Category: Football Africa

Clinical Orlando Pirates ease past Stade d’Abidjan to top Group C
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Clinical Orlando Pirates ease past Stade d’Abidjan to top Group C

Orlando Pirates defeated Stade d’Abidjan 3-0 at Orlando Stadium, moving to the top of Group C in the CAF Champions League at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The first goal came in the 22nd minute when Mohau Nkota set up Relebohile Mofokeng for an easy score. Just five minutes into the second half, Maswanganyi doubled the lead.

Deon Hotto added a third goal in the final minutes. Despite some attempts from Stade d’Abidjan, the Pirates maintained control and secured a vital win, putting them one point ahead of Al Ahly and two points behind CR Belouizdad, with two games left.

Elsewhere, Raja Casablanca won 1-0 against Mamelodi Sundowns in a tough match that saw three players receive red cards. This victory keeps Raja’s hopes alive for qualifying in Group B of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

The match took place at Stade Larbi Zaouli. Benaissa Benamar scored the only goal in the 45th minute after a corner kick from Youssef Belammari.

Even after losing Marouane Zila to a second yellow card in the 80th minute, Raja’s defence remained strong despite being down to 10 players.

Mohamed Sankoh returns to join Stuttgart's U21 side in Spain
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mohamed Sankoh returns to join Stuttgart’s U21 side in Spain

Sierra Leone native Mohamed Sankoh has returned to parent club VfB Stuttgart and will join the German side U21 training camp in Spain. The striker joined the Italian Serie B side in Cosenza Calcio in August 2024, where he made nine appearances for the rossoblù.

Before Cosenzo’s move, Sankoh spent the last two seasons on loan in the Netherlands, first with Vitesse Arnhem and then with Heracles Almelo.

“The 21-year-old striker, who joined Serie B club Cosenza Calcio on loan at the end of August 2024, will travel to Spain with VfB’s U21 team for a training camp,” the German side confirmed.

Sports director Christian Gentner: “It is important for young players like ‘Mo’ to play regularly, so the early return is the right decision. ‘Mo’ will travel to the training camp with our U21 team to prepare for the second half of the season in the 3rd division.”

In his previous season, Sankoh scored six goals in 28 appearances for Heracles. He played 81 minutes in VfB U21’s opening third-division match against F.C. Hansa Rostock, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Plymouth Argyle sign Ghanaian Michael Baidoo from Elfsborg
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Plymouth Argyle sign Ghanaian Michael Baidoo from Elfsborg

English Championship side Plymouth Argyle has officially announced the signing of Ghanaian midfielder Michael Baidoo permanently.

“Baidoo has signed a three-year contract that will extend through the summer of 2028. The 25-year-old joins Argyle from IF Elfsborg, where he has been a key contributor since 2022,” Argyle noted

Michael will wear the number 30 and, subject to EFL approval and International clearance, will first be available for selection for our trip to Brentford on 11 January.

Before his tenure in Sweden, Baidoo played for Sandnes Ulf in Norway and FC Midtjylland in Denmark, with loan spells at Jerv and Fredericia.

Jimmy Dickinson, Argyle’s head of Recruitment, expressed enthusiasm about signing a player he has been monitoring for over a year. He stated, “Michael is someone we have been aware of for a long time, and I am delighted that we have finally been able to bring him to Argyle.

“He comes to the club with an impressive background, having excelled in Elfsborg’s Europa League campaign this season and recently making his international debut for Ghana.

“His ability to play in multiple positions will enhance the squad’s versatility. Most notably, he chose to join Argyle over other prominent clubs across Europe.

“He is eager to play in England and demonstrate his capabilities, and we believe he will significantly contribute to English football.

“I extend my gratitude to Simon and the board for their support in facilitating this record deal and look forward to seeing him on the pitch soon.”

Baidoo primarily occupies a midfield role but is also adept at playing as a striker. He has made notable contributions at Elfsborg, scoring five goals and providing three assists in the Europa League.

In the Allsvenskan, he has tallied 10 goals and four assists this season. His performance includes a standout goal in Elfsborg’s 1-0 victory against AS Roma in October, culminating in a total of 76 appearances for the club over two seasons.

Belouizdad's Noufel Khacef goal ends Al Ahly unbeaten record
by FSL News

Belouizdad’s Noufel Khacef goal ends Al Ahly’s unbeaten record

Algerian club Belouizdad achieved a notable 1-0 victory over Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly in a highly competitive CAF Champions League match held at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers on Friday night.

The decisive goal came from Noufel Khacef in the first minute of stoppage time, marking the end of Al Ahly’s impressive 27-match unbeaten streak in the competition.

This victory represents Belouizdad’s first win against the Egyptian champions in their six encounters, significantly enhancing their prospects in the group stage.

The match commenced with both teams demonstrating caution as they sought to establish control over the midfield. Al Ahly had an early opportunity when Yahya Attiat Allah’s free-kick narrowly missed its target.

Belouizdad believed they had taken the lead in the 14th minute, with Khanyisa Mayo finding the net, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

In the second half, the hosts elevated their level of play, creating multiple scoring opportunities that tested Al Ahly’s defensive resolve. The introduction of substitute Islam Slimani infused new energy into Belouizdad’s performance, culminating in a well-deserved goal in the waning moments of the match.

Khacef capitalized on a rebound following an initial save by Mohamed El-Shennawy, eliciting an enthusiastic response from the home crowd.

Despite a late effort by Al Ahly, which included the introduction of Percy Tau and Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’, they were unable to secure an equalizer.

Following this defeat, Al Ahly remains at the top of Group C with seven points, while Belouizdad ascends to second place with six points, surpassing Orlando Pirates, who have a game in hand.

This outcome not only concludes Al Ahly’s unbeaten streak but also sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the group stage, with all teams still vying for qualification.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah cast doubt on his Liverpool future
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah cast doubt on his Liverpool’s future

Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian international and Liverpool forward, has raised doubts about his future in an interview with Sky Sports.

Although he is determined to win the Premier League title, Liverpool and their forward are still far from agreeing on terms for a new deal at Anfield.

Salah stated, “I really want to win the Premier League with Liverpool. It’s my last year at the club, so I want to do something special for the city.”

Salah is in great form. Liverpool is currently six points ahead at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand. They will face Manchester United in a Super Sunday match, live on Sky Sports at 4:30 PM.

At 32 years old, Salah leads the Premier League this season with 17 goals and 13 assists. However, his future is uncertain as he enters the final six months of his contract.