Category: Football Africa

Hearts of Oak's keeper Benjamin Asare shines as Ghana hold England
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Hearts of Oak’s keeper Benjamin Asare shines as Ghana hold England

Five important stops from Benjamin Asare helped Ghana tie England 0-0 in their Group L game on Tuesday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo Credit GFA)

At the 86th minute, when Nico O’Reilly headed the crossbar, England had the best chance to score against Ghana. Harry Kane then missed a follow-up shot from close range that soared over the goal.

Though they had five shots on target, the Three Lions outshot the Black Stars 19-2 overall but could not win and finish a perfect World Cup group stage for the first time since 1982.

With the same points and sitting atop Group L, both teams are in excellent shape to advance to the following round. In yet another group match, Croatia defeated Panama to set a difficult contest against Ghana in their final group tie.

Ghana seeks to advance past the group stage for the first time since 2010, when they lost to Uruguay in a penalty shootout following Luis Suarez’s handball, which denied a winning goal.

England held far more possession—almost four times more than Ghana—and prevented Ghana from shooting any shots before halftime. Still, England only made six shots, none of which hit their mark.

At last, in the 57th minute, the Three Lions had a shot on goal when Anthony Gordon’s deflected attempt forced Asare to make a save after a promising shot from Noni Madueke was cleared.

A foul call against Prince Adu after a collision with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford while chasing a loose ball may have benefited England. Though Pickford’s repeated revelations revealed he might have been responsible, the game was not significant enough for a red card or a penalty, so it was not examined.

At the 79th minute, while Ezri Konsa challenged Adu as he was rushing down the field, referee Said Martinez did not call a foul.

Most of the heat then fell on Ghana. Marc Guehi’s header was cleared off the line following O’Reilly’s and Kane’s missed opportunities, albeit it might have been going wide.

Senegal's World Cup hopes hanging by a thread
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Senegal’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread

A brace from Erling Haaland secured Norway a spot in the knockout stage, as Senegal suffered a second defeat in Group I at the New Jersey MetLife Stadium.

After losing to Norway 3-2 in Group I, Senegal’s hopes of making the World Cup knockout rounds are hanging by a thread. As the Scandinavian team guaranteed qualification for the last 32 with a second straight victory, an Erling Haaland brace proved critical.

Though they showed grit and fought back twice, Senegal couldn’t limit Norway’s offensive threat. Haaland’s clinical finishing penalised defensive mistakes and finally helped his team win all three points.

The loss leaves Senegal without a point from their first two games and fighting to keep in contention. To maintain their World Cup dream alive, they must now beat Iraq in their last group game and hope other results run their way.

France has already qualified and is topping the table with six points, boasting a superior goal difference over Norway in this group.

Cape Verde coach: “We want the world to know who we are"
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cape Verde coach: “We want the world to know who we are”

Pedro Leitão Brito,  Cape Verde’s head coach, complimented his team’s excellent 2026 FIFA World Cup opening two matches display, playing daringly against elite football teams, which helped them to wow many.

Cape Verde has made a big impression in their debut World Cup by drawing both Spain and Uruguay in their first two games, therefore shocking many before the games started. They are now close to qualifying for the knockout stage as they are near reaching the round of 32, and a win against Saudi Arabia in their final group game will guarantee this.

Brito talked about what motivates the Blue Sharks of Africa’s acts. Once you’re on the field, everything seems equal, he said. No matter how strong the foe, many teams start to be the same. He stressed that their objective is to inspire other people. As long as you have a dream and follow it, financial or other difficulties will not stop you from reaching great heights.

With qualification close by, Brito thinks their objectives are reasonable and justified,d given their performance. “Given our record versus these tough teams, we should focus on qualifying,” he remarked.

Brito also stressed that Cape Verde’s involvement is about more than simply football; it’s about showcasing their culture on the international scene. Here we hope to show the earth our country. It’s our way of life, music, history, and support—not only football. Everyone should know Cape Verde for who we are.

Saturday the 27th at Houston Stadium, Cape Verde will meet Saudi Arabia at 02:00 starting time.

Japan's historic win sends Tunisia crashing out
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Japan’s historic win sends Tunisia crashing out

In the 1,000th match of the FIFA World Cup, Japan defeated Tunisia to edge closer to the knockout stage. This landmark game in Monterrey saw Japan make history at Monterrey Stadium on Saturday.

Keito Nakamura created the first goal by driving into the box and passing the ball to Daichi Kamada, who scored from close range. This was Kamada’s second goal of the tournament and the fastest goal Japan has scored in a World Cup.

Ayase Ueda increased the lead on the half-hour mark, making a powerful shot from the top of the box.

New Tunisia coach Herve Renard could not get his team to respond. Japan scored again when Ueda assisted Junya Ito, who netted the third goal midway through the second half. Ueda later scored his second goal to secure the victory.

Japan’s win is the largest by any nation in World Cup history. They now sit level with the Netherlands at the top of Group F, while Tunisia has been eliminated.

Key stat: Daichi Kamada’s goal in the fourth minute is the fastest scored by a Japanese player in World Cup history. The previous record was held by Shinji Kagawa, who scored in the sixth minute in 2018 against Colombia.

Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match: Ayase Ueda (Japan)

What they said:

“We prepared well and played aggressively. Our coaching staff clearly laid out our goals, which helped the players perform at their best. Many Japanese fans came to Monterrey, sang the national anthem with us, and cheered us on. Their support was a huge boost for us.” Hajime Moriyasu, Japan coach

Tunisia 0-4 Japan

Japan goals: Kamada (4), Ueda (31, 83), Junya Ito (69)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari pleased with win over Scotland
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco’s Ismael Saibari delighted with victory over Scotland

Morocco’s midfielder Ismael Saibari expressed his pleasure that the team is tied for first place in Group C with four points, more than his two goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 24-year-old underlined following Morocco’s 1-0 victory over Scotland that the team’s good group standing is more fulfilling than his personal performance.

Saibari remarked, “I am happy with the two goals I have scored, but what makes me happier is having four points and being top of the group.” One more game has still to be played; hopefully, we will win that one as well.

In his first World Cup, Saibari has started well. In Morocco’s first 1-1 draw, he scored against Brazil and grabbed the winning goal against Scotland only 70 seconds into the game. This is one of the fastest goals of the 2026 competition and the fastest World Cup goal by an Arab player ever.

Though Saibari has his own successes, he underlined that Morocco’s strength results from its cooperation. “All of us have the same goal. We play as one group. He said, “We are like family.”