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.

Ivorian star Wilfried Zaha set for Charlotte FC MLS debut
by FSL News

Ivorian star Wilfried Zaha set for Charlotte debut in friendly

Wilfried Zaha could make his appearance with new outfit Charlotte FC after joining on loan from Turkish champions Galatasaray.

Charlotte will face Nashville SC today in a friendly match as they prepare for the upcoming MLS season. Zaha may join the squad for his first appearance in new colours at the Oxbridge Academy.

Zaha will play for Charlotte until January 2026, with an option to extend the loan until June 2026. The firmer Crystal Palace attacker will occupy a Designated Player spot and international roster slot on the Club’s 2025 roster.

The Ivory Coast international played 10 seasons in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Cardiff City, where the forward scored a total of 68 goals in 305 appearances.

For the past six months, Zaha was on loan at Olympique Lyonnais in France, where he made six appearances but did not score or assist.

“Wilfried is a world-class player who has shown his skills as a top goal scorer and creator of chances. His performances in the Premier League and on the international stage speak for themselves, and we believe he can make an immediate impact in MLS,” said Zoran Krneta, the general manager of Charlotte.

“He adds versatility to our attack and brings that extra magic that can help us win more games. We are excited to welcome a player of Wilfried’s talent and experience to our team.”

Zaha changed his national team to Ivory Coast before the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon. He debuted in a friendly against Sweden in January 2017, where he provided an assist. Since then, he has earned 33 caps, scoring four goals and providing six assists.

Omar Marmoush proud as first Egyptian player to join Manchester City
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Omar Marmoush proud as first Egyptian player to join Manchester City

The 25-year-old striker has transferred from Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany and has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract. He is the third new player to join the team this week, after Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.

The Egyptian International will wear the No.7 shirt for Manchester City after completing his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Marmoush has been a standout player in the Bundesliga for the past two years and has also been important for the Egyptian national team. He helped Egypt reach the final of the 2021 African Cup of Nations.

“It’s a great honor to be the first Egyptian to play for Manchester City and to show what my country can achieve,” Marmoush told City’s Channel.

“Playing for a big club like this has always been a dream of mine. Now that I am the first Egyptian at Manchester City, I am very happy, and I hope to keep playing at this level.

“The Premier League is the biggest and most followed league in Egypt because of players like Mo Salah and others from Egypt. Most young players dream of being in this league, so I am excited to be here.”

Ivorian Maxwell Cornet trains with Genoa after loan move
by Football Sierra Leone

Ivorian Maxwell Cornet trains with Genoa after loan move

Ivorian international Maxwel Cornet has joined Italian club Genoa on loan until the end of the 2024/25 season from West Ham United. He has completed his first training session with the team at the Centro Sportivo Gianluca Signorini.

Cornet’s loan spell at Premier League side Southampton was terminated by mutual consent, allowing him to move to Serie A.

The 28-year-old player had only made four appearances for the Saints and will now look for more regular playing time under Genoa manager and former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Cornet signed with West Ham from Burnley in August 2022, where he scored one goal in 37 appearances over two seasons. He was also part of the squad that won the UEFA Europa Conference League in Prague in June 2023.

The Ivorian has completed his first training session with the team at the Centro Sportivo Gianluca Signorini.
The Ivorian has completed his first training session with the team at the Centro Sportivo Gianluca Signorini.
Ademola Lookman shines in Atlanta Champions League triumph
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ademola Lookman shines in Atalanta Champions League triumph

Nigerian International and African Best Player Ademola Lookman came off the bench to shine for Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night at the Gewiss Stadium.

Atalanta made it a 5-0 win over Sturm Graz and edged through to the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League in Bergamo. This loss concluded Sturm Graz’s stint in the competition because they were sent packing despite a game in hand.

Unfortunately for Sturm Graz, they hadn’t featured since the Austrian winter break had them out of the pitch for six weeks and almost capitalized on an early lead before Italy forward Matteo Retegui scored for Atalanta from a close-range shot after Davide Zappacosta’s cross to him.

Substitute Ademola Lookman quickly set up Charles De Ketelaere for a goal, but it was disallowed for offside after a VAR review. Lookman had two more chances saved by Sturm Graz goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. Mario Pasalic then scored from Juan Cuadrado’s cross to make it 2-0.

Atalanta continued to push and scored a third when De Ketelaere (3-0) scored after Sturm Graz could not clear a corner. Lookman missed a one-on-one chance, and substitute Marco Brescianini had a shot blocked. Zappacosta also had a goal disallowed for offside.

Lookman finally scored late in the game, heading in a cross from De Ketelaere. Brescianini added another goal soon after.

A win against Barcelona on Wednesday, January 29, could send Atalanta to the last 16 of the tournament.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah nets 50th European goal for Liverpool
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah nets 50th European goal for Liverpool

Liverpool right-winger Mo Salah recorded his 50-goal milestone in European club competitions when he converted a pass into the goal in a 2-1 win for the Merseyside team over Lille in the UEFA Champions League.

“I personally don’t dare speaking, but of course he’s special,” declared Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, regarding the Premier League star Salah’s performance on Tuesday.

Liverpool’s victory on Tuesday guaranteed their spot in the last 16 of this year’s Champions League, making them the first team to do so. This is a historic achievement for Arne Slot’s side, especially since it is the first year the Swiss model has been implemented.

Lille had come with their record-holding no defeat in 21 games at Anfield. In the start, they restrained Liverpool as best they could.

33 minutes played, Mo Salah put the ball past the Lille goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier, and gave Liverpool a lead with 1-0 after a corner and a pass from Curtis Jones. He acted so cleverly and capitalized on the gift. Still, Salah was frustrated at missing an easy chance and shooting wide from outside the right post.

In the 62nd-minute, Jonathan David scored the visitors equaliser before Harvey Elliott then regained the lead with a goal from a corner kick five minutes later. In the final, Liverpool celebrated a victory, highlighted by Mohamed Salah’s milestone accomplishment.

Six Days to the 35th edition AFCON 2025 draw in Morocco
by Football Sierra Leone

Six Days to the 35th edition AFCON 2025 draw in Morocco

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 Final Draw is set to happen in Rabat on January 27, 2025. This event will reveal the opponents for the 24 competing teams.

The draw kicks off at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT/20:00 Cairo time) with delegates from all 24 AFCON 2025 qualifiers in attendance.

Teams will get a chance to check out Morocco’s game locations, practice spots, and hotels during this gathering.

Organizers will split the 24 teams into six groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the four best third-place finishers, will advance to the Round of 16.

Morocco hosts the finals for the first time since 1988. This marks a big moment for Morocco, as it gears up to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

This marks the 35th time the AFCON has taken place, with its origins dating back to 1957. Among continental soccer tournaments, it ranks as the third oldest coming after those in South America (1916) and Asia (1956).

The 24 teams that will be in the draw for the 2025 finals are as follows, with their previous appearances and best finish included:

Algeria (21st appearance, champions in 1990, 2019)

Angola (10th appearance, quarter-finalists in 2008, 2010, 2023)

Benin (5th appearance, quarter-finalists in 2019)

Botswana (2nd appearance, group stages in 2012)

Burkina Faso (14th appearance, runners-up in 2013)

Cameroon (22nd appearance, champions in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)

Comoros (2nd appearance, round of 16 in 2021)

Cote d’Ivoire (26th appearance, champions in 1992, 2015, 2023)

Democratic Republic of Congo (21st appearance, champions in 1968, 1974)

Egypt (27th appearance, champions in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)

Equatorial Guinea (5th appearance, fourth place in 2015)

Gabon (9th appearance, quarter-finalists in 1996, 2012)

Mali (14th appearance, runners-up in 1972)

Morocco (20th appearances, champions in 1976)

Mozambique (6th appearance, group stages in 1986, 1996, 1998, 2010, 2023)

Nigeria (21st appearance, champions in 1980, 1994, 2013)

Senegal (18th appearance, champions in 2021)

South Africa (12th appearance, champions in 1996)

Sudan (10th appearance, champions in 1970)

Tanzania (4th appearance, group stage in 1980, 2019, 2023)

Tunisia (22nd appearance, champions in 2004)

Uganda (8th appearance, runners-up in 1978)

Zambia (19th appearance, champions in 2012)

Zimbabwe (6th appearance, group stage in 2004, 2006, 2017, 2019, 2021)

Madueke hails Trevoh Chalobah's 'leadership' after Man of the Match performance
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Noni Madueke hails Trevoh Chalobah’s ‘leadership’ after top performance

Sierra Leone-born Trevoh Chalobah was named Man of the Match after his impressive performance upon his return to the London side Chelsea.

Chelsea were level at half-time during their 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. However, they managed to recover in the second half to secure all three points.

This win allowed them to climb back into the top four of the league, with returning central defender Trevoh Chalobah playing a pivotal role. His teammate, Noni Madueke, praised the 25-year-old for his outstanding performance.

Madueke described Chalobah’s display as “unbelievable” in the match on Monday. The victory for Enzo Maresca’s men was significant, especially for Chalobah, who had spent the first half of the season on loan at Crystal Palace.

“He did an amazing job,” Adarabioyo told Sky Sports post-match. “He did everything flawlessly from a tactical point of view, so I am very happy for him.”

At one point, it seemed that he had no future with the current manager, who had trimmed the squad at Stamford Bridge upon his arrival.

Ivorian giant outfit Asec Mimosas pick quarter-final ticket
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivorian giant outfit Asec Mimosas pick quarter-final ticket

From Group C, ASEC Mimosas reached the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over Orapa United, with Celestine Ecua scoring twice. USM Alger topped Group C by defeating ASC Jaraaf 2-0, thanks to late goals from Ismail Belkacemi and Saadi Redouani.

In Group B, Renaissance Berkane made a strong statement by beating Stellenbosch 5-0 in their last group match. Berkane’s performance featured two goals from Pape Bassène and early strikes from Omar Lamlioui and Youssef Mehri, securing them a total of 14 points as group winners.

Lamlioui scored first just seven minutes in, followed by Mehri eight minutes later. In the second half, Bassène added two goals, and Youssef Zoughdi completed the rout.

Despite this loss, Stellenbosch advanced to the quarter-finals as runners-up with nine points. They succeeded thanks to Deportivo Luanda-Sul’s 1-0 victory over Stade Malien.

These results marked a significant achievement for Stellenbosch in their first continental tournament, though they will need to improve before the knockout stages.

Ivorian descent Romain Esse speaks after joining Crystal Palace
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivorian descent Romain Esse speaks after joining Crystal Palace

Ivorian descent Romain Esse has spoken for the first time since completing a club record £14.5 million transfer from Millwall to join South London rivals Crystal Palace.

The Lambeth-born winger was officially announced as a Palace player on Saturday morning, signing a five-and-a-half-year deal at Selhurst Park.

Esse, who made 66 appearances for Millwall after progressing through their youth system, will be eligible to play for Palace in their Premier League fixture next weekend against Brentford.

Eagles sporting director Dougie Freedman is known for discovering top young talent in the Championship, with notable successes including Adam Wharton, Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze. Olise, who plays in the same position as Esse, left for Bayern Munich in the summer for £50 million.

“I’m very much looking forward to it – I’m really excited,” Esse told PalaceTV. “It’s a great project and opportunity – I can’t wait to get started. It’s been a long process, but I’m just happy it’s finally done. The club is heading in a fantastic direction.

“The next step in my development is very important. I believe this is the best place for me. I can’t wait to start playing under the manager.

“This is the perfect environment for opportunities and to elevate my game to the next level to advance my career. I’m eager to play in the Premier League, and most importantly, for Crystal Palace.”

International

On 22 March 2023, Esse debuted for England U18 in a 2-1 victory over Croatia in Medulin. Then, on 6 September 2023, he made his debut for England U19 during a 1-0 loss to Germany in Oliva.

CAF Champions League Quarter-finals line up for to wrap up this weekend
by Football Sierra Leone

CAF Champions League Quarter-finals line up to wrap up this weekend

The quarter-finals of this season’s CAF Champions League will be determined this weekend as the premier club competition in Africa concludes its group matches.

This season has been thoroughly engaging, characterized by unexpected outcomes, compelling moments, and a notable number of goals. To date, Al-Hilal SC (Sudan) and five additional clubs have secured their places in the quarter-finals.

These teams include the reigning champions, Al Ahly (Egypt), AS FAR (Morocco), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Esperance (Tunisia), and Pyramids FC (Egypt).

Two remaining spots will be determined from Groups A and B. Al Ahly and Orlando Pirates have already advanced from Group C while Esperance and Pyramids FC have progressed from Group D.

In Group A, the match between MC Alger (8 points) and Young Africans (7 points) in Dar es Salaam promises to be highly competitive. Young Africans will aim to overcome their previous 2-0 loss to MC Alger in December.

In Group B, Raja Casablanca will compete against the eliminated Maniema Union while also looking toward AS FAR, who will take on Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria.

AS FAR aims to finish at the top of Group B, while Sundowns, currently just one point behind, require only a draw to advance. As five clubs have already qualified, there remains an element of pride to compete for in the final round of fixtures.

The Pirates will travel to Cairo to face Al Ahly, who previously held them to a goalless draw in Soweto two weeks ago.

Finally, Al Hilal seeks to recover from their recent home defeat to Young Africans with an away victory against TP Mazembe, who have already exited the competition.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Match Day 6 Fixtures: Saturday, 18 January

Group A

  • 13h00 GMT | TP Mazembe v Al Hilal FC
  • 13h00 GMT | Young Africans SC v MC Alger

Group C

  • 16h00 GMT | Stade d’Abidjan v CR Belouizdad
  • 16h00 GMT | Al Ahly SC v Orlando Pirates FC

Group D

  • 19h00 GMT | Esperance v Sagrada Esperança 
  • 19h00 GMT | Pyramids v Djoliba FC

Sunday, 19 January:

Group B

  • 16h00 GMT | Maniema Union v Raja Casablanca
  • 16h00 GMT | Sundowns v AS FAR