Category: African News

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Sudan advance to CHAN semis after penalty shootout victory over Algeria
by Football Sierra Leone

Sudan advance to CHAN semis after penalty shootout victory over Algeria

Sudan continued their impressive journey in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 with a stunning quarter-final win over Algeria in Zanzibar.

The match ended 1-1, with Sudan triumphing 4-2 in penalties, showcasing their discipline, tactical pragmatism, and unwavering belief, according to CAF Technical Study Group member Michael Amenga Okoth.

Despite Algeria entering as heavy favorites, Sudan’s strategy involved selective pressing and compact defensive organization, which led to an own goal early in the second half after Musa Hussien’s shot was parried.

Amenga emphasized that this reflected a clear tactical plan from coach Kwesi Appiah, as Sudan focused on resilience over possession.

Even after Algeria equalized through Soufiane Bayazid, Sudan’s defense remained steadfast, expertly blocking central access and maintaining composure under pressure. When the match went to penalties, goalkeeper Mohamed ‘Abooja’ Alnour Adam Saeed saved two spot-kicks, helping Sudan advance to the semi-finals.

Sudan’s impressive physical conditioning allowed them to compete fiercely for 120 minutes, and their disciplined midfield play was crucial in thwarting Algeria’s attempts to dominate. The players’ emotional drive, fueled by their challenging circumstances back home, added an extra layer of motivation, leading to their unforgettable semi-final matchup against Madagascar.

Defending champions Senegal beat Uganda to reach CHAN semis
by FSL News

Defending champions Senegal beat Uganda to reach CHAN semis

Defending champions Senegal overcame co-hosts Uganda 1-0 in the quarter-final match of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.

Oumar Ba scored the decisive goal shortly after the 60-minute mark, showcasing Senegal’s tournament experience against a passionate crowd of over 35,000.

The goal came from a cross by Libasse Guèye that found Ba at the far post, allowing him to place a low shot past goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa.

While Uganda fought valiantly, becoming the first team to reach the knockout rounds, they struggled to convert opportunities. Allan Okello had a powerful shot saved, and Gavin Kizito just missed with a header.

Senegal’s strong defense, led by goalkeeper Marc Diouf and central defenders Seyni Ndiaye and Joseph Layousse, held firm against Uganda’s advances. Despite Uganda having more shots, they lacked the composure shown by Senegal.

The match marked a historic achievement for Uganda, who had never reached this stage before and finished first in their group. Coach Morley Byekwaso emphasised the team would learn and return stronger. Defensive masterclass! Ndiaye’s commanding display earns him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award.

Senegal will face Madagascar in the semi-finals, while Uganda’s journey in CHAN 2024 lays the groundwork for future success.

Burkina Faso's Dango Ouattara's nets debut goal for Brentford
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso’s Dango Ouattara nets debut goal for Brentford

Burkina Faso’s Dango Ouattara scored on his debut for Brentford a their 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in their first home match of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

The 23-year-old’s 12th-minute finish was the difference as Keith Andrews’ team celebrated their first win at Gtech Community Stadium. Ouattara started just a week after signing, alongside Jordan Henderson, who also made his full debut.

In a tribute to former club chair Dan Tana, the Bees observed a minute’s applause before kick-off, wearing black armbands.

Damsgaard had the first chance of the match early on, but his effort went wide. Brentford took the lead through Ouattara, who scored after a rebound from an initial save by Emiliano Martínez.

Brentford’s Kayode made significant contributions with long throws, leading to a blocked attempt by Henderson. Aston Villa’s first chances came from set-pieces, with Schade and Kelleher making key saves. Damsgaard’s volley was ruled out by VAR for a foul.

Late in the first half, Ollie Watkins’ shot was also blocked, and Kayode’s challenge prevented Villa from equalizing early in the second half. Onana’s shot was blocked after Watkins set him up, and Thiago missed the chance to extend the lead with a wide shot in the final minutes.

In the second half, Kayode again played a crucial role, blocking a shot from Onana after a setup from Watkins. Thiago had another opportunity to score but also shot wide in the closing moments.

Morocco advance after win over Tanzania in CHAN quarter-final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco advance after win over Tanzania in CHAN quarter-final

Morocco defeated Tanzania 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024, ending Tanzania’s remarkable tournament run.

The match, held at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, saw Oussama Lamlaoui score the sole goal in the 65th minute, assisted by Youssef Belammari.

The game was tightly contested, with Tanzania creating chances through Clement Mzize and Feisal Salum, but Morocco’s goalkeeper, El Mehdi Al Harrar, made crucial saves. As the match progressed, Morocco began to take control, with Lamlaoui being a constant threat.

Despite trailing, Tanzania continued to press for an equalizer, with Mzize nearly scoring with a header and substitute Nassor Saadun missing a late opportunity. Morocco’s defense, led by Mohamed Moufid and Mehdi Mchakhchekh, held firm to secure the win.

This victory marks Morocco’s seventh consecutive win in CHAN knockout rounds since 2014. Though their tournament ends at this stage, Tanzania can take pride in their achievement of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, boasting the best defensive record and showcasing the potential of East African football.

Morocco now looks forward to the semi-finals in pursuit of their third title.

by Football Sierra Leone

Co-hosts Tanzania to face an uphill task against Morocco in Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam is set to host a quarterfinal showdown as co-hosts Tanzania take on Morocco at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, one of the most successful teams in the history of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), in a highly anticipated match on Friday.

This encounter will mark the first-ever meeting between Tanzania and Morocco at CHAN, and it will also be Tanzania’s first match against a North African team in the tournament.

Tanzania will be playing their 11th game at CHAN, while Morocco will be their 10th different opponent in the competition.

Morocco has faced East African teams six times, with a record of three wins, two draws, and one loss. Their wins include victories over Uganda (3-0 in 2014, 5-2 in 2020) and Rwanda (4-1 in 2016), along with draws against Rwanda (0-0 in 2020) and Sudan (0-0 in 2018).

In this tournament, their only defeat was a 1-0 loss to Kenya. This match marks Morocco’s first knockout round encounter with an East African team and will be their 21st opponent at CHAN.

Morocco will face a tournament host for the fourth time, having previously beaten Rwanda (4-1 in 2014) and Cameroon (4-0 in 2020), but lost to Kenya this year.

Tanzania has shown strong defence, conceding only one goal—the fewest in the tournament—while Morocco boasts a powerful attack, scoring eight goals, the highest in the competition.

Morocco has an 18.6% shot conversion rate, scoring eight goals from 23 shots on target, while Tanzania has a conversion rate of 10.42%, with five goals from 17 shots. Additionally, Tanzania leads in defence with 45 tackles, compared to Morocco’s 29.

Ivorian Eric Bailly agrees with the Spanish La Liga side Real Oviedo
by Football Sierra Leone

Ivorian Eric Bailly agrees with the Spanish La Liga side Real Oviedo

On Monday, Real Oviedo confirmed that they are hiring Ivorian Éric Bailly on a two-year deal expiring in June 2027. The 31-year-old central defender joined the club on a free transfer upon the completion of his Villarreal agreement.

Bailly’s move to Real Oviedo comes after a failed endeavour to join the Saudi Premier League, the Al Najma Sports Club. Having made twelve appearances during the 2024–25 season, his Villarreal contract was terminated, and he became free.

Beginning at Espanyol, Bailly has played for a few European teams, including Villarreal and subsequently Manchester United, over his career.

He had his longest stint at Manchester United and served on loan at French Ligue 1 team Olympique de Marseille (OM) before joining Turkish club Besiktas. The seasoned defender returned to Villarreal subsequently.

Having 49 international caps for the Ivory Coast, Bailly’s most recent showing was a loss against Sierra Leone during the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in October 2024.

Suspect arrested after alleged racially abuse Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Suspect arrested after alleged ‘racially abused’ Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo

A man was removed from Anfield after he reportedly racially abused Bournemouth player Antoine Semenyo during the first Premier League game of the season against Liverpool.

The Ghanaian International claimed that a spectator made unacceptable remarks in the 29th minute of the match, leading to the man being ejected.

Merseyside Police confirmed that they arrested a 47-year-old man from Liverpool on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. He is in custody and will be questioned.

Semenyo, who scored two goals in the match, expressed that the overwhelming support reminded him why he loves football. He wrote, “Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever… Football showed its best side when it mattered most … we keep moving forward, together.”

Following an incident, an anti-discrimination message was read, and police visited the referee’s room. The man involved was identified and removed from the ground, with an investigation underway.

Chief Inspector Kev Chatterton emphasised that Merseyside Police will not tolerate hate crime and urged reporting any racism. A Liverpool spokesperson condemned racism, stating it has no place in society or football.

Despite Bournemouth’s efforts, including Semenyo’s two goals in the second half, Liverpool won 4-2. Bournemouth captain Adam Smith condemned the incident and praised Semenyo’s character while expressing his anger over the situation.

Kenya coach Benni McCarthy wants strong finish against Zambia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Kenya coach Benni McCarthy wants strong finish against Zambia

Kenya’s national team head coach, Benni McCarthy, has expressed his determination to conclude their group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a victory against Zambia at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

Although the team has already secured a spot in the knockout stages, the South African legend emphasised that the Harambee Stars are aiming for a win against Chipolopolo to ensure they finish at the top of Group A.

“The game against Zambia is crucial. Many people believed we were in the ‘group of death’ and predicted we would finish with zero points, but here we are, at the top,” McCarthy explained to the media ahead of the match.

“So, this is a must-win game for us in order to claim the top position in the table. We want to make a statement with this victory, demonstrating that our good results in the previous matches were not due to luck.”

When asked if he plans to rotate his squad for the game, McCarthy replied, “I have great confidence in the players and their quality, so I try to give everyone a chance to get some playing time. However, it can be challenging, especially after playing two games with red cards.

It makes it extremely difficult to provide everyone with an opportunity to play, but we try to rotate the squad as much as we can so that every player can contribute. Ultimately, they earn their spots based on their performances in training sessions.”

Nonetheless, a win for the Harambee Stars against Zambia would not only secure first place in Group A but also keep their unbeaten streak alive as they advance to the quarterfinals.

Madagascar progress from Group B after win over Burkina Faso
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Madagascar progress from Group B after win over Burkina Faso

Madagascar advanced out of Group B in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after securing a second-place finish, joining group winners and co-hosts Tanzania.

In a “dead rubber” game, Tanzania played to a 0-0 draw against the Central African Republic, who finished at the bottom of the group. Meanwhile, the Barea of Madagascar edged past Burkina Faso with a 2-1 victory, allowing them to surpass Mauritania on goal differential.

In a thrilling match at Amaan Stadium, Madagascar took an early lead through Fenohasina Razafimaro’s long-range shot in the 7th minute. Burkina Faso equalized in the 26th minute with a header from Souleymane Sangaré, assisted by Hanaby Sagné.

Madagascar’s goalkeeper, Michel “Toldo” Ramandimbisoa, made key saves to maintain the balance, including a double save from shots by Yves Koutiama and Sagné.

Madagascar regained the lead in the 58th minute with a penalty converted by Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa after a foul on Fenohasina. Despite Burkina Faso’s second-half pressure, Madagascar’s defense held strong.

In another match, the Central African Republic earned their first-ever point at CHAN with a 0-0 draw against Tanzania, who still secured top spot in their group. Both Madagascar and Tanzania face tough quarterfinal challenges next Friday, August 22.

Burkina Faso International Dando Ouattara joins Brentford
by Football Sierra Leone

Burkina Faso International Dango Ouattara joins Brentford

Brentford has signed Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth for a club-record fee. He has signed a five-year contract with an option for an additional year.

The 23-year-old forward had 18 goal contributions in 81 Premier League matches for Bournemouth after joining in January 2023.

Brentford’s head coach, Keith Andrews, said, “We’re really happy to get Dango in. We were surprised he was available, and once we saw he might be possible to sign, we focused on getting him. We like his Premier League experience at such a young age.

He hasn’t found his rhythm yet due to inconsistent playing time. He fits the way we want to play and brings something we needed in our forward line. The fans will enjoy watching him.”

Phil Giles, Brentford’s director of football, stated, “After selling Bryan Mbeumo, we needed to add another attacking player, and we believe Dango is the perfect choice. Despite many changes at the club this summer, we have strong replacements, and Dango showcases that. We also have players like Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, and Frank Onyeka ready to contribute, and I’m excited to see Dango’s unique skills on the pitch.”

Brentford finished last season in tenth, one place below the Cherries in ninth.