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.

NFF appointed Finidi George as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Finidi George appointed as new Head Coach of Nigeria

The Nigeria Football Federation Board has given the green light to Finidi George as the new Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles. 

George had previously worked as an assistant to José Santos Peseiro for 20 months before taking over as interim coach for two friendly matches in Morocco last month. 

During his time as interim coach, the team managed to beat Ghana 2-1 but lost 0-2 to Mali. George is a former player who has represented Nigeria in 62 matches and was part of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament-winning squad.

As the new head coach, George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic. 

The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles currently in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.

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Dreams FC's remarkable journey in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup ended as they lost 3-0 to Zamalek in Kumasi.
by FSL News

Zamalek beat Dreams to end Confederation Cup run in Kumasi

Zamalek has successfully made it to the CAF Confederation Cup final after defeating Dreams FC from Ghana 3-0 on Sunday. 

The first leg held in Cairo was goalless, but the Dreams FC’s impressive run in the Confederation Cup has ended as they lost 3-0 to Zamalek in Kumasi.

Zamalek’s Hamza Mathlouthi scored early in the game, followed by Samson Akinyoola and Mustafa Shalaby, who sealed the win with a late strike. 

Dreams FC had already defeated Stade Malien to reach the semi-finals and had hoped to cause another upset, but the Tunisian defender’s header silenced the Kumasi crowd. 

The Ghanaian side missed chances to score while Zamalek’s Omar Gaber and Hossam Abdelmaguid almost increased their lead. 

Shalaby’s goal after an hour mark sealed Dreams FC’s fate. Zamalek won with their trademark mix of power and guile and advanced to the final.

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.