Category: African News

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Pyramids set to face Esperance de Tunis in CAF Champions League
by Football Sierra Leone

Pyramids set for Esperance de Tunis Group D CAF Champions League battle

Pyramids FC from Egypt will play Esperance de Tunis on Saturday at the Hamadi Agrebi Olympic Stadium in Rades. This is their third match in Group D of the CAF Champions League. A win would help Pyramids FC take control of the group.

Pyramids FC is currently in first place with four points. They achieved this after a strong 5-1 win over Mali’s Djoliba AC and a goalless draw against Angola’s Sagrada Esperança.

The team has a powerful attack led by star players Ibrahim Adel and Ramadan Sobhi. Adel scored two goals in the first match, so he will be important for breaking through Esperance’s defence.

The home side will not have midfielders Mohamed Reda “Bobo” and Blati Touré because they are injured.

Esperance wants to win after a 0-0 draw with Sagrada Esperança. The Tunisian team has won the Champions League four times and has the same points as Pyramids FC, but they are behind on goal difference.

Even without key players like Yassine Meriah and Brazilian forward Yan Sasse, Esperance remains strong. Algerian winger Youcef Belaïli and young player Koussay Maacha will likely lead their attack. They will depend on their experience and the support of their fans to help them succeed.

Top five nominees for Men’s Player of the Year 2024 CAF Awards
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Top five nominees for Men’s Player of the Year 2024 CAF Awards

Marrakech, Morocco, will host this year’s CAF Awards at the Palais des Congrès, starting at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT / 20:00 Cairo time / 21:00 East African time) on Monday. The awards celebrate the best in African football, and the competition for the Men’s Player of the Year title is intense.

The final Five players who have been voted for are  Simon Adingra from Ivory Coast, Serhou Guirassy from Guinea, Achraf Hakimi from Morocco, Ademola Lookman from Nigeria, and Ronwen Williams from South Africa. This promises to be one of the closest contests in the award’s history.

A look at the final five nominees for Men’s Player of the Year in alphabetical order:

RONWEN WILLIAMS (SOUTH AFRICA) Club: Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa  

Williams stood out with his penalty saves during the Africa Cup of Nations, leading South Africa to win a bronze medal. The team defeated Morocco in the round of 16. He also helped South Africa qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and received a nomination for FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper award for 2024. At Mamelodi Sundowns, he helped the team achieve the record fewest goals conceded in a season, leading them to their seventh consecutive league title.

ACHRAF HAKIMI (MOROCCO) Club: Paris Saint-Germain, France  

Hakimi is one of the best right-backs in Europe. He helped Paris Saint-Germain win a third consecutive Ligue 1 title and a Coupe de France final against Lyon. He also assisted Morocco in winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games. In 2024, Hakimi played 14 matches for the national team and scored a goal in the Africa Cup of Nations against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (NIGERIA) Club: Atalanta, Italy  

Lookman had a standout year, helping Atalanta become title contenders in Serie A and win the UEFA Europa League. He scored a hat-trick in the final, making it a memorable performance. Lookman also helped Nigeria reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished as runners-up. He scored three goals and earned a spot in the Team of the Tournament.

SIMON ADINGRA (CÔTE D’IVOIRE) – Club: Brighton & Hove Albion, England  

Adingra played a vital role in Côte d’Ivoire’s journey to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. He scored a last-minute equalizer in the quarter-finals against Mali and assisted twice in the final against Nigeria. He earned the Best Young Player award at the tournament. The 22-year-old has also performed well for Brighton in the Premier League this year.

SERHOU GUIRASSY (GUINEA) Club: Borussia Dortmund, Germany  

Guirassy scored 30 goals in 30 games for Stuttgart in the 2023-24 Bundesliga season before moving to Borussia Dortmund. His 28 Bundesliga goals set a new record for Stuttgart. Only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane scored more goals than Guirassy. Between January and October 2024, he scored a total of 23 goals for club and country, including a hat-trick for Guinea against Ethiopia.

DRC's side TP Mazembe ready for Young Africans cracker
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DRC’s side TP Mazembe ready for Young Africans cracker

After losing their last Group A match to Al Hilal, the DR Congo team must compete to win against Young Africans to keep their hopes alive of advancing to the next stage of the CAF Champions League.

Fans are expected to turn out in support of their team at the Stade TP Mazembe on Saturday as they face the Young Africans Sports Club from Tanzania, who fell 2-0 to MC Alger in their previous game. Meanwhile, TP Mazembe lost 2-1 to Al Hilal Omdurman.

Al Hilal Omdurman currently leads the group with six points, followed by MC Alger with four points. The two teams will also meet on Saturday in another critical match.

Young Africans Remain Hopeful After Consecutive Defeats

Young African coach Saed Ramovic is determined to change their fortunes and secure a positive result in Lubumbashi.

A win or a draw in this match could significantly enhance their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

They are optimistic about their upcoming CAF Champions League Group A match against TP Mazembe on Saturday in Lubumbashi, DR Congo.

The team has regained several key players who have recovered from injuries, which is a significant boost as they prepare for this important fixture.

A win or draw could greatly enhance their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

“We are pleased to have nearly our full squad ready for the match against TP Mazembe. Key players, including Aucho, Abubakar, and Mzize, have returned to training and will participate in the game.

“We will depart for Lubumbashi on Thursday, continuing our intensive training to refine our game strategy. We wish our supporters travelling by bus a safe journey, and we aim to return home with a positive result,” stated Harrison.

Guinea's Serhou Guirassy nets brace in Dortmund's defeat to Barca
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy nets brace in Dortmund’s defeat to Barca

On Wednesday, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy and Ferran Torres each scored two goals as Barcelona defeated Borussia Dortmund 3-2 at the BVB Stadion Dortmund, moving to second place in the UEFA Champions League.

The game picked up after halftime when Raphinha scored for Barcelona in the 53rd minute before Dortmund quickly equalized with a penalty from Guinean International Serhou Guirassy after he was fouled.

Torres scored shortly after coming on, putting Barcelona ahead again. Dortmund equalized when Guirassy scored his second goal.

Torres sealed the win with a quick goal from a counter-attack. Barcelona’s victory keeps them in second place, two points ahead of teams on 13 points. Dortmund remains just outside the top eight with 12 points.

End of 2nd Half 90+5′

FULL TIME: BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-3 BARCELONA

Dortmund pushed for another goal, but Schlotterbeck missed a chance with a header and was offside. Barcelona held on for the important win.

Mamelodi Sundowns appoint Miguel Cardoso as the new Head Coach
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mamelodi Sundowns appoint Miguel Cardoso as new Head Coach

Mamelodi Sundowns has appointed Miguel De Azevedo Cardoso as the new Head Coach, effective immediately.

This decision follows unsatisfactory results, despite the Sundowns Board giving Manqoba Mngqithi and his Technical Team a chance to lead the Club.

“I feel truly privileged and am happy to be here. This is a club with a rich heritage, and I am joining a team that has a strong identity. I will do my best to bring joy to the fans and represent them in the best way possible,” Cardoso told reporters on Tuesday.

“I am a simple man, but I have high standards. I want to win consistently. I aim to win trophies and contribute to the club’s legacy. When I eventually leave, I want to be remembered among the great coaches of this club, like Pitso Mosimane, Rulani, Steve Komphela, and Manqoba.”

Coach Miguel was previously in charge of Espérance Sportive de Tunis, where he reached the finals of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League. He brings three assistants with him: Fabio Fernandes, Pedro Azevedo, and João Araújo.

Miguel has coached at top clubs in Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, and Ukraine, including Porto, Braga, Deportivo La Coruña, Celta Vigo, AEK Athens, Nantes, and Shakhtar Donetsk. Steve Komphela and Kennedy Mweene will continue in the Club’s Technical Team.

Mamelodi Sundowns thanks Manqoba Mngqithi and Wendell Robinson for their years of loyal service and wishes them well in their future endeavors. They will always be part of the Mamelodi Sundowns Family. The Club also appreciates Romain Folz, who recently joined.

The players will meet the new coaches when they return to training on Wednesday.

Al Hilal Omdurman beat TP Mazembe in Group A Champions League tie
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Hilal Omdurman beat TP Mazembe in Group A Champions League tie

Al Hilal Omdurman achieved a significant 2-1 victory over TP Mazembe during their second Group A match in the CAF Champions League, held on Sunday night. (Photo TP Mazembe)

The match took place at the Stade Cheikha Ould Boïdiya in Mauritania, where Al Hilal showcase resilient and a commendable performance to preserve their perfect record in the group stage.

Al Hilal commenced the match with a strong offensive, earning a penalty in the 22nd minute after Alioune Faty committed a foul in the box.

Mohamed Abdelrahman expertly converted the penalty, giving Al Hilal an early advantage.

In response, TP Mazembe showcased their attacking capabilities, although they struggled with accuracy in the final third.

In the 64th minute, Oscar Tshikomb found the equalizer for Mazembe with an impressive long-range effort, rekindling hopes for the visiting team.

However, Al Hilal’s Jean Girumugisha made a decisive impact in the closing moments of the match. He delivered a remarkable strike from outside the box, successfully placing the ball in the bottom left corner and igniting celebrations among Al Hilal supporters.

Despite their commendable efforts, TP Mazembe experienced their first defeat of the group stage following a previous draw in their opening match.

With this win, Al Hilal leads Group A with six points from two matches, followed by MC Alger, who beat Young Africans 2-0 on Saturday. Mazembe has one point and Young Africans sit at the bottom after two losses.

Al Hilal will aim to maintain their momentum against MC Alger on Saturday, while Mazembe needs a strong performance against Young Africans to revive their campaign.

Mimosas, Stellenbosch, Zamalek & Enyimba in CAF Confed ties this weekend
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mimosas, Stellenbosch, Zamalek & Enyimba in CAF Confed action this weekend

On Sunday, Stellenbosch will look to regain their winning form in the CAF Confederations Cup, while ASEC Mimosas aims for consecutive victories over Orapa United.

In Group D, the reigning CAF Confederations Cup champions, Zamalek, will face the Nigerian side Enyimba at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Zamalek commenced their CAF Confederations Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over the Black Bulls at the Cairo International Stadium on November 27.

Currently, they hold 2nd place in Group D, with Al Masry leading the group after the first matchday. Al Masry is set to compete against Black Bulls at Estadio do Zimpeto.

Additionally, Stellenbosch FC will strive to bounce back when they compete against the Moroccan team RSB Berkane at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Stellenbosch experienced a 2-0 defeat to Stade Malien in their previous match, while RSB Berkane opened their CAF Confederations Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Lunda Sul two weeks ago.

Furthermore, ASEC Mimosas has the opportunity to secure a second consecutive victory as they take on Orapa United at the Francistown Stadium on Sunday.

ASEC Mimosas currently occupies 2nd position in Group C following their 2-0 win against Jaraaf on November 27, while USM Alger, in 1st place, is scheduled to face Jaraaf at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade on Sunday evening.

Fixtures Sunday, 8 December

Group A

CS Constantine vs Simba
Bravos do Maquis vs CS Sfaxien

Group B

Stellenbosch vs RSB Berkane
Lunda Sul vs Stade Malien

Group C

Orapa United vs ASEC
Jaraaf vs USM Alger

Group D

Black Bulls vs Al Masry
Enyimba vs Zamalek

Aimen Mahious nets as Belouizdad earn away win in Abidjan
by FSL News

Aimen Mahious nets in Belouizdad’s crucial win in Abidjan

Aimen Mahious played a pivotal role for CR Belouizdad by scoring the decisive goal in the 71st minute, enabling the team to secure a 1-0 victory over Stade d’Abidjan in a highly competitive Group C match of the CAF Champions League at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny on Saturday.

This victory revitalizes the Algerian champions’ prospects following their initial loss to Orlando Pirates, while Stade d’Abidjan remains in last place in the group, yet to accumulate any points after two matches.

CR Belouizdad started strong, exerting pressure on their opponents; however, they faced challenges in overcoming the resilient Ivorian side.

The first half concluded without any goals, as both teams struggled to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Seydou Touré, the goalkeeper for Stade d’Abidjan, made several critical saves that kept his team in contention.

The breakthrough came midway through the second half when Mahious, well-positioned in the penalty area, received an astute pass from Abderrahmane Meziane and skillfully directed the ball into the bottom corner of the net, eliciting a jubilant response from the Belouizdad bench.

Stade d’Abidjan valiantly pursued an equalizer, yet their finishing proved inadequate. Ezechiel Zaddy came closest in the 87th minute, with a powerful attempt that narrowly missed the target, sailing over the crossbar.

As a result of this match, Belouizdad climbs to third place in Group C, trailing the co-leaders Al Ahly and Orlando Pirates by just one point. The group remains highly competitive, with Al Ahly and Orlando Pirates each on four points, while Belouizdad follows with three.

Unfortunately, Stade d’Abidjan’s path to advancement remains precarious, as they continue to seek their first victory in the tournament.

Sundowns played to a draw as Yanga suffered their second defeat
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sundowns played to a draw as Yanga suffered their second defeat

AS FAR demonstrated resilience on Saturday evening, securing a draw against former champions Mamelodi Sundowns in a CAF Champions League Group B match at Stade Ben Ahmed El Abd in El Jadida.

Iqraam Rayners gave Sundowns the lead with a goal in the 66th minute, but home captain Mohammed Hrimat equalized just eight minutes later, ensuring AS FAR remained at the top of the group with Sundowns in second place.

The match featured contrasting halves, with AS FAR initially dominating and Sundowns struggling to find their rhythm. After halftime, Sundowns improved, with Rayners scoring from a precise pass by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. However, an error by Williams allowed Hrimat to score into an empty net.

Meanwhile, in Group A, Young Africans suffered a second consecutive defeat, losing 2-0 to MC Alger at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers, following a similar loss to Al-Hilal.

Ayoub Abdellaoui and Soufiane Bayazid secured the victory for MC Alger, momentarily placing them at the top of the group ahead of the upcoming match between Al Hilal and Mazembe.

CAF Award ceremony set for December 16 in Marrakech, Morocco
by FSL News

Morocco set to host CAF 2024 Awards December 16

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed that the prestigious 2024 CAF Awards will take place at the elegant Palais des Congrès in Marrakech on Monday, December 16. This highly anticipated event will gather Africa’s top football stars, celebrating their outstanding achievements and contributions to the sport.

The prestigious event will be held at the Palais des Congrès de Marrakech, starting at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT, 20:00 Cairo time, and 21:00 East African time). The CAF Awards highlight the continent’s most outstanding football talents, honouring their exceptional achievements in both club and national competitions.

The ceremony will highlight the crowning of the CAF African Player of the Year in both men’s and women’s categories, an esteemed honour in African football.

It will also recognize achievements through awards for Best Coach, Best National Team, and Best Club. This year’s event promises to be spectacular, featuring an impressive lineup of nominees and guests from across Africa and beyond.

Set against Morocco’s rich footballing history and vibrant culture, Marrakech is the ideal location for this prestigious celebration.

Five nominees are in the running for the Men’s Player of the Year, with the same number competing in categories like Interclub Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year, and Club of the Year.