Category: Football Africa

Sudan, Niger book CHAN spots as others battle for a place in the final
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sudan, Niger book CHAN spots as others battle for a place in the final

Niger has qualified for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after a goalless draw against Togo in the second leg, advancing on the away goals rule following a 1-1 draw in the first leg. This marks Niger’s fifth appearance in the CHAN finals.

Sudan was the first team to secure their place in the tournament after a 2-1 victory over Ethiopia in the second leg, combined with a 2-0 win in the first leg, giving them a 4-1 aggregate score.

Musa Kanti opened the scoring for Sudan early on, and despite a brief equalizer from Ethiopia, Sudan quickly regained the lead to secure their fourth CHAN qualification.

The qualifiers continue on Saturday, with eight teams vying for spots, including Burkina Faso trying to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Côte d’Ivoire. Defending champions Senegal will host Liberia in Diamniadio, aiming to secure their qualification following a 1-1 draw in Monrovia.

They have added Daouda Ba and Moussa Diallo to strengthen their defence and attack. In a regional derby, Guinea seeks to overcome Guinea-Bissau.

On Sunday, the final five qualification spots will be decided, with Mali trying to recover from a 1-0 first-leg loss to Mauritania.

The tournament will take place from February 1 to 28, 2025, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, providing a platform for showcasing local talent exclusively from domestic leagues.

Saturday, December 28, 2024

  • 13:00: Zambia vs. Mozambique
  • 16:00: Burkina Faso vs. Ivory Coast
  • 16:00: Cameroon vs. Central African Republic
  • 16:00: Guinea-Bissau vs. Guinea
  • 16:00: Nigeria vs. Ghana
  • 16:00: Rwanda vs. South Sudan
  • 16:30: Angola vs. Lesotho
  • 17:00: Senegal vs. Liberia

Sunday, December 29, 2024

  • Noon: Madagascar vs. Eswatini
  • 13:00: Uganda vs. Burundi
  • 14:00: Congo vs. Equatorial Guinea
  • 16:00: DR Congo vs. Chad
  • 16:00 : Mali vs. Mauritania

https://twitter.com/bittar32/status/1872923786640801871

Sierra Leone's Tyrese Fornah nets first Salford's goal
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone’s Tyrese Fornah nets first Salford’s goal

Tyrese Fornah, a Sierra Leone international, scored his first league goal on Boxing Day when the Ammies defeated Barrow 3-0, their first three-game winning streak since October 2023.

The squad benefited greatly from the game, moving up to ninth place in the rankings, three points outside of the desired top three spots.

Tyrese Fornah and Luke Garbutt both ended the scoring drought in an exciting first half, hitting their first goals of the year to put the Ammies ahead 2-0.

The fans’ thunderous applause created an electrifying environment. Kylian Kouassi completed the outstanding performance in the last ten minutes by scoring the game’s winning goal, ensuring the team’s victory.

Despite his goal, a second yellow card for Fornah late in the day for a reckless challenge on Spence, saw him receive a sending-off after his heel caught the Barrow player on the way down.

Senegalese striker Iliman Ndiaye named Player of the Match against City
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegalese striker Iliman Ndiaye helps Everton draw against City

Senegalese striker Iliman Ndiaye was named Player of the Match after he scored an equalizer that helped Everton draw 1-1 with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Iliman Ndiaye’s fourth goal of the season came through a right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner to level the scoreline in the 36th minute.

Erling Haaland had a penalty saved by Jordan Pickford in the second half. Manchester City continues to struggle, with only one win in their last 13 games.

City nearly took the lead in the third minute when Josko Gvardiol’s header hit the post. They scored in the 14th minute when Bernardo Silva finished a pass from Jeremy Doku, thanks to a deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite. They could have scored again when Phil Foden set up Silva inside the box, but Silva missed the target.

Seven minutes into the second half, City had another chance to regain the lead when Vitalii Mykolenko fouled Savinho in the box. However, Pickford saved Haaland’s penalty.

City pushed for a winning goal but could not break through Everton’s defence. They have not won a match since December 4 against Nottingham Forest.

There was one last chance for Everton. In the final minute of six added minutes, Broja led another Everton attack and found Harrison in a promising position – but the winger’s shot was blocked.

The result places City in sixth place, three points behind Nottingham Forest in fourth and 11 points behind leaders Liverpool. Everton in 15th after draws against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Holders Al Ahly dismantle Algerian side CR Belouizdad
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Holders Al Ahly dismantle Algerian side CR Belouizdad

Title holders Al Ahly of Egypt delivered a strong message in the CAF Champions League with a commanding 6-1 victory over CR Belouizdad, highlighted by Wessam Abou Ali’s impressive hat-trick.

The match, held at Cairo International Stadium, saw Al Ahly rebound from an early setback when Aimen Mahious scored for Belouizdad in the 21st minute. Abou Ali equalized just before halftime, paving the way for a dominant second half.

He added two more goals, including a precise free kick and a long-range strike, while Hussein El Shahat and Percy Tau also contributed to the scoreline. Emam Ashour capped the match with a sixth goal in stoppage time, thrilling the home crowd.

With this victory, Al Ahly ascends to the top of Group C with seven points, ahead of Orlando Pirates by two points, while Belouizdad, now third with three points, faces a challenging return leg.

This resounding win illustrates Al Ahly’s strength as they continue to contend for the title in the tournament’s next phase.

Liberia and Senegal share spoils as Côte d'Ivoire beat Burkina Faso
by FSL News

Liberia and Senegal share spoils as Côte d’Ivoire beat Burkina Faso

On Sunday, defending champions Senegal drew 1-1 with Liberia in Monrovia in the first leg of the final round of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 qualifiers.

Seydina Mbaye scored first for Senegal, but Bility equalized late. The return leg will be in Dakar, where Senegal hopes to capitalize on home advantage.

With the first leg of the qualifiers over, the focus shifts to the second leg starting on December 25. Teams will compete for spots in CHAN 2024, held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in February.

In another match, Côte d’Ivoire won 2-0 against Burkina Faso, with Oumar Konaté scoring both goals.

Sudan beat Ethiopia 2-0 away, and Mauritania narrowly defeated Mali 1-0.

South Sudan triumphed over Rwanda 3-2, with Malish Mandela and Ezibon scoring, while Rwanda’s goals from Muhire and Didier kept them in the running.

Nigeria and Ghana ended in a 0-0 draw. The second leg next week will be crucial for both teams’ qualification hopes.

TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024 Qualifiers Results:

Saturday, 21 December 2024

  • Lesotho 0-2 Angola
  • Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Congo
  • Mozambique 0-3 Zambia
  • Eswatini 0-2 Madagascar
  • Chad 1-1 DR Congo

 

Sunday, 22 December 2024 | Times in GMT

  • 13:00: South Sudan 3-2Rwanda
  • 14:00: Central African Republic vs Cameroon
  • 14:00: Ethiopia 0-2 Sudan
  • 16:00: Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
  • 16:00: Cote d’Ivoire 2-0 Burkina Faso
  • 16:00: Liberia 1-1 Senegal
  • 16:00: Togo 1-1 Niger
  • 17:00: Mauritania 1-0 Mali
Angola, Madagascar and Zambia secure wins in CHAN first-leg qualifiers
by FSL News

Angola, Madagascar and Zambia secure wins in CHAN first-leg qualifiers

The first leg of the second-round qualifiers for CHAN 2024 has produced challenging results for host nations across the continent.

On Saturday, December 21st, five matches took place, with three visiting teams securing victories. However, DR Congo and Congo did not achieve wins. Lesotho hosted Angola in Durban, South Africa, where Angola celebrated a convincing 2-0 victory.

Equatorial Guinea faced Congo at home but struggled to secure a win, settling for a goalless draw despite having control of possession. In a Southern African derby, Zambia triumphed over Mozambique with a 3-0 scoreline, while Eswatini was outperformed by Madagascar, suffering a 2-0 loss in Mbabane.

Two-time champions DR Congo managed to earn a 1-1 draw against Chad in an away match as they seek to reclaim their title after previous wins in 2009 and 2016.

The qualifiers continue on Sunday, leading to the second and final round from December 25 to 29, where the final 19 qualified nations, including hosts Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will be determined.

The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 will be held from February 1 to February 24, 2025.

TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024 Qualifiers Results:

Saturday, 21 December 2024

  • Lesotho 0-2 Angola
  • Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Congo
  • Mozambique 0-3 Zambia
  • Eswatini 0-2 Madagascar
  • Chad 1-1 DR Congo

Sunday, 22 December 2024 | Times in GMT

  • 13:00: South Sudan vs Rwanda
  • 14:00: Central African Republic vs Cameroon
  • 14:00: Ethiopia vs Sudan
  • 16:00: Ghana vs Nigeria
  • 16:00: Cote d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso
  • 16:00: Liberia vs Senegal
  • 16:00: Togo vs Niger
  • 17:00: Mauritania vs Mali
Nantes: Nigeria's Moses Simon set for ankle surgery
by FSL News

Nantes: Nigeria’s Moses Simon set for ankle surgery

Nantes head coach Antoine Kombouare has confirmed that Moses Simon is scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming days to address a persistent ankle issue.

The Nigeria international has been unavailable for the last two months of the 2023-24 season due to a fractured fibula. It continues to experience residual pain from that injury in the current season.

Recently, Simon had the plate and screws removed from his ankle and fibula, but he remains in discomfort. As a result, the club has determined that surgery is the most appropriate course of action.

As Ligue 1 is currently in its winter break, Nantes will next compete on January 4 when they travel to Lille. They will also face Drancy in the Coupe de France on December 21.

Kombouare will proceed without the 29-year-old winger, who has significantly contributed with four goals and five assists in 14 league appearances this season.

“Moses has had the plate and screws removed from his ankle and fibula due to the considerable pain he has been experiencing recently,” Kombouare stated, as reported by Ouest-France. “We are utilizing this short break to facilitate this necessary operation for him. Following the procedure, he will have two weeks to recover before he can safely rejoin the team.”

In-form Belouizdad to face tricky Al Ahly Champions League tie
by Football Sierra Leone

In-form Belouizdad to face tricky Al Ahly Champions League tie

Algerian side Belouizdad travel to Egypt for a tricky CAF Champions League group stage match against Al Ahly SC on Sunday at Cairo International Stadium.

This match is a rescheduled fixture for Matchday Three in Group C, postponed due to Ahly’s participation in the FIFA InterContinental Cup this week in Qatar.

Belouizdad arrives with confidence following a 1-0 victory over Stade d’Abidjan. Aimen Mahious, the goal-scorer in that match, is a key player alongside Khanyisa Mayo.

The Algerian side has performed impressively, securing five wins in their last six matches and maintaining a defensive record of 333 minutes without conceding.

Sunday’s clash will highlight contrasting styles: Ahly’s defensive stability against Belouizdad’s effective counter-attacking.

Currently third in the group with three points, Belouizdad seeks to advance, while Al Ahly aims for victory to reclaim the top spot and revitalize their campaign.

The last encounter ended in a 0-0 draw, but the stakes are significantly higher this time.

Sierra Leone face difficult road to Women's AFCON 2026 in Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone face difficult road to Women’s AFCON in Morocco

Sierra Queens of Sierra Leone to embark on a difficult journey to qualify for the 2026 CAF Women’s African Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The qualifiers for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2026, will commence following the draw held at the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo on Thursday.

In the initial round of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 Qualifiers, Sierra Leone will face Benin. Should the team succeed in this round, they will advance to meet Nigeria in the subsequent stage.

The Sierra Queens will first travel to Benin for the first leg of their match, scheduled from February 17 to 26, 2025, while the second round will occur between October 20 and 28, 2025.

The winner of the match between Sierra Leone and Benin will go on to challenge Nigeria, an established powerhouse in African women’s football. Nigeria has been granted a bye for the first round due to its high ranking.

The second round of fixtures is set to take place from October 20 to 28, 2025. A total of 38 African nations will compete for 12 available spots in the final tournament, alongside Morocco, which qualifies automatically as the host nation.

Qualifier Schedule:

  • First Round: February 17–26, 2025
  • Second Round: October 20–28, 2025

First Round Fixtures:

  • M1 & M2: Angola vs Zimbabwe
  • M3 & M4: Malawi vs Congo
  • M5 & M6: Botswana vs DR Congo
  • M7 & M8: Tanzania vs Equatorial Guinea
  • M9 & M10: Uganda vs Ethiopia
  • M11 & M12: Eswatini vs Namibia
  • M13 & M14: Burundi vs Burkina Faso
  • M15 & M16: Djibouti vs Togo
  • M17 & M18: South Sudan vs Algeria
  • M19 & M20: Rwanda vs Egypt
  • M21 & M22: Kenya vs Tunisia
  • M23 & M24: Niger vs Gambia
  • M25 & M26: Benin vs Sierra Leone
  • M27 & M28: Guinea vs Cape Verde
  • M29 & M30: Gabon vs Mali
  • M31 & M32: Chad vs Senegal

Second Round Fixtures:

  • M33 & M34: Angola/Zimbabwe vs Malawi/Congo
  • M35 & M36: Botswana/DR Congo vs South Africa
  • M37 & M38: Tanzania/Equatorial Guinea vs Uganda/Ethiopia
  • M39 & M40: Eswatini/Namibia vs Zambia
  • M41 & M42: Burundi/Burkina Faso vs Djibouti/Togo
  • M43 & M44: South Sudan/Algeria vs Cameroon
  • M45 & M46: Rwanda/Egypt vs Ghana
  • M47 & M48: Kenya/Tunisia vs Niger/Gambia
  • M49 & M50: Benin /Sierra leone Vs  Nigeria
  • M51 & M52: Guinea/Cape Verde vs Gabon/Mali
  • M53 & M54: Chad/Senegal vs Côte d’Ivoire
Ivory Coast qualify after Chad and Sierra Leone shared spoils
by Football Sierra Leone

AFCON dates and CAF 2025 competition calendar reveal

On Monday, the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved the competition calendar for 2025.

Additionally, the EXCO announced that the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held on January 27, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco.

Morocco has also been selected as the host for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations finals, while Ivory Coast will host the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

CAF issued the following statement including key dates:

TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025: Opening Match will be played Sunday, 30 March 2025; Final Match will be played Saturday, 19 April 2025

TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2025 – Opening Match will be played Saturday, 26 April 2025; Final Match will be played Sunday, 18 May 2025

TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024-25: Final, First Leg will be played Saturday, 17 May 2025; Final, Second Leg will be played Sunday, 25 May 2025

TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024-25: Final, First Leg will be played Saturday, 24 May 2025; Final, Second Leg will be played Sunday, 1 June 2025

CAF Women’s Champions League 2025: Opening Match will be played Saturday, 8 November 2025; Final Match will be played Sunday, 23 November 2025

TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025: Opening match will be played Sunday, 21 December 2025; Final Match will be played Sunday, 18 January 2026.