Category: Football Africa

Youssef Aymen has become Al Ahly's first summer signing, joining the team on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Defender Youssef Aymen pens Al Ahly loan deal from Al-Duhail

Youssef Aymen has become Al Ahly’s first summer signing, joining the team on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent.

At 25 years old, this talented individual, who honed their skills at the prestigious Aspire Academy in Qatar, made a significant move to join Al-Duhail’s youth teams in 2017.

Marcel Koller, the coach, has been looking for a new defender for some time. After losing Zineddine Belaid to Sint-Truidense, the club chose Aymen instead.

Aymen, who holds Egyptian citizenship, does not occupy a foreign player spot in the squad. He has played for Al-Duhail, with 59 appearances and five goals, and has earned eight caps with Qatar.

Aymen will become the second Qatari to play for Al Ahly after Hussein Yasser.

He missed out on the 2023 Asian Cup squad but returned to the team in the latest World Cup qualifiers, scoring against India in a 2-1 victory.

Abdul Fatawu has signed a five-year deal to permanently stay at Leicester City for £14m. His impressive performance during a loan from Sporting Lisbon made him a fan favourite.
by FSL News

Ghana’s Abdul Fatawu makes Leicester City’s permanent switch

Abdul Fatawu has signed a five-year deal to permanently stay at Leicester City for £14m. His impressive performance during a loan from Sporting Lisbon made him a fan favourite.

Fatawu made 43 appearances and scored seven goals for the Foxes last season, including a hat-trick against Southampton.

The 20-year-old Ghanaian international impressed during his loan spell at King Power Stadium, helping Leicester City to win the Sky Bet Championship title and secure promotion to the Premier League.

After receiving league and international clearance, Abdul Fatawu is all set for the upcoming season.

Abdul Fatawu expressed his excitement about returning, stating, “I feel amazing. It’s so good to be back and I’m just ready to focus again for next season.”

He will rejoin his Leicester City teammates as they prepare for the Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, August 19th.

Burkina Faso International Bertrand Traoré joins Ajax
by FSL News

Burkina Faso International Bertrand Traoré joins Ajax

Ajax have signed Bertrand Traoré from Burkina Faso on a two-year contract. Traoré joined as a free agent after his contract with Villarreal CF ended.

Born on September 6, 1995, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Traoré played for Ajax on loan in the 2016/17 season and reached the UEFA Europa League final.

He played 39 matches and scored thirteen goals that season. After leaving Ajax, Traoré played for Olympique Lyon, Aston Villa, and Istanbul Başakşehir before joining Spanish club Villarreal CF last winter.

Ajax’s Technical Director, Alex Kroes, expressed his excitement about Traoré’s arrival and highlighted the player’s eagerness to succeed and versatility in forward positions.

Kroes also emphasized Traoré’s goal-oriented approach, speed, and valuable experience, making him a significant addition to the squad.

Traoré played for Ajax on loan in the 2016/17 season and reached the UEFA Europa League final.
Traoré played for Ajax on loan in the 2016/17 season and reached the UEFA Europa League final.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disclosed the roster of licensed clubs for the upcoming CAF Interclub 2024/25 S
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

List of CAF Interclub 2024/25 season licensed clubs revealed

Sierra Leone’s Bo Rangers and East End Lions are included in the list of licensed clubs for the upcoming 2024/25 CAF Interclub Season, as revealed by The Confederation of African Football (CAF).

After the recent Preliminary Draw, CAF has officially confirmed the list of clubs eligible to compete in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

CAF successfully implemented the Club Licensing System for these competitions, licensing 58 clubs for the CAF Champions League and 51 clubs for the CAF Confederation Cup.

These clubs represent 40 member associations and will take part in the competitions.

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League – List of Licensed Clubs 2024_25

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup – List of Licensed Clubs 2024_25

All clubs qualifying for CAF interclub competitions must obtain a license based on sporting merit.

Many clubs have undergone a licensing process at their national associations to compete in the 2024/25 CAF Interclub competitions. The deadline for licensing decisions and document submission was 30 June 2024.

The CAF Club Licensing process has helped resolve disputes related to overdue payments, ensuring compliance with CAF men’s club licensing regulations.

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup - List of Licensed Clubs 2024_25
TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup - List of Licensed Clubs 2024_25
Defender Willy Kambwala has signed a permanent deal with Spanish side Villarreal after almost four years with at Manchester United.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

DRC’s Willy Kambwala joins Villarreal from Manchester

Defender Willy Kambwala has signed a permanent deal with Spanish side Villarreal until 2029 after almost four years with Manchester United.

He made 10 first-team appearances since joining Manchester United in October 2020 from French Ligue 2 club Sochaux.

Despite some injuries in the 2021/22 season, he continued to impress when he played.

Kambwala’s final performance of the season came in the league match with Arsenal in May, and he was among the substitutes in the memorable Emirates FA Cup final triumph against Manchester City.

“Willy Kambwala Ndengushi (Kinshasa, 25/08/2004) is a promising right-footed central defender who is only 19 years old. The Franco-Congolese player stands out for his physical strength, his magnificent ability to win duels and his excellent aerial play.

Formed through the youth ranks of Manchester United, where he joined the academy from FC Sochaux, Kambwala has made a total of 10 appearances for the Red Devils first team this season, eight of them in the Premier League,” Villareal noted of their new acquisition.

Kambwala is eligible to represent both France and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has captained the French under-16 side.

Forward Augustine Boakye raring to go after joining Saint Etienne
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Forward Augustine Boakye raring to go after joining Saint Etienne

Ghanaian forward Augustine Boakye is determined to make his mark in the French Ligue 1 following his move to AS Saint Etienne in the current transfer window.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has penned a four-year deal with the Greens after an impressive spell at Austrian club Wolfsberger AC, where he notched 10 goals in 21 Bundesliga starts.

Boakye, a product of the West Africa Football Academy, is enthusiastic about the prospect of competing in France’s top tier.

“Joining AS Saint-Étienne to experience the French championship fills me with pride,” Boakye conveyed to the media department at Etienne.

“Ligue 1 is a league that has always captivated me, and ASSE is an illustrious club. I had the opportunity to converse with my friend, Lucas Gourna, who spoke highly of it! “I can hardly wait to explore this esteemed club from the inside and engage with its passionate fan base!”

Boakye formerly plied his trade for West Africa Football Academy in the Ghanaian Premier League, and despite his domestic success, international representation still awaits.

Brighton & Hove Albion have officially unveiled Ghana international Ibrahim Osman after he penned a five-year deal until summer 2019.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ghanaian Ibrahim Osman pleased to join Premier League club

Brighton & Hove Albion have officially unveiled Ghana International Ibrahim Osman after he penned a five-year deal until summer 2019.

Osman completed his transfer to Brighton from the Danish club FC Nordsjaelland in January. He officially became a part of their first team over the weekend.

The 19-year-old has expressed his excitement about joining Albion and his journey to the Premier League, saying, “It’s a dream come true as a young guy to be in a new country, in a new team, new environment. I am happy to be here. I’m the type of player who is direct and ambitious for goals.”

Osman also reflected on his time at FC Nordsjaelland, saying, “It was really good and I had happy moments there, playing with different and amazing types of people. It was really good for me.”

Brighton move delights for Malian midfielder Malick Yalcouye
by FSL News

Brighton move delights Malian midfielder Malick Yalcouye

Malian midfielder Malick Yalcouye is happy to have joined Brighton from IFK Goteborg on a contract until June 2029.

The 18-year-old player, hailing from Mali and Ivory Coast, joined Goteborg after honing his skills at the Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas. He showcased his talent by making his professional debut in the African Champions League.

Malick’s debut game for Goteborg was in February during the Swedish Cup, and he started his first league match against Djurgardens IF in April.

Demonstrating his prowess, he scored his first league goal for the club later that month against IF Brommapojkarna.

Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler said, “We are happy to have Malick at the club. He is a talented midfielder with great potential to become a top player.

He is excited about this next career stage, and we look forward to helping him progress.”

Ajax reach verbal agreement to re-sign former Chelsea and Aston Villa forward Bertrand Traoré
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ajax reach verbal agreement to sign attacker Bertrand Traoré

Ajax and Bertrand Traoré reportedly agreed to a contract extension, according to De Telegraaf. The 28-year-old player, who previously played for Ajax, is said to have signed a contract with the club until the summer of 2026.

De Telegraaf also mentioned that Ajax and Traoré’s representatives will finalize the agreement over the weekend, followed by a medical examination.

Traoré, who is from Burkina Faso, is considered a valuable acquisition for Ajax, especially since the club has limited financial resources for transfers.

The attacker previously played for Ajax and was part of the team that reached the Europa League final against Manchester United in the 2016/17 season.

He scored thirteen goals and provided six assists in 39 games before moving to Olympique Lyon.

Subsequently, he played for Aston Villa, Istanbul Basaksehir, and Villarreal before being released from the latter on a free transfer last season.

Nigeria defender Gabriel Osho departs Luton for French side AJ Auxerre
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria defender Osho departs Luton for French side AJ Auxerre

Luton Town defender Gabriel Osho has moved to French club Auxerre after his contract at Kenilworth Road ended and will wear the number 3 shirt.

Osho played for Luton when they were promoted to the Premier League in 2022-23. He made a total of 85 appearances for Luton Town.

The 25-year-old will now play in France’s top league as Auxerre was promoted under manager Christophe Pelissier. Osho has signed a one-year deal with an option for an additional 12 months.

Born and trained in Reading, he has been a solid central defender in the Championship. He scored in the play-off semi-final and helped his team rise to the elite in 2022-2023.

Last season, he played 21 Premier League games, scoring 2 goals, and was called up to the Nigerian national team in March but couldn’t play due to injury.

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