Category: African News

Our African football page passionately on all continental topics of all National and International football news, Identifying football heroes on our continent.

JS Kabylie record strong Champions League first leg advantage
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

JS Kabylie record strong CAF Champions League first leg advantage

Algeria’s JS Kabylie won 3-0 against US Monastir in the first leg of their final qualifying round for the CAF Champions League at the Stade Municipal Taieb Mhiri in Sfax.

This victory brings them closer to reaching the group stage of the tournament. The visitors from Algeria enjoyed solid support from their travelling fans as they delivered an outstanding performance.

The pivotal moment came early in the second half when Mehdi Merghem struck a stunning goal from distance that shocked the home side. Shortly after, Lahlou Akhrib capped off a brilliant team play with a well-timed finish.

JSK dominated the second half after a balanced first, taking a two-goal lead. In the 49th minute, Aimen Lahmeri crossed to Merghem, who skillfully scored. Mohamed Hamidi then split the USM defense with a clever pass, allowing Lahmeri to assist Akhrib for a close-range goal.

Babacar Sarr added a third for JSK in the final minutes. The teams will meet again next Saturday in Tizi Ouzou, where JSK aims to secure a spot in the group stage.

Morocco set to host Africa's World Cup playoff qualification matches
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco set to host Africa’s World Cup playoff qualification matches

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed the locations, schedule, and structure for the African playoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, preparing for a crucial contest in November 2025.

CAF has slated the semifinals matches for November 13, 2025, with the final set to take place on November 16 of the same year.

African giants such as Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon, as the best runners-up, will battle for their final spot to join the Continental playoffs in the race to the America’s World Cup.

Competing in a mini-tournament that includes semifinals and a final. The victor of this mini-tournament will then advance to the intercontinental playoff, where teams from other confederations will vie for a coveted spot in the World Cup finals.

The final nine African teams that have already punched their tickets for the tournament are Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, South Africa, Ghana, Cape Verde, making it for the first time, the Ivory Coast and Senegal.

This initiative underscores Morocco’s rising profile as a premier hub for African football, as it is also set to host the African Cup of Nations in 2025 (AFCON) and the FIFA World Cup in 2030.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe lauded Morocco’s expanding influence in global football, highlighting the country’s “exceptional leadership and commitment to fostering football development across Africa.”

Morocco's Othmane Maamma pleased with U20 'historic feat'
by FSL News

Morocco’s Othmane Maamma pleased with U20 ‘historic feat’

Morocco's captain and coach spoke with FIFA following their historic height in the Chile by reaching the semi-finals after they defeated the USA 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The Moroccans showcased their resilience, with Saad El Haddad creating an opportunity for captain Othmane Maamma, whose initial shot was saved. Quick-thinking Zahouani then scored the opener, securing the win.

“I’m satisfied with the team and pleased with our achievements,” said Maamma after receiving the Visa Player of the Match. “The credit goes to my teammates for a true team effort. Our mentality and fan support inspired us tonight.”

Cole Campbell equalised with a penalty just before halftime, but Morocco responded strongly in the second half. Yassir Zabiri’s shot deflected off Joshua Wynder, and Yassine scored the decisive goal.

“Thank God, all our hard work was rewarded,” remarked Ouahbi. “We have young players passionately fighting for our country.”

Morocco is set to face France in their first U-20 World Cup semi-final in 20 years.

“I hope we advance further,” Maamma said. “I believe we’ve made Morocco proud. Now we must focus on the semi-final.”

Ouahbi added, “An entire nation, along with a King, is behind them, providing tremendous motivation. We won’t stop here.”

Coach Mohamed Ouahbi was thrilled with his team’s performance as they advanced to the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ semi-finals for the first time in two decades, following their victory over the USA in Rancagua.

He remarked, “We knew we put in an excellent performance against a formidable team. We respected the USA but weren’t intimidated. We understood that playing our game and defending well would give us a chance.”

Ghana seal 2026 FIFA World Cup spot with win over Comoros
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghana seal 2026 FIFA World Cup spot with win over Comoros

The Black Stars topped Group I in CAF qualifying - the African nation reached South Africa 2010 quarter-finals

The Black Stars have once again booked their spot at the FIFA World Cup following a 1-0 win against Comoros that ensured they finished at the top of Group I.

In November 2024, the nation was in shock when Ghana did not make it to the continental finals for the first time since 2004. Despite numerous calls for him to resign, Otto Addo chose not to step down as head coach.

“I’m not someone who can resign. If I had acted that way, I would never have become a player or a coach,” Addo stated. “If you understand my journey to reach this position, you wouldn’t even mention resignation.”

Addo, who took Ghana to Qatar 2022 during his initial tenure with the team, strongly believed he was the right individual to spearhead the revival.

With the support of a new coaching staff, he effectively guided the Black Stars through CAF qualifying, accumulating 25 points from ten matches in Group I.

Ghana secured their spot in the World Cup on the final qualifying day with Mohammed Kudus scoring the decisive goal against Comoros, despite tough competition from Madagascar. Jordan Ayew’s seven goals during qualifying significantly contributed to their success.

This will be Ghana’s fifth World Cup appearance, having first participated in Germany 2006. They aim to improve on their 2022 performance, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

Ghana’s best World Cup finish was in 2010, reaching the quarter-finals, thanks in part to Asamoah Gyan’s memorable goal against the USA in the Round of 16, which led to a thrilling quarter-final against Uruguay.

Ghana at the FIFA World Cup

First appearance: Germany 2006 Appearances: 5 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2022, 2026) Best result: Quarter-finals (2010)

Egypt join Morocco and Tunisia as Burkina Faso edge Sierra Leone
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone, Egypt and Burkina Faso record wins to wrap up World Cup qualifiers

In the final matches of Group A in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Sierra Leone, Egypt, and Burkina Faso all secured victories to wrap up on high.

Sierra Leone played a match of little significance on Sunday, winning 2-1 at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca. This was their final game in Group A of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers — early on, Samuel Gandi found the back of the net in the 23rd minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside after receiving a pass from Mohamed Buya Turay, the captain for the day for the Leone Stars.

Coach Mohamed Kallon’s team started strong against Djibouti, using decisive passing football despite Djibouti being a lower-ranked side with no prior wins. Surprisingly, Djibouti took the lead in the 29th minute.

Abdichakour Farah (Djibouti) left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Idriss Houmed Bilha. (1-0).

Sierra Leone’s captain, Buya Turay, nearly equalised in the 35th minute with a shot that hit the crossbar, saved skillfully by the Djibouti goalkeeper.

Just before the halftime break, defender Juma Bah, who is currently on loan at Nice from Manchester City, equalised for Sierra Leone (1-1) with a header from the centre of the box into the middle of the goal. The assist came from Alhassan Koroma.

Following the break, both teams sought to secure an early goal. Sierra Leone’s Saidu Fofanah almost added a second with a direct free kick, but again was saved by Djibouti’s keeper.

Sierra Leone secured the winning goal through defender Sallieu Tarawallie in the 72nd minute (2-1), after timing his run perfectly to outsmart the Djibouti goalkeeper. This victory marked Coach Kallon’s third win since assuming the role.

In other action from Group A, Egypt and Burkina Faso completed their FIFA World Cup qualifiers with solid victories, winning 1–0 and 3–1, respectively.

Egypt has already clinched their spot in the 2026 World Cup following its convincing win over Djibouti, while Burkina Faso is hoping for favourable results elsewhere to earn a chance at a playoff spot.

Morocco eye set U20 FIFA World Cup history against the USA
by FSL News

Morocco eye U20 FIFA World Cup history against the USA

Morocco’s U-20 team is eyeing a place in the competition semifinal as the only representative of African nations remaining in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Chile, after Nigeria and South Africa were eliminated in the Round of 16.

A win against the USA today could see them write their name in the U20 semi-finals history books after their already impressive run in the competition.

The Atlas Cubs are set to encounter a challenging match against the USA in the quarter-final scheduled for Sunday’s kickoff at El Teniente Stadium.

The Moroccan team aims to build on its strong performance in the group stage and secure a place in the semifinals, keeping alive the hopes of Arab and African nations in the global tournament.

Morocco delivered an impressive performance in the group stage of the U-20 World Cup in Chile, finishing at the top of their group with two victories and one defeat.

They began the tournament with a 2–0 win over Spain, followed by a 2–1 triumph against Brazil, and wrapped up the group stage with a 1-0 loss to Mexico.

The Atlas Cubs displayed solid defensive organisation and finishing skills, scoring four goals while conceding only two. A semi-final spot will surely establish their presence on the global stage.

Nigeria was knocked out of the tournament following a significant 4–0 loss to Argentina, while South Africa faced defeat against Colombia, losing 3–1.

A recap of the WAFU A U17 qualifiers after two matches
by Football Sierra Leone

A recap of the WAFU A U17 qualifiers after two matches

Sierra Leone U17 are bottom of Group B after their opening two matches in the ongoing WAFU A qualifiers.

In an evening match at the ongoing WAFU A U-17 boys tournament in Bamako, Mali, Guinea and Senegal battled to a 1-1 draw on Thursday.

Earlier that day, Sierra Leone faced Mauritania, suffering a 2-1 defeat after their opening draw against Senegal.

After two rounds of matches, the Sierra Stars find themselves at the bottom of the group with just one point, while Guinea tops the table with four points.

Mauritania holds second place with three points, closely followed by the defending champions, Senegal, who sit in third with two points.

In Group A, Mali sits at the top after two matches and will face The Gambia today at Mamadou Stadium. Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau will go head-to-head with Liberia at Ouezzin Coulibaly Stadium. Both matches are set to kick off at 16:00 as teams vie for a spot in the semi-finals.

Only the top two teams will move on to the semi-finals at the end of the group stage.

In Group A, Mali sits at the top after two matches and will face The Gambia today at Mamadou Stadium.
In Group A, Mali sits at the top after two matches and will face The Gambia today at Mamadou Stadium.
Morocco book last eight FIFA U-20 World Cup spot after win over Korea Republic
by Football Sierra Leone

Morocco book last eight U-20 World Cup spot after win over Korea Republic

Morocco secured their place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 with a commendable 2–1 victory over the Korea Republic in Rancagua on Thursday evening.

This achievement came through goals from Yassir Zabiri and an own goal by a Korean player. As a result, the Atlas Cubs are set to face the USA in the quarter-finals on Sunday, continuing their notable performance in South America.

The match commenced with an early threat from Korea as Kim Taewon’s powerful shot was expertly cleared off the line by Ismael Baouf within the first three minutes. However, Morocco quickly responded and gained the advantage shortly thereafter. An acrobatic attempt from Yassir Zabiri, which seemed destined to miss, was unfortunately deflected into the net by Shin Minha, putting the North Africans ahead early in the contest.

Morocco demonstrated strong control in their match against Korea, utilizing disciplined defense and rapid attacks. A key moment occurred when Othmane Maamma assisted Zabiri in scoring Morocco’s second goal.

Despite Korea earning a late penalty from Kim Taewon, it only served as a consolation as Morocco won the match, advancing to the quarter-finals under coach Mohamed Ouahbi.

Post-match, Maamma praised the team’s resilience and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus for future games. Notably, Morocco has now defeated an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nation in three consecutive tournament editions.

Amoura, Mahrez nets as Algeria qualify for World Cup after 12-year absence
by FSL News

Amoura, Mahrez nets as Algeria qualify for World Cup after 12-year absence

Algeria has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2014, defeating Somalia 3-0 in Oran to secure first place in Group G of the African qualifiers.

This victory marks Algeria’s fifth appearance at the World Cup and their first in 12 years. Mohamed El Amine Amoura scored two goals, while captain Riyad Mahrez added another.

The win ensured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Algeria joins Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt as the fourth African nation to qualify for the tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time.

Elsewhere, Jude Ssemugabi’s header early in the second half was crucial as Uganda claimed an important victory over Botswana to reinforce their second place in the group.

The Cranes controlled possession and generated more significant opportunities, with Rogers Mato forcing a great save during the first half.  

Ssemugabi’s finish from close range was sufficient to secure the win, even with late pressure from the home team.

Uganda now requires only a draw in their final match against the already-qualified Algeria to ensure a top-two finish — and a possible place among the four best runners-up heading into the playoffs.

Botswana 0–1 Uganda – Scorer: Ssemugabi (54′)

In Group H, Liberia renewed their chances of making it to the continental play-offs by defeating Namibia 3-1, while Kenya achieved a confidence-boosting 1-0 win against Burundi in Group F.

Cape Verde closs-in on first-ever World Cup qualfication
by Football Sierra Leone

Cape Verde close in on first-ever World Cup qualification

Cape Verde could rewrite their own history by reaching the next FIFA World Cup in 2026 hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico if they can win against Eswatini next week.

Cape Verde’s admirable fightback has them two points clear at the section’s summit. Libya now need a miracle to reach the next stage of qualifying.

The Mediterranean Knights exploded out of the blocks. Fadel Mansour played a crisp one-two down the right, and his cross was turned into his own net by the outstretched leg of Pico.

The Blue Sharks responded when Telmo Arcanjo headed home Jamiro Monteiro’s devilish delivery, but Ezzeddin El Maremi stabbed home to restore the hosts’ advantage.

A spectacular, swerving free-kick from El Maremi seemingly put the contest to bed, but an error from goalkeeper Murad Alwuheeshi gave Cabo Verde hope before Willy Semedo scrambled home a leveller.

They’ll host Eswatini at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde stadium, and a win will surely see them making it to the 2026 World Cup as Group D winners.

Libya 3-3 Cabo Verde

Libya goals: Pico OG (2), El Maremi (42), Al-Shalwi (58)

Cabo Verde goals: Arcanjo (30), Lopes Cabral (76), Semedo (82)

Meanwhile,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Madagascar and Niger claimed crucial wins in FIFA World Cup 26 qualifying as Angola, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Sierra Leone were eliminated.