Category: Football Africa

CHAN: South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Eswatini secure progress
by Football Sierra Leone

CHAN: South Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Eswatini secure progress

The first round of the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers concluded this weekend, with several teams progressing to the next stage, according to CAF.

South Sudan v Kenya – South Sudan qualified after a 1-1 draw with Kenya, finishing the tie with an aggregate score of 3-1 following a 2-0 victory in the first leg. They will face Rwanda in December.

Sudan v Tanzania – Sudan progressed after a tense penalty shootout against Tanzania. They won the first leg 1-0 but conceded in the second leg, levelling the aggregate score. Sudan won the shootout 6-5 to advance.

Eswatini Dominates Zimbabwe

Eswatini eliminated Zimbabwe with a 4-0 aggregate score. After a 3-0 win in the first leg, they secured a 1-0 victory in the return leg.

Togo Survives Against Benin  

Togo advanced after a 1-1 draw with Benin, finishing with a 3-1 aggregate following a 2-0 first-leg victory.

Namibia vs. Lesotho

In a tied aggregate of 1-1, Namibia was eliminated by Lesotho after a 4-3 penalty shootout loss.

Second Round Qualifying Dates

The second qualifying round is scheduled for December 20-22 and December 27-29, with the tournament hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from February 1-28, 2025.

Cape Town to host South Africa AFCON qualifier against South Sudan
by Football Sierra Leone

Cape Town to host South Africa AFCON qualifier against South Sudan

Bafana Bafana will return to Cape Town for the first time in nine years, as South Africa’s final qualifier for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals is set to take place there.

The crucial match will take place on Tuesday, November 19, at Cape Town Stadium, coinciding with the final day of qualifiers for the 2025 finals.

South Africa has not yet qualified for the finals in Morocco but is in a good position with two matches left in Group K. A win against Uganda on Friday, November 15, in Kampala would secure their spot. If they lose, they can still qualify by facing South Sudan in Cape Town.

This match will mark South Africa’s twelfth international game in Cape Town and only the third qualifying match. They previously won a World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic in 2013 but lost 3-1 to Zambia in a Cup of Nations qualifier in 2007.

Countries that cannot host matches will use South African stadiums for qualifiers. Namibia and Zimbabwe will play at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, and Lesotho has moved its match against the Central African Republic to Bloemfontein.

Madagascar will host Tunisia at Johannesburg Stadium, while Eswatini will face Guinea-Bissau at Mbombela Stadium on November 15.

Ghana's Antoine Semenyo helps Bournemouth stun City
by FSL News

Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo helps Bournemouth stun City

Ghana International Bournemouth Antoine Semenyo scored against Manchester City as Bournemouth registered its fourth Premier League win. Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson gave the club their first victory over the Premier League champions.

Manchester City’s unbeaten streak of 32 games in the competition, which started on December 6, 2023, ended with this result.

This defeat was also City’s second in four days, following their loss to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. Bournemouth played well, picking up four points from their last two games against Aston Villa and Arsenal. They began the match quickly and positively.

Goalkeeper Ederson made a double save within just two minutes, stopping shots from Semenyo and Justin Kluivert.

Bournemouth kept pressing and scored in the ninth minute when Milos Kerkez cut the ball back from the byline and Semenyo scored.

City struggled to create chances and did not have a single shot on target in the first half.

Bournemouth returned for the second half with confidence and doubled their lead through Evanilson before City pulled a goal back through Joško Gvardiol in the 82nd minute. However, the home held onto their fourth win of the season.

Trevoh Chalobah scores first Crystal Palace goal against Wolves
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Trevoh Chalobah scores first Crystal Palace goal against Wolves

Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers played a 2-2 draw at Molineux. Trevoh Chalobah, on loan from Chelsea, scored his first goal for Crystal Palace in the 60th minute.

After a dull first half with few chances, the game picked up when Trevoh Chalobah scored in the 60th minute. He took advantage of a mistake by the Wolves’ defence with a low strike.

Jorgen Strand Larsen equalized by pushing the ball through Dean Henderson’s legs. Joao Gomes then scored again for Wolves, finishing well from a low cross by Goncalo Gomes.

Marc Guéhi tied the game for Palace when he tapped in a corner kick from the back post.

In the 96th minute, Jean-Philippe Mateta thought he had scored the winning goal with a loose ball. However, the referee disallowed it because of a foul on Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa during the play.

Nigerian defender Ola Aina nets stunner as Forest down West Ham
by Football Sierra Leone

Nigerian defender Ola Aina nets stunner as Forest down West Ham

Nigerian defender Ola Aina scored as Nottingham Forest achieved their third consecutive win in the Premier League, triumphing 3-0 over West Ham United at The City Ground.

Aina, 28, netted an impressive goal, marking his first of the season in ten appearances. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo made one change from the previous match, bringing back Morgan Gibbs-White from injury to replace Elliot Anderson.

Gibbs-White was key to the first goal in the 27th minute. He passed the ball to Alex Moreno, who crossed it for Chris Wood to score with a header. This was Wood’s eighth goal of the season.

Before halftime, West Ham lost a player when Edson Álvarez received a second yellow card for fouling Anthony Elanga.

In the second half, Forest took advantage of playing with one extra player and scored again. Callum Hudson-Odoi curled a shot into the far corner after a quick free-kick, making it 2-0.

Forest then scored a third goal with a stunning shot. Ola Aina struck a left-footed half-volley from the edge of the area into the top corner.

Ramón Sosa had a chance to score in added time, but his shot was saved. Despite that, it was a great day for Nottingham Forest.