Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fashion Sakala Jr out of Zambia squad for AFCON qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Fashion Sakala Jr out of Zambia squad for AFCON qualifiers

Zambia’s Saudi Arabia-based forward, Fashion Sakala Jr, has been left out of the 27-man Chipolopolo squad for the consecutive 2025 AFCON qualifiers due to a previous disagreement with the coach, Avram Grant, Israel’s football manager.

Despite the absence of their first-choice striker, Patson Daka, who is nursing an injury, Sakala has not been selected.

Sakala, who plays for Al Feiha, accused the coach of biased selection earlier this year. He had an impressive season last year, scoring 22 goals in all competitions.

Zambia will play Ivory Coast in Bouake on September 6th and then host Sierra Leone in Ndola on September 10th. The third and fourth match days will be between October 7-15, with Zambia facing Chad in back-to-back games.

The final two matches will take place in the November window, with Zambia facing Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. The top two countries in each group will qualify for the 35th edition in Morocco, scheduled from December 21st, 2025, to January 18th, 2026.

Ex-Gambia boss Tom Saintfiet appointed as new Mali coach
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ex-Gambia boss Tom Saintfiet appointed as new Mali coach

Tom Saintfiet, the former head coach of Gambia, has been chosen to lead Mali’s national football team following his appointment by the Malian Football Federation (Femafoot).

Saintfiet’s contract is for two years, with the possibility of an extension. Expectations are high for him to lead the team to the semi-finals of AFCON 2025 in Morocco and secure Mali’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

This announcement comes after considering six candidates for the position, including well-known names such as Antonio Conceiçao, Hector Cùper, and Pitso Mosimane.

Mali will start their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign next month against Mozambique and Eswatini.

Saintfiet is experienced in African football, having previously managed Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, Togo, and notably – Gambia. His immediate task will be to assess the squad and prepare a strategy for the upcoming qualifiers.

The Belgian coach comes to a team with talented players from some of the top leagues in the world. With upcoming qualifiers against Mozambique on September 6th in Bamako and Eswatini on September 9th in Mbombela, South Africa, there is a lot of anticipation for his impact.

New Look CAF Super Cup identity revealed
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Look CAF Super Cup identity revealed

On Wednesday, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, unveiled a new TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup competition logo in anticipation of this year’s event, which is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 27th.

The new design takes inspiration from the actual trophy, just like the recent update for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. This change reflects CAF’s commitment to enhancing the image of all its competitions as interest in African football grows globally.

Veron Mosengo-Omba, the CAF General Secretary, sees the new look as part of African football’s evolution.

The upcoming tournament features a match between Egyptian clubs Al Ahly SC and Zamalek SC. The tournament coincides with Riyadh Season 2024, known for hosting major sporting events that attract international attention.

Ivorian coach Emerse Faé has announced the 25-man squad to kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zambia and Chad.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Emerse Faé names Ivory Coast squad to start AFCON qualifier

Ivorian coach Emerse Faé has announced the 25-man squad to kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zambia and Chad.

The team is scheduled to play against Zambia on September 6 and Chad on September 10. Notably, Amad Diallo is back in the squad, alongside other key players. Additionally, Faé has confirmed a coaching change, with Michaël Fabre replacing Gérard Gnanhouan.

The Ivory Coast will aim to secure their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with this squad. The squad features three goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers SCO), Mohamed Koné (Charleroi), and Badra Sangaré (Sekhukhune United).

In defence, Faé has chosen nine players, including Emmanuel Agbadou (Reims), Willy Boly (Nottingham), Ousmane Diomandé (Sporting CP), Guéla Doué (RC Strasbourg), Odilon Kossonou, Evan Ndicka (AS Roma), Christopher Operi (Le Havre), Singo Wilfried (AS Monaco), and Sylla Abakar (RC Strasbourg).

The midfield will include Mohamed Diomandé (Rangers), Maho Dorgelès (Nordsjaelland), Franck Kessié (Al Ahli), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham), and Jean Michaël Seri (Al Orobah).

Upfront, the squad sees the return of Amad Diallo (Manchester United), who joins Simon Adingra (Brighton), Diakité Oumar (Reims), Evann Guessand (Nice), Sébastien Haller (Dortmund), Christian Kouamé (Fiorentina), Emmanuel Lath (Middlesbrough), and Bénie Traoré (Bâle).

Nigeria appoint German legend Bruno Labbadia as head coach
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria appoint German Bruno Labbadia as new head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has named Bruno Labbadia, a former German international, as the new head coach of the Nigeria national soccer team, the Super Eagles.

Labbadia brings a wealth of experience, having worked with renowned clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen.

This appointment precedes the Super Eagles’ upcoming qualifying campaign for the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations. Labbadia is expected to bring valuable and impactful expertise to the role.

This decision comes after the departure of the previous coach, Finidi George. Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of the NFF, has confirmed that the NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development sub-committee to appoint Mr. Labbadia.

Labbadia’s esteemed standing in German football positions him perfectly to tackle the challenge of revitalizing the team’s performance and meeting the expectations of Nigeria’s passionate football community.

The 57-year-old had a successful playing career with several Bundesliga giants, including Bayern Munich. Labbadia holds a UEFA Pro License and is determined to lead the Super Eagles to success in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

His immediate objectives involve assembling a highly competitive team from a talented pool of players and pursuing continental and global achievements with determination and focus.