Category: Football Africa

Six arrive as Nigeria start World Cup qualifying prep for Rwanda tie
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Six arrive as Nigeria start World Cup qualifying prep for Rwanda tie

The Nigeria Super Eagles have started preparing for an important World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda.

Six players, including Victor Osimhen from Galatasaray, defender Bruno Onyemaechi, and goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, arrived in Kigali on Sunday. They checked into the Radisson Blu Hotel, where the team is based.

They were later joined by Papa Daniel Mustapha, Amas Obasogie, and Tolu Arokodare. On Sunday evening, head coach Eric Chelle and his staff also arrived in Rwanda to help the team get ready for the match.

The Super Eagles will play against the Amavubi at Amahoro Stadium on Friday. After this match, they will return to Nigeria to host Zimbabwe four days later at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

More players are expected to join the camp soon. The team is intensifying its preparations to secure crucial points in this double-header and improve their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Isaac Babadi will not join Sierra Leone for U20 Tourney - Peter Bosz
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Isaac Babadi will not join Sierra Leone for U20 AFCON – Peter Bosz

PSV will not release their young midfielder to the Sierra Leone Under-20 team for the Africa Cup of Nations, as confirmed by head coach Peter Bosz ahead of the match against RKC.

Isaac, 19, played the full throttle of the match as PSV defeated RKC Waalwijk 3-0 in week 26 of the Eredisie.

Last week, according to brother Samuel Babadi, the nineteen-year-old PSV player was invited to Sierra Leone. “They have been after Isaac for a long time. From the time he was sixteen, they wanted him for the first team of Sierra Leone,” he explained in the ESPN program Tekengeld –However, that tournament will take place in Cote d’Ivoire between 26 April and 18 May 2025., which means that Babadi would have to miss the season finale with PSV. Peter Bosz has now decided to put a stop to that. “He will not go there, no.”

Isaac Babadi’s transition from the academy to the main squad is not surprising to many experts. He joined the PSV Academy at the age of 12 and made his professional debut in 2022 with Young PSV. Before he played thirty matches in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, scoring five goals.

Isaac Babadi made his professional debut for Jong PSV on January 10, 2022. He replaced Johan Bakayoko during a 5–1 home win against Almere City, which was the team’s biggest win of the season at that time.

For the 2023–24 season, Babadi joined the senior team at PSV. He debuted on August 4, 2023, as a starter in the 2023 Johan Cruyff Shield, which PSV won 1–0, giving Babadi his first trophy in his first game.

Four days later, he played his first European match in a Champions League qualifier against Sturm Graz. Babadi scored the first goal in the 4th minute, contributing to a 4–1 victory for PSV. In March 2024, PSV and Babadi announced that they signed a new contract, which will last until 2028.

Regarding his international career, Babadi played for the Netherlands at the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. He captained the team, leading them to the final, where they lost to France. He scored the decisive penalty in the semifinal shootout against Serbia.

Salah, Marmoush & Trézéguet in Egypt squad for Ethiopia & Sierra Leone
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Salah, Marmoush & Trézéguet in Egypt squad for Ethiopia & Sierra Leone

Liverpool and Premier League top scorer, Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, and Mahmoud Trezeguet have all been included in Egypt’s squad for the upcoming matches against Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.

Egypt’s national team manager, Hossam Hassan, has announced a talented squad ahead of their World Cup 2026 qualifiers this month.

The seven-time African champions currently lead Group A with 10 points from four matches, having achieved three wins and one draw. The group also includes Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Djibouti.

Egypt’s match against Ethiopia will be held in Morocco at 11:00 PM Cairo time, while the home match against Sierra Leone is scheduled for 9:00 PM on March 25th in Cairo.

In their second match of the campaign, Egypt claimed a 2-0 victory over Sierra Leone, with Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet scoring in the 18th and 62nd minutes. The match took place in Liberia in November 2023 of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Full Egypt’s 24-man squad
 

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Ahly), Mohamed Awad (Zamalek), and Abdelaziz El-Balouti (NBE Club).

Defenders: Mohamed Abdel Moneim (Nice, France), Rami Rabia (Ahly), Mohamed Hani (Ahly), Ahmed Eid (Zamalek), Khaled Sobhi (Masry), and Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek).

Midfielders: Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah, Qatar), Marwan Attia (Ahly), Ahmed Nabil (Ahly), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Nabil Emad (Zamalek), Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed (Zamalek), and Mahmoud Saber (Pyramids FC).

Forwards: Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Rayyan, Qatar), Omar Marmoush (Man City, England), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes, France), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids FC), Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids FC), and Osama Faisal (NBE Club).

Gabon’s head coach Thierry Mouyouma names Gabon squad for double header
by Football Sierra Leone

Gabon’s head coach Thierry Mouyouma names squad for double header

Gabon’s head coach, Thierry Mouyouma, has announced three new players in his squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Seychelles and Kenya: Nzé Samaké, Yoann Nani Nono, and Mobili Van, all receiving their first call-ups.

The announcement also marks the return of André Poko, who hasn’t played for the national team since June 2021. His experience, alongside established players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Bouanga, is expected to strengthen the team. Gabon currently sits second in Group F with nine points, just behind leaders Ivory Coast.

Gabon will face Seychelles in Franceville on March 20 and then travel to Nairobi to play Kenya on March 23, aiming for crucial points toward their goal of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Full Gabon Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Full Gabon Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Morocco's head coach Walid Regragui names squad, no Ziyech
by FSL News

Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui names squad, no Ziyech

Morocco’s head coach, Walid Regragui, has selected a 26-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Tanzania on March 21 and 25. However, Hakim Ziyech is not included.

The squad includes four new players: Bilal Nadir, Chemsedine Taibi, Hamza Igamane, and Omar El Hilali. This shows that the Atlas Lions are bringing in young talent to the team.

Two key players are missing from the squad due to injuries: Hakim Ziyech, a top playmaker, and Ayoub El Kaabi, a strong goal-scorer. Their absence will create challenges for Regragui as he adjusts his attack.

Returning to the squad are Jawad El Yamiq and goalkeeper El Mehdi Benabid, who missed previous international matches. Their return adds strength to the defense and goalkeeping.

Morocco leads Group E in the qualifiers and wants to build on that success. They will play both matches in Oujda, where home support could help them earn six points.

With Ziyech and El Kaabi out, Youssef En-Nesyri, Soufiane Rahimi, Brahim Diaz, and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli will take on more attacking responsibilities. After Morocco’s impressive run to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there are high expectations for the team.

Key players like Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, and Nayef Aguerd remain important to the team’s goals. With a strong squad and home advantage, Morocco aims to win both matches and strengthen their reputation as one of Africa’s top football teams.

Morocco’s 26-Man Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (Al Wehda), El Mehdi Benabid (FUS Rabat).

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Wahda), Abdel Abqar (Deportivo Alavés), Jamal Harkass (AS FAR), Omar El Hilali (Espanyol), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich U19).

Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United), Azzedine Ounahi (Marseille), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Bilal El Khannouss (Genk), Oussama Targhalline (Le Havre), Bilal Nadir (Nice).

Forwards: Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Amine Adli (Bayer Leverkusen), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (AS Monaco), Osame Sahraoui (Heerenveen), Hamza Igamane (Wydad AC), Chemsedine Taibi (FUS Rabat).