young nation of Israel, but for his defiance in the face of invasion Nasser was widely seen as a hero of the nationalist cause. Meanwhile, Sudan had gained its independence a year previously, Ethiopia was still struggling with the devastating aftermath of Italian occupation, and South African apartheid had already alienated many in Africa, Europe and beyond. The South African side would in fact be disqualified from the tournament, having steadfastly refused to change their policy of debarring non-white footballers from their national team.

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