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.

South Africa vs Morocco
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa and Morocco set for intriguing U20 AFCON final

South Africa vs Morocco are set to battle in the highly anticipated CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations final this Sunday at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo — a repeat of their iconic 1997 encounter.

Back then, Morocco U20 edged past South Africa 1-0 to clinch the title. Now, history is on the line once again. Morocco eyes its second championship, while South Africa U20 is chasing its first-ever continental crown.

This marks South Africa’s fifth appearance in a CAF tournament final, yet they’ve never beaten a North African team in such high-stakes matches — each loss by a single goal. Morocco U20, meanwhile, boasts a perfect record against Southern African teams in this tournament, defeating both Lesotho and Angola during the group stage.

Road to the CAF U-20 AFCON Final: South Africa vs Morocco

Both teams took similar routes to reach the final:

  • South Africa overcame DR Congo and Nigeria

  • Morocco dispatched Sierra Leone and hosts Egypt

This is the fifth time the U-20 AFCON is being held in North Africa — with history favoring North African teams when playing on home turf.

South Africa started slowly but has grown stronger, scoring eight goals in four wins. Goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe leads the tournament with 24 crucial saves.

Morocco enters the final unbeaten in 14 matches, scoring eight goals shared among top talents like Jones El Abdellaoui and Yassir Zabiri.

🥉 Third Place Play Off: Nigeria vs Egypt

Before the final, Nigeria and Egypt will meet in the third-place play-off at the same venue on Sunday at 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT). This will be their sixth clash in U-20 AFCON history.

Nigeria holds the edge, with three wins — including victories in 2005 (final), 2009, and 2023 group stages. Egypt’s lone win came in 2013’s semi-final. Their 2007 encounter ended in a draw.

Notably, Nigeria has performed well against host nations, boasting six wins and only two losses. Their most dominant win was a 4-0 demolition of Tunisia in the 2023 third-place match.

RS Berkane 2-0 Simba SC
by Football Sierra Leone

RS Berkane win to gain first-leg advantage over Simba SC

The much-anticipated RS Berkane vs Simba SC showdown in the CAF Confederation Cup final lived up to expectations as Moroccan club RS Berkane claimed a crucial 2-0 victory in the first leg at Berkane Municipal Stadium on Saturday.

The match marked the first part of the two-legged Simba SC CAF final journey, where the Tanzanian giants faced a strong and determined RS Berkane side. The win puts RS Berkane on the brink of securing their third continental title.

Strong Start for RS Berkane

RS Berkane dominated from the outset. In the 8th minute, Mamadou Camara opened the scoring with a powerful header from a Hamza El Moussaoui corner. Just six minutes later, Oussama Lamlaoui added a second goal, converting a sharp pass from Imad Riahi to make it RS Berkane 2-0 Simba SC early in the game.

Simba SC’s Missed Opportunities

Despite the early setback, Simba SC created chances to get back into the match. Leonel Ateba and Elie Mpanzu came close to scoring, but RS Berkane’s defense and goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani were solid throughout. Simba’s struggle deepened when midfielder Abdulrazack Hamza exited the match due to injury.

VAR Drama & Late Action

In the second half, RS Berkane had a third goal ruled out by VAR in the 60th minute for offside. Still, they continued to threaten through counterattacks, with Issoufou Dayo and Mateus Santos nearly adding to the scoreline. Simba SC held on, avoiding further damage ahead of the return leg.

Second Leg All to Play For

The second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final is set for Sunday, 25 May at 15:00 GMT, where Simba SC will need to overturn the deficit to win their first continental trophy. Meanwhile, RS Berkane are one step closer to lifting their continental title for the third time.

Amadou bakayoko
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Amadou Bakayoko nets to help Consadole Sapporo triumph

Sierra Leone international Amadou Bakayoko made a significant impact during his team’s 2-1 win against Kataller Toyama on Saturday by scoring the equalizing goal after coming off the bench. Amadou Bakayoko Sapporo goal seals comeback victory in J2 League clash. This marked another standout Amadou Bakayoko Sapporo goal, contributing to his growing influence in the league.

This thrilling encounter occurred during Round 16 of the Japanese Premier League 2 (J2 League) at the Sapporo Dome, where Consadole Sapporo faced off against Toyama. It was another big moment for the Sierra Leone footballer in Japan, continuing to impress in his debut season.

Consadole Sapporo initially found themselves trailing 1-0 after Toyama opened the scoring. However, Amadou Bakayoko entered the match in the 68th minute and quickly changed the dynamics with a crucial equalizer — a textbook example of how vital he has become in the Amadou Bakayoko J2 League journey.

His skillful finish leveled the score and set the stage for an exciting finale. The momentum continued in the dying moments of the game when Ryota Aoki netted the dramatic winner in the 90+2nd minute, securing a comeback victory for Sapporo.

In a post-match interview, Amadou Bakayoko shared his reaction:

“Coming off the bench with the team down 1-0 and being able to make an impact by scoring a goal was incredibly fulfilling. It feels great to contribute to the team’s success and to see us secure the win in the end. I’m delighted to add another goal to my tally and help my team continue on the path to victory.”

Meanwhile, in another J2 League clash that day, Tosu edged past Akita 2-1 with goals from Nagasawa Sivatafari and Vikintas Slivka, highlighting the competitiveness across the league.

📊 Meiji Yasuda J2 League Standings

El Abdellaoui strike helps Morocco set U20 final date with South Africa
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

El Abdellaoui strike helps Morocco set U20 final date with South Africa

Morocco Beats Egypt to Reach CAF U 20 Africa Cup of Nations Final

Morocco has secured their spot in the final of the CAF U 20 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Egypt 1-0 in a tense semi-final clash on Thursday. The Morocco U20 team displayed great discipline and composure to advance.

CAF U 20 Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final: A Tight Encounter

The match was closely contested, with both teams fighting hard for dominance. Egypt controlled the early phases but failed to break through Morocco’s organized defense. As the game progressed, Morocco gradually took control, with midfielders Reda Laalaoui and Hossam Essadak playing key roles.

El Abdellaoui’s Winning Goal

The turning point came in the 77th minute when substitute Jones El Abdellaoui scored from a perfectly delivered cross by Ismaël Aouad. The goal lifted Morocco and left Egypt chasing an equalizer.

Morocco’s Defense Shuts Down Egypt

Despite Egypt’s late push through players like Ahmed Kabaka and Mohamed Raafat, the Morocco U20 team stood firm. Their solid backline ensured they held on to their lead and kept a clean sheet.

What’s Next for the Final?

This win puts Morocco in the final of the CAF U 20, where they will face South Africa, who also won their CAF U-20 semi-final 1-0 against Nigeria. Meanwhile, Egypt will play Nigeria for third place.

Houssam Essadak claims Man of the Match award after a standout performance
Houssam Essadak claims Man of the Match award after a standout performance
Morocco's U-20 coach Mohamed Ouahbi aims for a win against Egypt
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco’s U-20 coach Mohamed Ouahbi aims for a win against Egypt

Morocco U-20 coach Mohamed Ouahbi says his team will show “respect, focus, and ambition” in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations against Egypt.

Morocco has already qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile and now aims for the continental title. Thursday’s match in Cairo is a key opportunity.

“We respect the Egyptian national team. They are strong and determined,” Ouahbi said at a pre-match press conference. “But we want to win this championship. We achieved our first goal by qualifying for the World Cup—now we want to finish the job.”

Egypt reached the semi-finals after defeating Ghana in a penalty shootout. Morocco advanced with a narrow 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone, thanks to an own goal.

Despite Egypt having home advantage, Ouahbi emphasizes that Morocco will focus on their own game. “We don’t worry about referees or the crowd. We focus on our game plan and seizing our chances,” he explained. This strategy has kept Morocco unbeaten in the tournament.

The match will be at Cairo’s June 30 Stadium at 18:00 GMT. 

Ouahbi feels that qualifying for the World Cup has relieved pressure on his players. “They were thrilled to make history, but they want more. We come to win,” he said.

This is Morocco’s first semi-final appearance since 2005, and a win would take them to their first final in nearly 40 years while chasing their first continental title.

The semi-final will be intense, as both teams are known for their discipline and skill. The winner will face Nigeria or South Africa in the final on Sunday.

For Ouahbi, the goal is clear: “This group has given everything. Now we want to give our country something to celebrate.”