Football World United
Samuel Zuder, Germany
Samuel Zuder is a Hamburg-based freelance editorial and documentary photographer who has worked with international publications and on independent projects since graduating from FH Dortmund. He is known for his photo books, including “Face to Faith – Mount Kailash – Tibet,” which won the German Photo Book Prize, and “Iran – A Thousand and One Contradictions,” which earned the ITB Book Prize. His work has been exhibited internationally and is represented by the ‘laif’ agency in Cologne.
Abdoul Cherif Mounkaila Adamou, 30. Jersey: Kylian Mbappé, 7, PSG. Cherif migrated to Ghana from Niger with big dreams and high hopes. He wanted to be a professional footballer and played for money in street football tournaments for a while, until the hard life of a migrant shattered his dreams. The little money he had was not enough to feed himself and his family of six in Niger. He hung up his boots and went into the shoe business. To this day, he sells cheap Chinese plastic sandals and flip-flops from a street stall. He earns between $50 and $100 a month and is able to save some money for his family in Niger. Failure is not an option for him. He is the only son in a traditional family that relies on his support. Cherif has built something for himself here in Ghana. He started a small family and they lived together in a two-room flat on the outskirts of Accra. But then came the divorce. His dreams of a better life were shattered once again. But Cherif is a fighter. For every shattered dream, two new ones are born. Now he devotes himself to writing. He already has ideas for two novels in his head. His big dream is to meet his great idol, Kylian Mbappé, to shake his hand, hug him and thank him for everything he has done for his favourite club, PSG, and for football itself. To honour him, he wears the blue and red PSG shirt with the number 7 on on the back on special occasions, which he always carries neatly folded in a shoulder bag next to his notebook full of new ideas.