Author: Alie Bittar @bittar32

The inaugural edition of FIFA's new prime club competition is scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Esperance, Sundowns join Al Ahly & Wydad in Club World Cup

The inaugural edition of FIFA’s new prime club competition is scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. 

Esperance, a Tunisian team, and Mamelodi Sundowns, a South African club, have secured their spots in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup (Mundial de Clubes FIFA 25™) for next year. 

They have become the third and fourth teams from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to qualify for the competition – following the just-concluded semi-final matches of the CAF Champions League, which took place on Friday.

Esperance defeated Sundowns 2-0 on aggregate and will now play against Al Ahly in the final. 

The winner will qualify as African champions for the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup. Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca have already secured their places in the competition.

Even if Esperance fails to win the final, they will still take up one of the two remaining CAF berths. Sundowns will also participate in the competition. 

The new FIFA Club World Cup format aims to feature elite teams from each confederation, with four African sides participating: Wydad (Morocco), Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and ES Tunis (Tunisia).

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Al Ahly beat Mazembe to set a date with Esperance of Tunisia
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly beat Mazembe to set a date with Esperance of Tunisia

On Friday in Cairo, Egypt’s Al Ahly secured TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final spot with a 3-0 win over Mazembe.

As a result, they’ll face Esperance of Tunisia, who defeated Sundowns 2-0 on aggregate to set up this year’s final Al Ahly.

In the first leg of the match played in Lubumbashi, no team managed to score a goal. However, the return fixture in Cairo was full of drama.

In Cairo, Joel Beya’s goal for Mazembe was disallowed early in the second half before Abdelmonem’s powerful header off a corner broke the deadlock on 68 minutes.

Led by South African-born Percy Tau, the 11-time champions displayed tenacity, hunger, and quality to carry Egyptian football’s flag into next month’s final. 

Marcel Koller’s side responded to the threat of the visitors and showed the composure and quality that has made them African club football’s pre-eminent force over the past decade.

Mohamed Abdelmonem’s thumping header put them ahead in the 68th minute before late strikes from Wissam Abu Ali and Akram Tawfik completed the win as Al Ahly seeks to maintain its grip on African club football’s biggest prize.

Al Ahly secured a place in the final against Tunisian heavyweights Esperance after Akram Tawfik scored the third goal in the 12th minute of stoppage time. 

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Dreams coach Zito relishes chance against Zamalek for final spot
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Dreams coach Zito relishes chance against Zamalek

Dreams FC coach Abdul Karim Zito has stated that his team will not underestimate Zamalek in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final match.

Zito’s team held the former champions to a goalless draw at Cairo International Stadium, despite the home team’s dominance.

The Ghanaian team showed great resilience and managed to prevent Zamalek from winning. As a result, they returned home as the happier side and are now looking forward to the second-leg encounter. 

The match is scheduled to take place at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday, April 28, 2024, and Zito, the coach, is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

“We’ve put the first leg aside – we know it will be very difficult as it looks very frightening, but it is not impossible,” Karim Zito said, as quoted by Akoma Sports. 

The experienced coach is confident of securing victory, even if the game has to be decided after regulation time.

“We are ready should the game travel to penalties, but we aim to end the game within 90 minutes,” he stated. 

Zamalek arrived in Kumasi on Thursday, April 25 to continue their preparations for the anticipated encounter. 

The reigning defending champions and current league leaders, Bo Rangers, dominated Real Republicans in a spectacular game that saw them move five points clear at the top of the league table.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Bo Rangers thrash Republicans to open a five-point gap

The reigning defending champions and current league leaders, Bo Rangers, dominated Real Republicans in a spectacular game that saw them move five points clear at the top of the league table. 

Bo Rangers have won 15 games this season after the 5-0 hammering of Real Republicans on Wednesday, causing Soccer Ambassadors to fall into the relegation zone. John Keister’s team dominated the struggling visitors, scoring three goals in the first half-hour of the game at Southern Arena.

Mohamadu Lamin and Suffian Kalokoh scored two goals each, while Mohamed Kabba added another goal to the Southern Arena’s tally, igniting a celebratory atmosphere. 

This win highlights their determination to clinch yet another Sierra Leone top-tier title. This season, Real Republicans have won only four matches, lost eleven, and drawn the other nine.

They now find themselves in the relegation zone, with just 21 points after 24 games. 

Elsewhere, Wusum Stars continue their strong form by defeating Freetonians SLIFA 2-0 in Makeni, while Wilberforce Strikers secured a 1-0 away victory over East End Lions.

Augustine Williams rescues a point for Indy Eleven
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustine Williams rescues a point for Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven played against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and drew 1-1 on Saturday at Weidner Field. Augustine Williams scored the equalizer in the 31st minute on Saturday.

Colorado Springs started strong in the match through Ronaldo Dumas scoring in the third minute.

Indy scored a goal in the 31st minute by Augi Williams, assisted by Aedan Stanley. It was the second in eight games for the Sierra Leone International. 

Both teams ended the first half with a 1-1 draw, with Indy holding 56% of possession. 

In the second half, Indy played well against the 10-man Colorado Springs squad following Wahab Ackwei’s red card in the 58th minute. However, Indy couldn’t find the match-winner. 

Indy has scored in seven consecutive matches to start the season, the longest stretch to open a USL Championship campaign since six games to open the 2019 season. 

They’ll host North Carolina FC at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, airing locally on WNDY and streaming nationally on ESPN+.