AFCON soccer tournament brings a chance for 'diaspora bragging rights' for Africans in Massachusetts

Paris Alston: This is GBH’s Morning Edition. We know that in the U.S., American football reigns supreme. But for the rest of the world, soccer is the most popular sport. And for local immigrants, watching various soccer games is a way to not only stay connected to home, but unite as members of their respective diaspora. Such is the case for a major African soccer tournament kicking off tomorrow called the African Cup of Nations, or AFCON. I found out about this from Mohamed Barrie, who, aside from being a freelance journalist and heading up the local youth journalism program Teens in Print, is a major AFCON fan himself and he joins me now in the studio repping Sierra Leone, right?

Mohamed Barrie: We’re not even qualified.

Alston: Oh, no. Okay, well, maybe next year, right? Well, Mohamed, for those who are unfamiliar, is this sort of like the World Cup on a smaller scale? And why does it matter locally?

Barrie: Yeah, the men’s African Nations Cup is basically held every two years. Twenty-four teams qualify. So this year’s edition will be hosted in the West African nation of the Ivory Coast, also known as Cote d’Ivoire. And the final will be held on Sunday, February the 11th. It happens as something that brings a different diaspora that live here, for instance, in Massachusetts, where we have more than a 100,000 foreign-born Mass residents who are from Africa. You will find a large number of people that are all tuned in to the AFCON. Many restaurants will show games and potentially decorate the space with flags. Fans like Terrence Sarkodieh, who is from Ghana, expressed how the AFCON is a moment to showcase the brilliance and the talent of the continent.

Terrence Sarkodieh: You see the Ghanaian people cheering the Ghanainan people. You see the Nigerian people cheering the Nigerian people. And the rest of the world, when they see us, get to cheer us on. We’re not just an African continent. We are a continent of togetherness.

Barrie: He also says it’s a moment to reconnect with friends and family back home.

Terrence Sarkodieh: I would love to be back home during that period of time. Unfortunately, we came here to seek for greener pastures, but that doesn’t stop us from watching the game. You put it on your schedule. Everybody has a different work schedule, but watching … We don’t want to pay for it.

Barrie: Actually, this reminds me of, you know, watching it with my family. And as Terrence says, things really get spirited and —

Alston: Oh, I bet.

Barrie: I can already tell you WhatsApp groups are being formed, and people will be on their phones, trying to figure out what their home nation and favorite players are doing.

Alston: Hey, even here, I’m sure people are checking the scores for games when they’re at work.

Barrie: I feel like that’s the case.

Alston: What’s at stake in this cup, and what are the larger implications?

Barrie: Honestly, diaspora bragging rights for those of us that are in the diaspora, and being able to call yourself or your country the best. But on a serious note, financially, for most players it’s a trampoline for their careers. Performing well at the AFCON can earn you a big summer move, but then also qualifying and getting far in this tournament means earning more money. So, for instance, the Confederation of the African Football, CAF, increased this year’s prize money to $7 million U.S. dollars.

Alston: Wow.

Barrie: Yeah, and let’s say you lose in the semifinals, you will receive $2.5 mil. And let’s say you don’t get into the semis, but you lose in the quarter. You still get to go home with $1.3 mil as a team, which means money that a lot of these national federations and players can use. And then from a fashion perspective, AFCON is really the spot to be for those who are into soccer jerseys. Most brands like Puma, Adidas, really see the AFCON as a testing ground, a creative space for their designers to gifts us with fire fits, I might say. So the team release for jerseys is something a lot of fans look out to. And Nigeria honestly being the most sought-after jersey.

Alston: Oh, okay. So whoever wins this year’s AFCON, I’m trying to get a jersey, I’m just saying. So for people who may be interested in getting engaged with this, Mohamed, maybe they’re new to it, but they want to watch, where should they go and what should they do?

Barrie: So if you’re looking for the best space to be, I would say try African restaurants, sport bars, or just ask your African friends if they are hosting something. But places like Obosa in Roslindale, the Phoenix Landing in Cambridge and Anokye Krom in Worcester would definitely be spaces to go.

Alston: Okay, Mohamed, I know Sierra Leone is not in the tournament, but who are you going to be rooting for this year and who do you think will come out on top?

Barrie: Personally, I have to go for the Gambia as a nation that I love. They won’t win it, but I’ll root for them. I think they’re in the most difficult group.

Alston: Sounds like a true fan to me. Well, that is Mohamed Barrie, who is a freelance journalist and also the program director at the youth journalism program Teens in Print. Mohamed, thank you so much.

Barrie: Thank you.

Alston: You’re listening to GBH News.