Category: Football Africa

MC Alger coach Patrice Beaumelle eyes win over Young Africans
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

MC Alger coach Patrice Beaumelle eyes win over Young Africans

MC Alger coach Patrice Beaumelle aims to win against Tanzania’s Young Africans (Yanga) in their CAF Champions League match on Saturday, December 7, at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers.

Beaumelle stressed the importance of this game for their chances of qualifying. “We need to win to improve our chances,” he said. MC Alger is coming off a 0-0 draw against TP Mazembe and hopes to capitalize on their home advantage.

He acknowledged Young Africans as a strong team with experienced players, despite their recent 2-0 loss to Al Hilal Omdurman. “Their loss doesn’t show their true ability; we need to be at our best,” he cautioned.

The match starts at 19:00 GMT, and a win would be crucial for MC Alger’s progress in Group A.

Group A is competitive, with Al Hilal leading after their first win. TP Mazembe is tied with MC Alger on one point, while Young Africans seek their first points.

Tough Fifa Club World Cup 2025 draw for African teams
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Tough Fifa Club World Cup 2025 draw for African teams

Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca (WAC), Al Ahly of Egypt, Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, and ES Tunis of Tunisia have all been drawn into challenging groups ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

Group G features a competitive grouping that includes European champions Manchester City, Italian powerhouse Juventus, and UAE’s Al Ain, promising high-stakes matches and intense competition.

The tournament kicks off on Sunday, 15 June 2025, with all roads leading to the MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey on Sunday, 13 July 2025 where the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ final will be played.

The expanded 32-team format of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has generated excitement across the football world, offering clubs like Wydad Casablanca a global stage to prove their capabilities.

Representing Morocco and African football, Wydad will strive to deliver top performances to navigate through the group stage and secure a place in the knockout rounds.

Group G is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling groups in the tournament, featuring a mix of established football giants and regional champions.

Manchester City brings formidable strength, while Juventus boasts a rich legacy in European football. Al Ain, representing the UAE, rounds out the group with its regional dominance.

The groups for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 reflect diverse global representation in the expanded format:

– **Group A:** Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami  

– **Group B:** Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders  

– **Group C:** Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica  

– **Group D:** Flamengo, Esperance de Tunis, Chelsea, Club Leon  

– **Group E:** River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter  

– **Group F:** Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan Hyundai, Mamelodi Sundowns  

– **Group G:** Manchester City, Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain, Juventus  

– **Group H:** Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, RB Salzburg  

Mohamed Salah nets to go top of Premier League Golden Boot race
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah nets to go top in Golden Boot race

Egyptian International Mohamed Salah scored two goals in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle. This match helped him move to the top of the Premier League goalscoring chart with 13 goals ahead of Erling Haaland.

Although Liverpool did not win and missed a chance for its fifth straight victory, Salah will look to continue his fine form in the Golden Boot race.

Since Matchweek 2, Salah had been behind Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. His goals against Newcastle allowed him to pass Haaland.

This season, Salah has played very well for Liverpool, with 15 goals and 12 assists in 21 matches across all competitions. Now, he has scored 13 goals in the Premier League, one more than Haaland, who has 12.

FIFA imposed a fine on Fecafoot due to unpaid salaries
by Football Sierra Leone

FIFA imposed a fine on Fecafoot due to unpaid salaries

FIFA’s Disciplinary Chamber has fined Cameroon’s Football Federation, FECAFOOT 1,000 CHF (about 700,000 CFA francs) for failing to implement a ruling in favour of player Meuvungeu Alexy against Djiko FC.

This ruling is linked to Fecafoot’s failure to enforce a prior decision requiring Djiko FC to compensate Meuvungou Alexy, who was unjustly dismissed over a year ago.

The dispute began on June 2, 2023, when FIFA’s National Dispute Resolution Chamber (CNRL) ordered Djiko FC to pay Alexy 3.62 million FCFA (€5,546) for his wrongful termination. Despite this, the club, competing in Cameroon’s second division, has not fulfilled this obligation.

Fecafoot, responsible for ensuring compliance with FIFA’s directives, has faced criticism for similar failures. Earlier this year, it was reprimanded for not enforcing a payment order involving players Junior Godstine Folhe, Boris Oum Mananga, and Pierre Varèze Zang Ngayene, which resulted in further penalties.

The National Union of Cameroonian Footballers (Synafoc), led by former Indomitable Lions full-back Geremi Njitap, has been actively campaigning for players’ rights and fair pay. Njitap’s “Salary Barometer” initiative has highlighted the ongoing issue of unpaid wages for local players, garnering support from the International Federation of Professional Footballers’ Associations (FIFPro).

The recent sanction against Fecafoot underscores the persistent challenges in Cameroonian football, particularly the need for timely payments to players. FIFA’s decision serves as a crucial reminder to both Fecafoot and the clubs under its jurisdiction about the importance of upholding players’ rights and adhering to international rulings.

Al Ahly set for Orlando Pirates' CAF Champions League cracker
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Al Ahly set for Orlando Pirates’ CAF Champions League cracker

Egyptian side Al Ahly set for their trip to South Africa this weekend for the African Champions League, where they will face Orlando Pirates in an important group C match in Soweto’s Orlando stadium on Saturday.

The last time Al Ahly came to South Africa was last year, when Mamelodi Sundowns defeated them twice: 5-2 in the Champions League group stage and again in the African Football League.

South African clubs have a good record against Al Ahly. The Pirates have beaten them thrice, including notable victories in Egypt in 2013 and 2015. However, in crucial matches, South African teams have often lost.

In 2001, Sundowns played Al Ahly in the Champions League final but lost 3-0 despite a strong performance. The Pirates also faced Al Ahly in the 2013 final, where a defensive mistake allowed Al Ahly to score, and the Pirates could not recover.

Al Ahly beat Kaizer Chiefs in the 2021 final, winning 3-0 after the Chiefs had a player sent off just before halftime. Known for their resilience, Al Ahly often overcomes challenges and qualifies for the quarterfinals. They are difficult to beat when they aim for the title, winning four titles in the last five Champions League campaigns.