When the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s annual “North America Convention,” which has drawn some 7,000 African Christians to the Rosemont Theatre, ends at about 4 a.m. Saturday morning with a prayer service, Kingsley Omotosho says he knows where he’s going.
“The hotel bar,” says Omotosho, a church member who flew from Nigeria for the gathering. “Not to drink, of course, but to watch the game.”
The game, of course, is Senegal’s World Cup quarterfinal match against Turkey (6:30 a.m.). And all of Africa is caught up in the hype, with underdog Senegal becoming only the second African team in World Cup history to reach the quarterfinals.
It wasn’t powerhouse Nigeria. It wasn’t South Africa or Tunisia, each eliminated from the tournament. And it wasn’t Cameroon, which in 1990 became the first-ever African team to reach the quarterfinals.
“Of course, we have all been watching the series,” says Omotosho. “The only thing we have talked about for the past several weeks was Nigeria. Now that [Nigeria is] gone, of course we are all rallying behind the only African team still left. There is a sense of unity. Africa is so overlooked on the world playing field, in general, that to have one team still on the playing field of soccer–and with an actual chance at victory–puffs us all up with pride.”
Even from the most unlikely of supporters.
“I was told the French are now rooting for Senegal,” says Nigerian Cyril Irbe, local host of the weekly Afriscope radio show. “Soccer does make strange bedfellows.”
In Dakar, the Senegal capital, the streets were lost under a wave of red, gold and green national colours. Some held high the pictures of marabouts — spiritual leaders in the local brand of Islam — thanked for Henri Camara’s golden goal in extra time that secured the 2-1 victory over a team that finished top of the toughest first-round group.
Fans in Chicago
In Chicago, local Africans gathered at Uptown’s Le Village African Restaurant, owned by Senegal native Aissatou Bayo, for a victory dinner. Le Village, which has become the local headquarters of Senegalese soccer fans, will house another vigil for Saturday’s game–with fans of the eliminated teams from Nigeria and Cameroon expected to be on hand.
“It’s pretty much a natural progression of events,” says Nigerian Femi Odere, founder and managing editor of The African Voice, whose offices are located in Rogers Park. “What I mean is with Cameroon and Nigeria out, it becomes very natural for the other Africans to rally around an African team.”
This has been the response from listeners of Irbe’s radio show, which chronicles events around the world that affect Africans. When Senegal beat Sweden, Irbe devoted an entire show to the overachieving Lions.
“This has become a great celebration for the continent,” Irbe says. “This is one of Africa’s smallest countries pulling off a big achievement for the continent. They are following in the footsteps of Cameroon in the France World Cup in 1998. Cameroon pulled a big surprise then. Now, here is another French-speaking African country starting off with a big bang by lashing out on their former colonial father. It is a big celebration for the continent.”
Hoping to host
There also is an added element to the hysteria. Should Senegal advance, Irbe says, it increases the chances of Africa hosting the World Cup in 2010.
“This is a continent that is desperately looking to host the games,” he says. “If Senegal should win [the World Cup] it will be difficult for people to deny that opportunity to Africa.”
So there is pride at stake. And Africans from all walks of life are embracing the team.
Between the prayer sessions and workshops during the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s convention, which according to overseer Rev. E.A. Adeboye is the church’s biggest gathering of African Christians outside of its Holy Ghost Festival in Lagos, Nigeria, people have talked about supporting Senegal.
Adeboye has been following each of the African nation’s runs through the World Cup. But when pressed for a prediction on Senegal, Adeboye, who rooted for Nigeria, would only smile.
“I am very much aware of what is going on in the soccer world,” he says. “My prayer is that the best team will win.”
