Category: African News

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Cameroon's Andre Onana named man of the Match after debut
by Football Sierra Leone

Cameroon’s Andre Onana named Man of the Match after debut

Cameroon International keeper Andre Onana made his first appearance for Turkish club Trabzonspor after completing his loan transfer from Manchester United for the 2025/26 season.

Onana was chosen to start in goal against Fenerbahce by head coach Fatih Tekke during their Turkish Super Lig match on Sunday.

Unfortunately, Trabzonspor experienced their initial defeat of the season, with their new loan player responsible for the only goal in a 1-0 loss.

The goalkeeper managed to touch a low shot from just inside the area but failed to maintain possession of the ball, which did not seem to be heading on target.

Fenerbahce player Sebastian Szymanski reacted quickly to the loose ball and passed it to Youssef En-Nesyri, who scored easily from close range.

Trabzonspor, who were reduced to ten players following a red card for Okay Yokuslu, concluded the match with a two-game winless streak.

Despite the blunder and the loss, Onana put in a solid performance throughout the match.

The 29-year-old recorded eight saves for Trabzonspor against 29 shots directed at him from Fenerbahce.

Even with his mistake, he earned the title of player of the match. Trabzonspor will be hopeful that Onana can build on his performance from the weekend when he makes his home debut next weekend against Gaziantep.

Morocco's Fouzi Lekjaa reiterates readiness to host Africa Cup of Nations
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa reiterates readiness to host Africa Cup of Nations

President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, has reiterated Morocco's readiness to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) later this year.

In a beIN Sports interview, he stated that the country’s preparations stem from years of planning and investment, rather than hurried efforts at the last minute.

He acknowledged the vision of King Mohammed VI, whose reforms over the past twenty years have focused on developing world-class sports infrastructure and cultivating football talent across the nation. “Thanks to His Majesty’s long-term vision, Morocco is poised to deliver a benchmark event that will set a high standard for future AFCON tournaments,” Lekjaa remarked.

The 2025 AFCON, scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will take place across six cities in Morocco, each featuring newly constructed or completely renovated stadiums that rank among the most modern in Africa.

In addition to state-of-the-art venues, the country has bolstered its logistics, security, and hospitality services to meet global expectations.

Lekjaa emphasised that Morocco envisions this tournament as more than just a sporting event, viewing it as a celebration of African unity and solidarity. He noted, “This isn’t just about football; it’s a chance to showcase brotherhood across Africa.”

The North African country aims to combine its excellent infrastructure and hospitality to elevate continental competitions. For Lekjaa, the 2025 AFCON will highlight Morocco’s growing status as a global sports destination and honour the traditions that make the tournament a beloved African event.

Pyramids FC Advance after win defeating Auckland City
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Pyramids Advance after defeating Auckland City in Intercontinental Cup

Pyramids FC has progressed to the next round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup after a decisive 3-0 win over Auckland City in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Play-off.

Goals from Walid El Karti, Marwan Hamdy, and Mostafa Ziko were pivotal at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, as the dominant African champions triumphed over the tough challenge posed by their Oceania rivals.

Pyramids will now advance to compete against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, the champions of the AFC Champions League Elite, in the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup – and are only two matches away from a chance at the Intercontinental Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Egyptians continued to press the visitors’ goal and thought they had scored again just before the half-hour mark. However, Mohamed Hamdy’s strong header was correctly ruled out for offside.

Auckland’s best chance came on a counter-attack. Dylan Manickum was clear on goal but missed wide, wasting a great opportunity for a surprise equaliser in the second half.

However, Marwan Hamdy ended any hopes for Auckland by scoring 16 minutes from time with a powerful header from close range.

Substitute Ziko then added a third goal, taking advantage of the tiring Auckland defence and curling a great shot inside the far post.

Al Ahli now waits for Pyramids. The winner of that match will face either Mexico’s Cruz Azul, the Concacaf Champions Cup winners, or the yet-to-be-determined CONMEBOL Libertadores champions.

Whichever team wins from that FIFA Challenger Cup match will go on to compete for the Intercontinental Cup against PSG, the champions of Europe.

Pyramids’ goal: Walid El Karti (14), Marwan Hamdy (74), Mostafa Ziko (85)

Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho nets on Celtic debut
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho nets on Celtic debut

Debutant Kelechi Iheanacho scored for Celtic as they defeated Kilmarnock at Rugby Park 2-1 on Sunday in added time.

Iheanacho, who signed with Celtic on a one-year contract that includes an option for an additional year, earlier this month, has opened his account.

Celtic had the first chance early in the match when Liam Scales received a corner-kick but couldn’t hit the target.

They dominated possession for the first 20 minutes, holding nearly 80 per cent of the ball, but struggled to create clear chances as Kilmarnock defended deep.
Sebastian Tounekti made an impressive debut on the left wing for Celtic. After 30 minutes, he attempted a lob over the Kilmarnock goalkeeper but missed. He later set up Benjamin Nygren, who failed to score, while Cameron Carter-Vickers forced a save from Max Stryjek with a long shot.

Kilmarnock nearly scored early in the second half, but David Watson missed a free-kick opportunity. Celtic took the lead when Daizen Maeda scored a diving header from a Marcelo Saracchi cross. Ten minutes later, Nygren’s shot was blocked.

With 20 minutes left, Kelechi Iheanacho made his debut, replacing Maeda. Though Celtic created chances, they couldn’t add to their lead. Kilmarnock equalised with a header from Watson off a corner with under 10 minutes remaining.

In a dramatic finish, Celtic was awarded a penalty after a VAR handball check. Iheanacho scored with the last kick of the game, securing a 2-1 win and maintaining Celtic’s unbeaten start to the Premiership season.

DRC's Yoane Wissa to miss Newcastle encounter against Wolves
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DRC’s Yoane Wissa to miss Newcastle encounter against Wolves

Eddie Howe has revealed that Yoane Wissa will be absent from his Newcastle United debut this weekend.

The Congolese forward was set to make his first appearance for the Magpies after his £55 million transfer from Brentford in the recent transfer window.  

Howe stated that Wissa, 29, had sustained a knee injury while on international duty with the DR Congo and is still affected by it.  

“Sadly, he won’t be available for this match,” the Newcastle manager commented on his new addition.  

“I just saw him for the first time yesterday, and he’s still dealing with the effects of the injury he picked up just before he left [during international duty]. We will need to assess how he is.”  

When asked why he was prepared to invest such a significant amount to acquire the striker, Howe answered: “Finding an established Premier League goalscorer is quite rare and challenging.”

“He possesses exceptional qualities and had an outstanding year not just last year, but also in the year prior. He has a proven track record of scoring goals.

He has performed well against us and has been a challenging player to manage in our matchups. I genuinely admire the journey he has undertaken to reach this point, as it has not been easy for him.”

Nigerian defedner Ola Aina doubtful for Forest v Arsenal Premier League tie
by FSL News

Nigerian defender Ola Aina doubtful for Forest weekend Premier League tie

Nottingham Forest is facing more problems as defender Ola Aina might miss Saturday's match against Arsenal due to an injury he sustained while playing for Nigeria.

Aina played in both of Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifying matches. The Super Eagles won 1-0 against Rwanda and drew 1-1 with South Africa.

Aina had to leave the game early against South Africa after getting hurt in a challenge. He was substituted in the 10th minute for Bright Osayi-Samuel.

Reports say Aina has a hamstring injury, but he was able to walk off the pitch after the game. Forest also made headlines this week by parting ways with manager Nuno Espírito Santo. They have appointed former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou as his replacement.

Postecoglou will have a difficult start, facing Arsenal in his first game, especially if Aina is unable to play.

Currently, Forest is 10th in the Premier League with one win, one draw, and one loss this season.

Arsenal has two wins and one loss in their first three league games and will aim to get back to winning ways on Saturday.

Cameroon's André Onana’s Manchester United exit is imminent
by Football Sierra Leone

Cameroon’s André Onana’s Manchester United exit is imminent  

André Onana’s tenure at Manchester United seems to be coming to an end after conflicts with manager Ruben Amorim reached a critical point.

According to English outlets, the relationship between the Cameroonian goalkeeper and the Portuguese coach has deteriorated in recent weeks, resulting in them no longer speaking to each other.

Amorim has reportedly criticised Onana’s professionalism, particularly his choice to participate in a local match in Cameroon during his vacation on a pitch deemed hazardous.

Reports indicate that Onana is close to finalising a transfer to Turkish side Trabzonspor, with his departure regarded as nearly certain.

Tension grew between Onana and Amorim before the international break, with Amorim accusing Onana of lacking commitment in training. Relegated to the bench, Onana was never seen as part of the coach’s long-term plans. The situation worsened after Onana’s mistakes in Manchester United’s surprising cup loss to Grimsby.

These errors reinforced Amorim’s belief that the goalkeeper could no longer be trusted at the highest level. Additional criticism was directed at Onana’s performances for the Cameroon national team.

His recent performance in the loss against Cape Verde faced significant scrutiny, with some observers blaming him for the outcome. These challenges have reinforced Amorim’s belief that the player’s departure is essential for restoring balance within the squad.

Now, with Trabzonspor looking to make a move, his time at Old Trafford appears set to conclude sooner rather than later.

Senegal leapfrog DR Congo after comeback win in Group B
by Football Sierra Leone

Senegal leapfrog DR Congo after comeback win in Group B

In Group B, Senegal staged a thrilling comeback in Kinshasa and moved ahead of DR Congo with goals from Pape Gueye 39’, Nicolas Jackson 53’, and Pape Sarr 87’

DR Congo jumped to a two-goal lead with Bakambu’s goal and Wissa’s follow-up. Senegal responded with a goal from Pape Gueye, narrowing the gap before halftime.

They levelled the score when Jackson scored from a rebound and took the lead with Pape Sarr’s goal late in the match.

Senegal now tops the group ahead of their upcoming matches against South Sudan and Mauritania. DR Congo needs to regroup quickly for their matches against Togo and Sudan to keep their hopes alive.

DR Congo 2–3 Senegal – Scorers: Cédric Bakambu 26’, Yoane Wissa 33’ (DRC); Pape Gueye 39’, Nicolas Jackson 53’, Pape Sarr 87’ (Senegal)

Elsewhere, matchday 8 of Africa’s qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 brought exciting moments and important outcomes.

Cape Verde won 1-0 against Cameroon, putting them at the top of their group. In Johannesburg, South Africa, and Nigeria played to a 1-1 draw in a close match. Egypt and Burkina Faso ended in a 0-0 tie, while Togo celebrated their first victory by beating Sudan 1-0.

In a tightly contested match, South Africa and Nigeria settled for a 1-1 draw. South Africa took the lead with an own goal from Troost-Ekong, but Nigeria responded just before halftime with a goal by Bassey.

In the second half, both teams created chances, with Nigeria looking more dangerous on counterattacks. The draw keeps South Africa well-positioned for automatic qualification, while Nigeria needs to win their remaining matches to stay in contention.

In Group A, Egypt missed a chance to secure qualification, playing to a goalless draw against Burkina Faso. An early injury to Omar Marmoush hampered their attack, and despite Salah having a goal ruled out for offside, they couldn’t break through a solid Burkina Faso defence. With two matches left, the group’s outcome remains up in the air.

Egypt one win away to reach 2026 World Cup after stalemate in Ouagadougou
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt close in on 2026 World Cup after stalemate in Ouagadougou

Egypt's will have to wait for a place in next World Cup after they played to a goalless draw against Burkina Faso on Tuesday in Ouagadougou during the eighth round of the African qualifiers. (Photo Credit Pouire service photographie)

Now, Egypt will face Djibouti on October 6, hoping to secure its spot in the World Cup. Currently, Egypt leads Group A with 20 points, which is five points ahead of second-placed Burkina Faso.

They need just one point from their next two games to secure a spot in the tournament. Coach Hossam Hassan used a different strategy by setting up a strong defence with five defenders.

Egypt started the game defensively, managing Burkina Faso’s early pressure. Despite the noisy crowd, Egypt defended well and posed a threat on counter-attacks, using the speed of Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan.

The match started with Trezeguet’s long-range shot missing the target six minutes in. Egypt faced a setback when Omar Marmoush was injured, replaced by Osama Faisal.

Burkina Faso threatened with a free kick after twenty minutes, but Egypt’s defence held strong, and Toure shot over the bar from the rebound. Trezeguet’s powerful shot was saved by Koffi, leaving the first half goalless.

In the second half, Egypt played cautiously, allowing Burkina Faso to control possession. Mohamed Salah assisted Trezeguet, but Koffi saved again. Salah had a goal disallowed for offside in the 67th minute.

Dango Ouattara missed a header late in the game, and Coach Hassan made substitutions with five minutes left. Mostafa Mohamed had two chances to score but couldn’t convert.

Ghana Black Stars close in on 2026 World Cup spot after win over Mali
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghana Black Stars close in on 2026 World Cup spot after win over Mali

Ghana moved closer to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup by beating Mali 1-0 at home.

Alexander Djiku scored the only goal in the 49th minute after Mali’s goalkeeper, Djigui Diarra, could not catch a corner from Jordan Ayew.

Mali needed a win to keep their chances of automatic qualification alive. They controlled the game for the last half hour but could not break through Ghana’s strong defence.

With this victory, Ghana now has 19 points and a three-point lead at the top of Group I with two more matches to play next month.

Otto Addo’s team will play away against the Central African Republic and then host Comoros. A single win in these matches could secure their place in the World Cup for the second time in a row.

In the African qualifying, only the nine group winners are guaranteed a spot in the tournament next year, but the four best-ranked teams can enter the playoffs.

The top-seeded Mali have yet to compete in the World Cup finals and can no longer finish at the top of the group.

Mali are currently in fourth position in the standings, four points behind Madagascar, who are in second place after coming back to defeat Chad 3-1 earlier on Monday.