Argentina fans celebrating their team’s World Cup victory walk past a mural of Diego Maradona in Buenos Aires. While shared nationality is a factor, most fans typically think about players in terms of their club team.
(AP Photo/Mario De Fina)
Studying how shared identities like nationality and club affiliation impact fan support for soccer players can tell us how our group memberships affect our behaviour.
Young players train with Cameroon star striker Vincent Aboubakar who plays for Saudi Professional League club Al Nassr.
DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images
Aware of the high chance of failure, young African talents show remarkable creativity and resilience as they dream of being the next Sadio Mané.
Sadio Mané celebrates his Ascon-winning penalty for Senegal against Egypt.
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Thanks to the growing appeal of African football stars and a dream final, Afcon is establishing itself on the world sporting map.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring a goal during the Afcon qualifying match between Egypt and Tunisia, 16 November 2018.
Khaled Elfiqi/EPA
Here is a run-down on everything you need to know ahead of the championships.
Leo Messi advertises sportswear, airlines, and even this Russian bank.
Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA
Ronaldo and Messi cannot go on forever, and Neymar, Pogba and Salah are waiting in the wings.
One of the favourites to win the World Cup, Germany’s national football team, on their way to Russia.
Armando Babani/EPA
Can we trust expert football predictions? Perhaps, but it’s variable.
Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah at a training session in Cairo.
Khaled Elfiqi/EPA
Africa has always promised a great deal in the international showcase but delivered very little at the football world cup.