WORCESTER, MA — Worcester resident Kwaku Awuah and longtime creative partner Nana Poku have unveiled the official trailer for More Than A Goal, an independent documentary about African history, soccer and the struggle for representation on the world stage. Now, they are working to bring the film to a Worcester audience.
Produced through their Pan-African creative company, 54 Kingdoms, the feature documentary explores how Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, used football, known in the United States as soccer, to advance African unity and dignity.
For Awuah, the project also builds on work he brought to downtown Worcester this summer. During the 2026 World Cup, he curated Goals Beyond The Game at the Jean McDonough Arts Center in collaboration with Unity Street Soccer. The June 13 event paired a street soccer festival with an art exhibition exploring football, identity and African history. morethanagoal.com
“Worcester has become home, so there’s something meaningful about bringing this story back to the community where I live, work and continue to create,” Awuah, the film’s co-executive producer, said in a press release.
The documentary revisits the African boycott of qualification for the 1966 FIFA World Cup. African nations withdrew after FIFA declined to guarantee the continent its own place in the tournament, requiring teams from Africa, Asia and Oceania to compete for a single berth. GBH
According to the filmmakers, More Than A Goal examines the roles of Nkrumah, Ghanaian football administrator Ohene Djan and the Confederation of African Football in the struggle over Africa’s place in the sport.
The production combines archival footage with cinematic reenactments and perspectives from different generations. The release identifies voices in the trailer including Samia Nkrumah, the former president’s daughter; former Ghana national team player Rev. Osei Kofi; veteran sports journalist Rosalind Amoh; and sports journalist and storyteller Fiifi Anaman.
The planned Worcester screening would extend the project’s local connection. Awuah and Poku hope to bring together African and diaspora communities, soccer fans, students, educators, artists and other residents for a shared viewing and discussion.
Awuah is seeking conversations with cultural institutions, universities, community organizations and businesses interested in helping make the screening possible. A Worcester date, venue and ticket information were not included in the announcement.
The filmmakers also say they plan screenings and premieres in the United States and Ghana, followed by a broader 2027 effort focused on educational screenings, college engagements and distribution.
“Some stories travel the world before finding their way home,” Awuah said in the release. “We want Worcester to be part of where this story is experienced, discussed and shared.”
Readers can watch the official trailer or visit morethanagoal.com. Organizations interested in the Worcester screening can contact goalsbeyondthegame@gmail.com.
Disclosure: What’s Up Worcester was listed among the partners and sponsors of Goals Beyond The Game. morethanagoal.com
W.U.W. Verification Box
- Sources: Supplied press release and email, official film and event websites, and GBH reporting on the 1966 boycott.
- Quotes: From the press release, not a What’s Up Worcester interview.
- Still pending: Worcester screening date, venue and ticket details.
- Scope: Film announcement, not a review of the full documentary.
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