Zaire '74
The Rise and Fall of Mobutu's Leopards
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The first Black African team to appear in a World Cup suffered casual racism and horrific stereotyping in the western media, were accused of throwing games by opponents, were conned out of bonuses by their own countrymen and ended with one of the worst records in the tournament''s history -- conceding 14 goals in three games while scoring none in reply. Nevertheless, the Zaire team of 1974 lives long in the memory and not just because of that free-kick. Financially backed by President Mobutu, the Leopards had won two African championships and strolled through World Cup qualifying under the man...
The first Black African team to appear in a World Cup suffered casual racism and horrific stereotyping in the western media, were accused of throwing games by opponents, were conned out of bonuses by their own countrymen and ended with one of the worst records in the tournament''s history -- conceding 14 goals in three games while scoring none in reply. Nevertheless, the Zaire team of 1974 lives long in the memory and not just because of that free-kick. Financially backed by President Mobutu, the Leopards had won two African championships and strolled through World Cup qualifying under the management of Blagoje Vidinić, a Yugoslav who managed to unite the disparate tribes of a country the size of Western Europe. Yet the campaign was dogged by controversy. Following a creditable performance against Scotland, the Zaire players learned that their much-trumpeted bonuses had been syphoned off by members of the World Cup delegation and threatened to strike. Only the threat of violence against their families forced them on to the pitch for the second game, which they proceeded to lose 9-0 to Yugoslavia. They were then threatened with summary execution if they lost by more than three goals in their final game against Brazil! Players were banned from leaving the country upon their return and the more militant were never selected for Zaire again. Mobutu then diverted the proceeds of his ''soccer tax'' to fund the Rumble in the Jungle, considering boxing a far safer bet than football. Neil Andrews traces the fortunes of one of the most colourful finalists to grace the World Cup who blazed a trail for the likes of Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana at high personal cost for many of the team.
