"Angola Is Not Just about Oil, War and Poverty": Reflections on Angolan Soccer, Nationalism and the Run to the 2006 World Cup Finals
Year: 2007
Type: article
Abstract: Prior to Angola's initial qualification for the 2006 World Cup Finals, intemationally the country was largely known only for its prodigious oil reserves, protracted civil war , copious landmines, pervasive corruption, and rampant poverty amidst mind-boggling wealth.Following its qualifying victory over Rwanda, though, soccer, for the first time, pla, ced Angola squarely on the world stage and helped to foster a sense of national pride domestically, uniting the deeply divided country around its new soccer heroes.This reflection examines the period leading up to the momentous.victory versus Rwanda and the aftermath as Angola and its former colonial master, Portugal, faced each other in the first round of the Finals.As an avid soccer fan, the reflection is based upon discussions and general observations made while I was living and conducting research in Angola and Portugal continuously from 2004 through 2006.
Author: Todd Cleveland
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W294632707