Ahmed Sekou Touré said "No" to France and "Yes" to football - Matchday 1
African Five-a-sidePlay episode
Show notes
1958 Ahmed Sekou Touré campaigned so that Guineans would vote "No" in a referendum on whether to adopt the new French constitution or reject it and opt for independence. As the first leader of independent Guinea, Touré focused on wide-ranging educational reform which included encourage sport for the masses at a grassroots level. Yet, after witnessing the success of Kwame Nkrumah's Black Stars, Touré decides that it's time to use football as a diplomatic tool. Cherif Souleymane, Petit Sory, Papa Camara, Bengally Sylla, Maxime Camara and N'Jo Lea are some of the names that end up comprising the great Guinean generation of 1972-1978, which was spurred by Touré's political philosophy. In episode 4 of the African Five-a-side podcast, we'll relive those golden years and trace over the Africa Cup of Champions Clubs triumphs and how they were instrumentalised by Touré and the PDG.
