SUPER EAGLES '96
British Nigerian director Yemi Bamiro (ONE MAN AND HIS SHOES) delivers an engrossing history of the Nigerian national football team and its importance to the country's political and cultural landscape. Since the team's debut in 1994, Nigeria has qualified for six of the eight FIFA World Cup tournaments, reaching the final 16 on three occasions. Affectionately known as the Super Eagles, they are three-time Africa Cup of Nations winners and they have placed fifth in FIFA rankings — the highest position achieved by an African team. Bamiro's fascinating documentary not only details how the team grew in stature, it also locates them within the country's politically turbulent recent history — through the various coups, the imprisonment and execution of writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and many others and the corporate scandals resulting from widespread pollution — successfully balancing profiles of those involved in the team's success with figures who have fought to improve life across the country. (Note adapted from London Film Festival.) Official Selection, 2022 London and DOC NYC film festivals. DIR/SCR Yemi Bamiro; PROD Julia Nottingham, Lia Nicholls. UK/Nigeria, 2022, color, 93 min. In English. NOT RATED
No AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 93 Minutes
Opening Date: Saturday, March 25, 2023
Genre: Documentary - sports
