In 2009, Jessica Hilltout set out on an adventure to capture the passion for football on the African continent at a grassroots level. She travelled more than 20,000 km across 10 countries, equipped with her Hasselblad camera, 300 rolls of film, a logbook, a mini digital camera, a digital printer, and a stock of deflated footballs.

Jessica uncovers the hidden and tells the stories of unsung heroes. In her series AMEN, she speaks of the masses and of the World Cups played every day by teams, friends, and communities across the continent, where people are making balls, marking pitches, scoring goals, and, above all, playing for the sheer joy of it.

The power of the ball and the beautiful game, whether in a professional club or a small rural village, is enormous. Here, football is not just a game; it is the glue that binds village to village, team to team, tribe to tribe, and people to people. It is one of life's essentials. Guided by instinct, Jessica made her way through villages in search of the small details that reveal Africa's deep passion for football.

All those who live and remain in the shadow of the World Cup deserve to have a light shone on them, not only for their passion for the game, but also for the energy and enthusiasm that radiate through the way they live. Jessica's work embraces Africa and everything that makes it unique. It shines a light on the authenticity and ingenuity of a continent that manages to do so much with so little.