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.

Salt to injury as Kei Kamara departed Sierra Leone camp
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Salt to injury as Kei Kamara departs Sierra Leone camp

Striker Kei Kamara, who told the BBC that he was inspired by Roger Milla for his return to international football at age 40, has left the Sierra Leone national team camp in Liberia. As a result, he will not be available for Tuesday’s game against Zambia.

Sierra Leone and Major League Soccer (MLS) Kei Kamara re-joined Leone Stars two years and seven months after he announced his retirement.

Kamara’s decision to return to international football at the age of 40 was inspired by Cameroon legend Roger Milla in a bid to help Sierra Leone reach their fourth AFCON.

He was aiming to help Sierra Leone qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), and he started but was substituted in the 76th minutes in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Chad.

“There’s only one person I think about when I decided to come do this thing all over again, being part of the national team at this age, and that’s Roger Milla,” Kamara told the BBC World Service.

“Roger Milla was doing it, came back out, played at the World Cup at 42. The World Cup is only two years ago away, so why not?”

His MLS club, Los Angeles, will play Seattle Sounders on November 24th in the MLS Conference semifinals, and his services have been requested as Sierra Leone lost all hopes of reaching Morocco 2025.

On Saturday, the SLFA announced that captain Steven Caulker departed the team’s camp in Monrovia, Liberia, to return home due to urgent personal matters requiring immediate attention.

However, Sierra Leone and Zambia’s final match on Tuesday holds no impact on their standings, as they have already secured their place in Morocco 2025 AFCON.

Striker Serhou Guirassy nets winner for Guinea against DRC
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Serhou Guirassy nets winner for Guinea against DRC

Guinea’s forward, Serhou Guirassy, scored the only goal against the Democratic Republic of Congo during Matchday 5 of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, bringing his total to six goals in Abidjan on Saturday night.

The Borussia Dortmund striker scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal as Guinea secured a vital 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo. This victory puts Guinea in a strong position for qualification. They need only a draw in their final match against Tanzania.

His form has been pivotal to Guinea’s campaign, highlighting his clinical finishing and ability to perform under pressure.

Morocco’s Brahim Diaz is the second-highest scorer with four goals, while several players, including Algeria’s Amine Gouiri and Senegal’s Sadio Mané, have three goals each.

As the qualifiers near completion, the race for top scorer remains competitive, with Guirassy poised to extend his tally.

Guinea is now in second place in Group H with 9 points, two ahead of Tanzania, who drew 0-0 with Ethiopia.

With DR Congo already qualifying, the final match between Guinea and Tanzania will decide who joins them. A draw is enough for Guinea, while Tanzania needs to win to advance.

The final matches will conclude on Tuesday, determining the last five spots for the tournament, scheduled in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Top Scorers After Matchday 5:

  1. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea) – 6 goals
  2. Brahim Diaz (Morocco) – 4 goals
  3. Amine Gouiri (Algeria) – 3 goals
  4. Jean-Philippe Krasso (Ivory Coast) – 3 goals
  5. Sadio Mane (Senegal) – 3 goals
  6. Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde) – 3 goals
  7. Kingsley Musonda (Zambia) – 3 goals
  8. Trezeguet (Egypt) – 3 goals
Heartbreak for Ghana's Black Stars as they miss out on AFCON 2025
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Heartbreak for Ghana Black Stars as they miss out on AFCON 2025

Ghana Black Stars’ heartbreak continues after another disappointing draw in matchday five of qualifying for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which ended in disappointment as they drew 1-1 with Angola in Luanda.

Despite taking an early lead through Jordan Ayew’s impressive free-kick in the 18th minute, they could not maintain their advantage, with Zine’s header equalizing the match in the 64th minute.

This result means Ghana, a four-time champion, will miss the tournament for the first time in 20 years. The Black Stars currently sit at the bottom of Group F with just three points from five matches, failing to record a victory.

Angola leads Group F with 13 points and has secured qualification for Morocco. Given Ghana’s esteemed football history, the country keenly feels disappointed.

 

In Group A, Comoros qualified for the AFCON for the second time, winning 2-1 against Gambia. The Gambia initially led, but Comoros equalized just before halftime and scored the winning goal in the 90th minute from substitute Myziane Maolida.

Further, Morocco continued their strong form with a 5-1 victory over Gabon, despite already securing their place in the tournament. After Gabon scored the first goal, Morocco responded with five consecutive goals, maintaining a perfect record in Group B with 15 points and a goal difference of +17.

Nigeria draw with Benin to qualify for 2025 AFCON
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria draw with Benin to qualify for 2025 AFCON

Nigeria has qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. They confirmed their spot by drawing 1-1 against Benin Republic at the Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria’s qualification was confirmed earlier in the day after Libya defeated Rwanda 1-0. The Super Eagles aimed to avoid losing to Benin again, especially after their earlier 2-1 loss during a World Cup qualifier in June.

Benin took the lead in the first half with a goal from Mohammed Tijjani, who scored past Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. For most of the match, it looked like Benin would win again.

However, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen equalized with just seven minutes left. He scored with a header from a cross by substitute Moses Simon.

Now, the Benin Republic must earn one point against Libya in Tripoli on Tuesday to secure their place in Morocco. Libya’s 84th-minute goal from Saad Mohamed improved their chances of qualifying and confirmed Nigeria’s place in the tournament.

Nigeria, a three-time African champion, will make its 21st appearance at AFCON, from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Lesotho beat CAR as Gabon qualify for Morocco 2025 AFCON
by Football Sierra Leone

Lesotho beat CAR as Gabon qualify for Morocco 2025 AFCON

Lesotho secured a 1-0 victory over the Central African Republic (CAR) in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday, aiding Gabon’s qualification for next year’s tournament in Morocco.

The tie played at the Free State Toyota Stadium, was decided by a goal from Neo Mokhachane in the 51st minute. Morocco leads Group B with a perfect record, followed by Gabon with seven points.

Lesotho’s win positions them third, while CAR remains at the bottom with three points. Gabon is guaranteed a top-two finish, as Lesotho cannot surpass them, even with one match remaining.

Although Lesotho could finish level on points with Gabon, they would lose out on the head-to-head rule. Both teams faced challenges in creating clear scoring opportunities, with Lesotho’s defence successfully neutralizing CAR’s attacks. Louis Mafouta nearly equalized for CAR, hitting the post in the 73rd minute.

Overall, Lesotho’s victory elevates them to third in the group, but their chances of qualification have ended, leaving CAR at the bottom.

Uganda Cranes and Bafana Bafana qualify for AFCON 2025 tournament
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Uganda Cranes and Bafana Bafana book AFCON 2025 tournament spots

The Uganda Cranes and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are the latest nations to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), joining 22 other teams in the 35th edition of the tournament.

Their qualification was confirmed after South Sudan defeated Congo 3-2 in Juba on Thursday. This result means that Congo cannot catch up with Uganda or South Africa, which currently have 10 and 8 points, respectively.

The upcoming match between Uganda and South Africa will be important for pride and for determining who finishes first in Group K.

Meanwhile, Uganda will be playing in their eighth AFCON tournament. They have appeared in 1962, 1968, 1974, 1976, 1978, 2017, and 2019. Their best performance was in 1978 when they finished as runners-up in Kumasi, Ghana.

Other teams that have already qualified include holders Ivory Coast, host Morocco, former champions Algeria, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Cameroon, Angola, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Ivory Coast qualify after Chad and Sierra Leone shared spoils
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast qualify after Chad and Sierra Leone shared spoils

Ivory Coast has qualified after Chad and Sierra Leone shared spoils 1-1 in their CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 match day five qualifier at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpé on Wednesday.

The Leone Stars scored a stunner through Abu Dumbuya in the 29th, but the host responded with a penalty 34th kick, which Georgian-based midfielder Mahamat Thiaw scored.

In a closely contested match, both teams struggled to secure three points, leaving Sierra Leone’s qualification hopes uncertain.

Group G results confirm that defending champions Côte d’Ivoire will advance to next year’s competition in Morocco, as Sierra Leone cannot catch up. Côte d’Ivoire leads with nine points, while Sierra Leone trails by four with one match remaining.

Chad secured their third draw in the qualifying campaign, leaving the Leone Stars in third place with five points, while Chad sits at the bottom with three points. Sierra Leone’s qualification chances hinge on the remaining group fixtures.

Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea is one of the latest countries to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, but it did not have to play any matches to do so, as the penultimate round of qualifiers began on Wednesday.

Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon will compete alongside Angola, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Morocco, and Senegal in the finals.

Nine more matches on Thursday will further determine qualification, with Nigeria, Sudan, and Tunisia likely to secure their spots in Morocco.

Mo Sangare's late penalty helps Liberia beat Togo
by Football Sierra Leone

Mo Sangare’s late penalty helps Liberia beat Togo

On Wednesday, Liberia defeated Togo 1-0 to move to third, three points behind second-place Equatorial Guinea in Group E in the race to Morocco at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.

The Lone Star’s first victory at home since 2019 after a late penalty from Mo Sangare secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Liberia.

The home side achieved their first win of the campaign, much to the delight of home fans. This victory brought Liberia to third in the group with four points, while Togo fell to the bottom with two points.

Both teams struggled to create clear chances, with Togo applying early pressure but unable to penetrate Liberia’s resilient defence. Liberian goalkeeper consistently thwarted Togo’s Kodjo Laba and Kévin Denkey.

The turning point came in the 83rd minute when Togo’s captain, Djené Dakonam, handled the ball in the penalty area. Sangare confidently converted the penalty, giving Liberia the lead.

In the closing minutes, Togo searched for an equalizer, but Denkey’s shot was saved, and Laba missed another chance high and wide. With this win, Liberia boosted their morale under interim coach Thomas Kojo, while Togo’s hopes of qualification ended as they sit five points behind second-placed Equatorial Guinea.

Namibia secure first point in qualifiers after a draw against Cameroon
by FSL News

Namibia secure first qualifying point after a draw against Cameroon

Namibia earned their first point in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign by drawing 0-0 with Cameroon at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, South Africa, on Wednesday.

This result does not keep Namibia in the running for a finals spot as they were already eliminated before the match. However, it gives coach Collin Benjamin a positive outcome to build on against a top team.

Cameroon has qualified for the tournament in Morocco, leading their group with 10 points. Namibia will play their final qualifier against Kenya in Polokwane, South Africa, hoping to improve their standing.

In the recent match, Namibia had a few chances but failed to score, despite having opportunities saved by Cameroon’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana.

Coach Benjamin made three substitutions to seek a goal, but the match ended without one. Namibia maintains a balanced record against Cameroon, with one win for each team and two draws in their last four meetings.

Chad v Sierra Leone: A must-win game to increase qualification hopes
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Chad v Sierra Leone: A must-win game to increase qualification hopes

Group G of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifications will see Chad hosting Sierra Leone on Matchday five at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé on Wednesday.

After playing to a goalless draw in Liberia when Sierra Leone hosted in September at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, both teams remain in contention for qualification; however, any further mistakes could spell disaster for either side.

The margin for error is slim for both nations. Any further dropped points could lead to their elimination from the qualification race.

Chad has earned two points from their first four matches, with two draws and two losses, placing them fourth in the group.

In contrast, Sierra Leone is currently in third place with four points. The Leone Stars have recorded one win, one draw, and two losses from their initial four games. A victory would allow them to draw level on points with Zambia.

Read More – Kei Kamara returns

Players to watch out for: Allabatna Gabin (Chad)

The 24-year-old is a standout player for the Chad national team, known for his dominance in the box and sharp instincts. His reflexes and positioning are his key strengths. With the opposing team’s strong attack, Gabin will need to focus on keeping his side competitive, especially in the opening minutes.

Amadou Bakayoko (Sierra Leone)

Sierra Leone’s main attacking threat is their striker, known for his remarkable ability to evade defenders and score goals. In this must-win match, Bakayoko needs to be at his best, as such crucial games often hinge on slim margins. At 28, he has shown impressive maturity leading the national team, and a strong performance is anticipated from him.

Seven nations, including Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, and Senegal, have qualified for the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, joining Morocco. They will all compete for Africa’s top trophy.

The 35th TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations will take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Kickoff: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 19:00 GMT – Venue: Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium

Present Form:

Chad (in their last five in all competitions): L-D-L-D-L

Sierra Leone (last five in all competitions): D-D-L-L-W