In my International Relations course, both my students and I frequently grapple with an unsettling reality: Among various theories elucidating global politics, why does Realism—which posits a worldview driven by unyielding self-interest, ceaseless rivalry, and a cynical outlook on human nature—appear to best capture the darkest aspects of our world? Conflicts like wars, coups, treacheries, economic penalties, and covert subversions seem only too comprehensible through realism’s lens.
So, I impart to them this concept: Realism does not equate to how the world actually is.
ought
To be is what defines our existence in this world.
is
. If you’re looking for what should be, try Constructivism or Ubuntu. But if you want to understand why your neighbour built a wall and not a bridge, why your visa was denied, or why your currency is falling, it’s Realism, stupid.
To make things simpler, I draw an analogy with football—a sport beloved universally known as “the world game” or “the beautiful game.” It serves as the best parallel to international relations. In this sphere, nobody harbors deep-seated hatreds, yet rivalries run high; teams play fiercely despite their lack of genuine enmity. The referee should remain impartial, though bias occasionally creeps in. Penalties aren’t just for actual fouls; getting caught out can also lead to penalties. Losing control means giving up opportunities to others. Letting your guard down invites trouble. If you appear overly amiable, adversaries may see weakness rather than kindness, exploiting it at every turn. Consequently, points go against you. This mirrors global diplomacy perfectly: such is life, both on and off the pitch.
So, here’s a concept:
soccerlitics
It is a political approach influenced by the shrewd and pragmatic nature of football. Though it may not appear like traditional diplomacy with military backing, it functions much the same way. Soccerlitics imparts the lesson that tactics are superior to emotions, and structure outweighs sentiments. This strategic mindset is precisely what Africa urgently requires. However, this isn’t about matches between Ghana and Nigeria; rather, it concerns Africa facing off against the prevailing international order. In the realm of geopolitics, where African nations often find themselves at a disadvantage due to their position outside familiar territories, understanding these principles can make all the difference.
The hold that football has over African culture stands unmatched. From dusty fields to bustling city corners, from school playgrounds to shantytowns and arenas, football serves as healing. This is the arena where typical Africans experience victory, albeit metaphorically. Beyond being just an activity, football embodies fervor, honor, and defiance. Approximately one-fifth of all Africans engage with the sport either by participating personally, guiding others, or zealously supporting their teams.
According to a GeoPoll survey conducted in 2022, 93% of participants from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda expressed their intention to tune into the World Cup. It has been noted that Africa’s sports market currently stands at more than $12 billion and is anticipated to surpass $20 billion by 2035.
Still, the 2026 World Cup hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico induces anxiety rather than excitement. African supporters are concerned primarily with visa issues instead of officiating decisions. There’s a possibility that Trump could return to power. The individual who previously referred to African countries as “shitholes” might influence which fans are allowed across his border.
However, Trump is merely the symptom, not the illness; this ailment has persisted for centuries. Initially, Europe subjugates and colonizes us before returning years later to provide mere scraps under the guise of ‘aid.’ Individuals from foreign lands move about our nations effortlessly through diplomatic channels, whereas African leaders stand in degrading queues at embassies seeking visas. People who enter these countries lawfully face treatment akin to intruders.
Anti-Black racism. The embarrassment at airports. Being treated as second-class citizens. For years, we’ve been made to feel inferior until we started believing it ourselves. This shows just how severe the issue is. Ironically, football has turned into one of the rare spaces where we can envision equality among each other.
Amidst this mental and physical debris, soccer transcends mere sport. It transforms into a form of relief. It dulls pain, diverts attention, and calms emotions. This is exactly what makes it so valuable.
soccerlitical
strategy makes sense.
This book draws upon both the teachings and the challenges of football rather than solely focusing on its pleasures, aiming to create political understanding amid an absurd reality. Within the realm of soccerlitics, you can count on fierce competition from opponents instead of leniency. The top squads anticipate harshness, as do pragmatic nations. Yet why should African governments assume they will be treated fairly when competing internationally? A competent coach knows better than to wait for their adversaries to willingly surrender victory.
A leader who appears to grasp this strategy is Ibrahim Traoré from Burkina Faso. Although I do not endorse military takeovers—and make this clear—Ibrahim Traoré embodies an approach to governance that has successfully challenged outdated and inefficient tactics, playing instead for his team’s victory: the people he leads.
Since taking power, he has pushed for a reduction in foreign military presence, strengthened alliances with neighbours under threat, and prioritised community resilience and economic autonomy in ways that speak the language of goals, not platitudes. He has challenged the system, not to be admired, but to be understood as an example of a substitute player coming off the bench and doing what the starters failed to do.
Here’s what the strategy demands: focus on goals. That’s what supporters care about. They want results. Jobs, schools, hospitals, justice. They don’t care how many free kicks you conceded or which superpower you befriended. They care about that net rattling. When Ghana plays Nigeria, nobody asks the coach to be gentle. They ask him to win.
No team resigns before kick-off. No team is too small to win. Victory depends not on history or hype but on setup. It depends on formation, focus, and fire. That’s where African leadership fails. Most of our political formations concede defeat before they reach the pitch. At cabinet meetings, leaders fail to notice the abundant talent in their squad. They forget their resources—natural and human. They don’t deploy, defend, or shoot. They lose.
More so, they embrace a falsehood: that Western squads possess an inherent entitlement to victory. This belief stems from their historical dominance over us—they think they should continue subjugating us. Consequently, when they outmaneuver us with skillful plays, we cheer enthusiastically. When they overpower us through aggressive tackles, we express gratitude towards them. Over time, this has led us to view ourselves as inferior beings relegated to lower divisions. Yet, it was our forebears who established both the sport and its playing fields well before these Europeans acquired knowledge of the game’s intricacies.
Yes, history matters. But don’t let your midfield dwell there. Let your defence do that. Ministries of health, transport, education—they form the wall. If you won’t score, at least don’t concede. Protect your people. Then, your midfield: foreign affairs, defence, trade—this is where the game is controlled. This is where possession matters. Let them resist, build, and launch.
Of course, don’t ignore the flanks. The flanks are deadly. That’s where they come at you with treaties, human rights talk, and trade pacts. That’s where the deception begins. By the time you realise it, your sovereignty is leaking. So watch the flanks.
And then the attackers? This is the presidency. This is the man or woman who must strike. No excuses and no waiting. No press conferences. Just goals. You don’t beat injustice with speeches. You beat it with results. Put the ball in the net. Secure the resources. Just Score.
To play this game, you need cunning. Not cowardice. Purpose, not pity. The global arena is not fair. It is rigged. It is a jungle. A Trumpish jungle. The UN is meant to be a referee but is ruled by its own assistants. Five permanent members call the shots. France, China, Russia, the UK, the US are your opponent, your referee, and the goalpost all at once.
Hopeless? No. Because the one thing you still control is your team sheet. You choose who plays. Choose well. Pick your very best, not your very friend. Ethnicity, party lines, loyalties—throw them out. Field citizens with skill and spine. No winning coach fields his drinking buddies.
Africa’s politics is broken because its formations are broken. Party discipline replaces public duty. Parliament becomes a theatre. But if you want to win, you need players who bleed for the badge—not the bag. Courage, Mr. President. Courage to break the mould. Courage to call up your best eleven. Even if they don’t like your face.
The people are tired and watching. They suffer in a silent scream. They are still screaming. They deserve better, Mr President.
So, in this bruising match called world politics, Africa cannot afford to play the fool or the friend—only the fighter. The global arena will not offer fairness, only fouls and fake handshakes. But if our leaders can field honest players, deploy strategic formations, and shoot for people-centred goals with the precision of a striker bent on glory, then even in a rigged game, Africa can win. The final whistle hasn’t blown yet.
Dr Muhammad Dan Suleiman
is the Founding Director of the Centre for Alternative Politics & Security West Africa (
www.caps-wa.org
). He is an adjunct research fellow at Curtin University’s Centre for Australia-Africa Relations, Australia, and the Team Lead, Africa Network of Critical Security Scholars (Ghana, Kenya). Muhammad researches, speaks and writes on politics and security in West Africa and advocates for an alternative politics. Email:
[email protected]
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
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