Zaire ’74 – The Rise and Fall of Mobutu's Leopards

The remarkable story of the Zaire team, who became the first black African team to appear in a World Cup finals tournament in 1974. Victims of casual racism and stereotyping in the western media, Zaire were accused of throwing games by opponents but were actually conned out of bonuses by their own countrymen and threatened to strike before the threat of violence against their families forced them back onto the pitch. Players were even banned from leaving the country upon their return home and many were never selected to play for their country again. Published in 2022.

Size: 137mm x 215mm – 225 pages.