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.

Al Ahly's Club World Cup dream ended by Fluminense
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly’s Fifa Club World Cup dream ended by Fluminense

Egyptian giants Al Ahly’s hopes of lifting the Fifa Club World Cup were dashed as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Fluminens in the semi-final on Tuesday, CAF reports.

The African champions started brightly but were ultimately outdone by the Brazilian outfit, who advance to face either Urawa Reds or Manchester City in Friday’s showpiece finale.

Al Ahly talisman Percy Tau spurned an early opening when veteran defender Felipe Melo made a crucial last-ditch sliding tackle.

Ten minutes before half-time, Fabio made an excellent, one-handed save from a Kahraba header.

Tau was then involved in the game’s pivotal moment, bringing down Marcelo in the box with a clumsy foul. Jhon Arias converted the penalty to give Flu a 71st-minute lead.

The Red Devils almost responded instantly when Tau met a low cross but lacked power on his close-range effort.

Yet there was to be no dramatic Ahly comeback as substitute John Kennedy curled home Fluminense’s second goal late on to seal victory.

While Al Ahly’s decorated veterans failed to seize their opportunity on the global stage, Fluminense’s emerging talents punished them ruthlessly.

The newly-crowned South American champions now stand one win away from completing a fairytale story in Friday’s Club World Cup finale.

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Victor Osimhen named Africa Player of the Year Award
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Victor Osimhen named Africa’s Player of the Year

Napoli and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been named as the CAF Men’s Player of the Year for 2023.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals and was crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

The Nigerian International fought off competition from Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi to the title on Monday night. 

He becomes the first Nigerian player to win the award since Arsenal’s Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 and is also the first active Serie A player to be crowned Africa’s Player of the Year since Samuel Eto’o when he was at Inter in 2010. 

Meanwhile, Nigerian Asisat Oshoala extended her record sixth CAF African Women’s Player of the Year Award.

  • Full List of Award Winners:

Player of the Year (Men): Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)

Player of the Year (Women): Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women): Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)

Coach of the Year (Men): Walid Regragui (Morocco)

Coach of the Year (Women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)

Young Player of the Year (Men): Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)

Young Player of the Year (Women): Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)

National Team of the Year (Men): Morocco

National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria

Club of the Year (Men): Al Ahly (Egypt)

Club of the Year (Women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

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Nigeria’s Oshoala and Osimhen win African footballer of the year awards
Nigeria’s Oshoala and Osimhen win African footballer of the year awards
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi named in final three for CAF Award

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, and Moroccan International Achraf Hakimi are the final three for the CAF 2023 Player of the Year Award. The current holder is Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the final three players for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award.

After he scored 26 Serie A goals, Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for his Napoli performances last season.

He was presented with the award on Monday night after helping his side win their first league title in 33 years.

Osimhen scored 26 Serie A goals in 2022-23, breaking former World Best George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African in the Italian top flight in the process.

Mohamed Salah leads the way for top Premier League African goal scorer with 149 goals, 243 matches and 65 assists since joining Liverpool in 2017.

He won the African Award back to back in 2017 and 2018 and was runners-up in 2019 and 2022 behind former team mates Sado Mane. 

Achraf Hakimi made headlines after he was named to Morocco’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

His winning penalty with a panenka-style shot in a shoot-out against Spain in the round of 16 helped secure a place for his country in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Yassine Bounou is one of the finalists for the Best Goalkeeper category, alongside Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Egypt’s Mohamed El Shenawy.

On Monday, 11 December 2023, the award ceremony will be held at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco, 19H00 local time (18H00 GMT).

The ultimate winner of each category is decided following votes from a panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF 2023 Awards.

Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket

South Africa has qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Morocco next year after their 2-0 win over Burkina Faso.

On Monday, Linda Mothlalo and Nicole Michael scored the goals as Banyana_Banyana overcame Burkina Faso in a return leg played at the nation’s capital on Monday afternoon.

After a 1-1 draw in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, a few days ago, the defending champions dug deep to secure their ticket to Morocco next year.

At Pretoria’s Lucas Moripe Stadium, Motlhalo’s 55th-minute strike, followed by Michael’s 63rd-minute goal, ensured the defending champions book their spot in Africa’s most prestigious national women’s competition next year.

Meanwhile, in Burundi, Algeria completed the job with a 1-0 win over the East African nation to make a return to the competition after missing out on the 2022 edition in Morocco.

Following their comfortable 5-1 lead at home, the North Africans were assured of a place with an easy return leg against Burundi.

Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024 qualifiers continue on Tuesday to determine who will advance to the prestigious women’s national team competition.

Connect with us @football_sierra – on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, African News and CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. 

Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Defending Champions South Africa beat Burkina Faso to book AFCON ticket
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Ines Boutaleb scored as Algeria sealed a 6-1 aggregate two-legged victory and booked a place in Morocco next year.
Benchikha appointed Simba coach after Oliveira exit
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Simba appoint Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha as head coach

Tanzanian giants Simba SC have confirmed the appointment of Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha as their new head coach.

The Reds of Msimbazi announced their new boss via Facebook with a welcoming message, “Welcome to our new coach, Abdelhak Benchikha.”

Benchikha will kick start his Simba reign after the dismissal of Brazilian Roberto Oliveira. Last season, Benchikha guided Algerian club USM Alger to TotalEnergies Confederation Cup glory. 

Simba ended Oliveira’s 18-month tenure after a disappointing African Super League elimination by Al Ahly last month.

The Algerian first task ended in a 1-1 draw against ASEC Mimosa

in the TotalEnergies Champions League encounter on Saturday. 

Benchikha had a success story with USM Alger after he delivered a continental trophy. 

Hopefully, their new technician can replicate USM Alger’s success after recent setbacks.

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