Category: Football Africa

by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Senegal Coach Patrick Vieira Selects 29 Players for AFCON Qualifiers

Here are the 29 players selected by the newly appointed head coach of Senegal, Patrick Vieira, for the upcoming fixtures.

One player missing from this initial call-up was Sadio Mané. The Al-Nassr striker has not confirmed whether he will retire from international duty.

Speaking at a press conference after the squad was revealed Vieira stated that the best player at the last AFCON is experiencing some knocks.

Senegal will take on Mozambique on the 25th of September, Ethiopia on the 29th of September and close out the games against Comoros on the 4th of October in a friendly in Marseille.

Below are the players who have made the cut for these games.

New Senegal head coach Patrick Vieira line-up 29 for AFCON qualifiers
New Senegal head coach Patrick Vieira line-up 29 for AFCON qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

New Sierra Leone Coach Names 25-Man Squad for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

Sierra Leone have named a 25-man squad for the opening matches of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with newly appointed head coach Didier Da Rosa placing his trust in a group dominated by UK-based players.

Here are some new players: Azeem Kerr Abdulai is joining Hibernian Football Club, Ra’ees Bangura-Williams is with Cambridge United Football Club, and MJ Kamson-Kamara will play for Kilmarnock Football Club.

The Leone Stars begin their qualification journey against Zimbabwe on 24 September in El Abdi, El Jadida, in Morocco before travelling to Cameroon to face Equatorial Guinea in their second fixture.

The matches mark the start of a crucial campaign as Sierra Leone look to secure a return to Africa’s biggest football tournament under new boss Gomes.

Having failed to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast and the 2025 finals in Morocco, expectations are high for Gomes Da Rosa to guide the national team back to the continental stage.

His first squad blends experienced internationals with emerging talent, with several players based in the United Kingdom featuring prominently in the 25-man selection.

The new coach will be hoping the fresh-look squad can make a positive start to the qualifiers and build momentum in Sierra Leone’s bid to reach the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa.

New Sierra Leone Coach Names 25-Man Squad for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
New Sierra Leone Coach Names 25-Man Squad for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Pitso Mosimane names South Africa squad to start 2027 qualifiers

South Africa’s coach, Pitso Mosimane, has named a 30-player squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, along with a friendly match against Egypt.

Key players include Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena, Lyle Foster, and Shandre Campbell.

Bafana Bafana will play their AFCON qualifier against Guinea at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on 26 September 2026, marking Mosimane’s first match as head coach.

They will then face Eritrea in Cairo on 30 September and end with a friendly against Egypt on 4 October.

SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan encourages families and fans to support the team during this new era. More squad updates will come as the match approaches.

Pitso Mosimane names South Africa squad to start 2027 qualifiers
Pitso Mosimane names South Africa squad to start 2027 qualifiers
Dortmund striker Leads Guinea’s 25-Man Squad To Face Bafana
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Dortmund striker Leads Guinea’s 25-Man Squad To Face Bafana

Serhou Guirassy from Borussia Dortmund heads Guinea’s 25-man team for their matches against South Africa. Coach Paulo Duarte has named his first official squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.


The Syli Nationale will play in South Africa on September 26 and in Kenya on October 1 as part of the qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON. Coach Paulo Duarte shared that Naby Keïta will be absent from the team.

Duarte took charge of the team in 2025. After missing out on the 2025 AFCON and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he is now focusing on the upcoming tournament.

Guirassy has had a strong start to the season, scoring four goals and providing two assists in five matches for his club.

The squad features many players based in Europe, including Ibrahim Diakite, who plays for Cercle Brugge and recently became teammates with Luke Le Roux, who joined from Portsmouth.

Other key players include Ilaix Moriba, who was trained at La Masia and now plays for Celta Vigo in La Liga. Mouctar Diakhaby from Valencia will miss the games due to an injury, and Naby Keita, a former Liverpool midfielder, is also not in the final squad.

See Guinea’s final 25-Man Squad Below:

Goalkeepers : Soumaila Sylla (Reims), Mory Keita (Hafia FC), Mohamed Camara (Mechal Sport)

Defenders : Sékou Sylla (Den Haag), Mohamed Soumah (Sirius), Ibrahim Breze Fofana (Hammarby), Mory Konaté (Al Hazem), Saidou Sow (Nantes), Aboubacar Keita (Kalmar FF), Ibrahim Diakité (Cercle Brugge)

Midfielders : Madiou Keita (Västerås), Lass Kourouna (Girona), Seydouba Cissé (Al Kholood), Ilaix Moriba (Celta Vigo), Ousmane Diabaté (Gençlerbirligi), Ibrahima Sory Bangoura (Genk)

Forwards : Morlaye Sylla (Damac), Aguibou Camara (Ludogorets), Diaby Yadaly (Vancouver Whitecaps), Aliou Badara Baldé (Saint-Gall), Mohamed Saliou Bangoura (MC Alger), Ousmane Camara (GZ Power), Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund), Abdoul Traoré (OH Leuven), Lamine Diaby-Fadiga (Raków)

Malawian Defender Jubril Okedina
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Malawian Defender Jubril Okedina signs for Barnsley

Barnsley has signed Jubril Okedina, a 25-year-old Malawian defender, on a one-year deal with an option for another year.

He joins the team immediately after playing for Bohemian FC in the League of Ireland and has over 100 appearances with Cambridge United, mostly in Sky Bet League One.

Okedina brings important defensive skills as the EFL season starts. He has played 138 times for Cambridge and began his career at Tottenham Hotspur.

After signing, Okedina said he knows League One well and wants to use his experience to help the team succeed.

Head Coach Daniel Stendel said he is happy to welcome Okedina to strengthen the defence and that he has fit in quickly after training with the team.