Category: Football Africa

CAF Media & TV rights agreements for CAF Interclub season revealed
by Football Sierra Leone

Media & TV rights agreements for CAF Interclub season revealed

The Confederation African Football (“CAF”) has announced new media rights and TV agreements for the 2024/25 CAF Interclub Competitions in Sub-Saharan Africa following successful bidding for pay-TV and Free to Air rights.

The media rights encompass African football’s prestigious Club competitions: TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2024/25, TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25, CAF Women’s Champions League 2024, and TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup 2025.

CAF has reached agreements with SuperSport International for the PayTV rights (in English) South African Broadcasting Corporation (“SABC”) and Azam Media for the Free to Air (“FTA”) rights.

In a statement, CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, remarked: “The remarkable growth and heightened global competitiveness of football in Africa has garnered substantial interest from major African and international broadcasters in African Football. SuperSport, SABC, and Azam Media have all been active participants in the CAF Media Rights bids.

CAF welcomes all partners to ensure the quality of its competitions and broadcast products. During the 2023/24 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, TV audiences grew over 25% in North Africa, and over 40% in East and Southern Africa for both TV and digital engagement.

Zamalek win the CAF Super Cup after penalty shootout in Riyard
by FSL News

Zamalek win CAF Super Cup after penalty shootout in Riyard

On Friday night, Zamalek won the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup in a thrilling penalty shootout against their rivals Al Ahly. The match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Zamalek clinched the victory by winning 4-3 in the penalty shootout, securing their fifth Super Cup title. The win is a significant achievement for Zamalek, as it marks their fifth CAF Super Cup title.

The game started with Al Ahly taking the lead in the 44th minute through Wessam Abou Ali’s penalty. This was confirmed after a VAR review identified a foul on Akram Tawfik by Zamalek’s Hamza Mathlouthi.

Zamalek responded in the second half, with substitute Naser Mansy scoring the equalizer in the 77th minute from a well-delivered cross by Omar Gaber.

The match remained intense, with both teams seeking a winning goal, but ultimately went to a penalty shootout.

In the shootout, Al Ahly’s Yahia Attiyat Allah missed a crucial penalty, and Wessam Abou Ali’s shot hit the post, giving Zamalek the advantage.

Zamalek capitalized on this advantage, converting four of their five attempts, with Hossam Abdelmaguid securing the victory with a well-placed shot into the bottom left corner.

Senegal's U20 crowned WAFU A champions after defeating Sierra Leone
by Football Sierra Leone

Senegal’s U20 crowned WAFU A champions after defeating Sierra Leone

In the 2024 WAFU A’ U-20 tournament, Senegal emerged as champions after defeating Sierra Leone 2-0 in the finals. Despite the loss, Sierra Leone’s performance throughout the tournament was remarkable.

Senegal took the lead in the 13th minute with a goal from Cheikh Tidiane Thiam and then doubled their advantage ten minutes later with a stunning long-range goal from Ibrahima Dieng.

Nonetheless, Sierra Leone qualified for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations U-20 tournament for the first time in the country’s history – a significant achievement for Shooting Stars.

This historic milestone is a source of pride for both the team and the nation, as they will be joining champions Senegal in representing WAFU A’ in the 2025 U-20 continental tournament.

Sierra Leone’s skipper Momoh I. Kamara played a pivotal role in their success. He was named player of the tournament – the 19-year-old’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament earned him the joint top scorer award, having scored three goals in four matches.

His outstanding skills and leadership on the field also led to him being decorated as the best player of the tournament.

Ivory Coast named a strong squad for the Sierra Leone doubleheader
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Ivory Coast named strong squad for Sierra Leone doubleheader

Ivorian coach Emerse Faé has selected a strong 25-man squad for two matches against Sierra Leone in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Striker Sébastien Haller returned after missing the last two qualifiers. He joined La Liga club Leganés on loan for the 2024–25 season on August 30, 2024.

The Laurent Pokou Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the first match between Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone on October 11. The game is a crucial one for the 2025 qualifier.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced that the second leg of the doubleheader will be held on October 15 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia.

Ivory Coast has had a perfect start in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, winning their matches against Zambia and Chad, securing the top position in Group G with six points.

The Leone Stars will aim to bounce back from their recent loss to Zambia and revive their hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Here is the squad selected by Ivory Coast for the upcoming matches.

Ivory Coast named a strong squad for the Sierra Leone doubleheader
Ivory Coast named a strong squad for the Sierra Leone doubleheader
AS Pikine Ligue 1 challenge excites midfielder Saidu Fofanah
by Football Sierra Leone

AS Pikine Ligue 1 challenge excites midfielder Saidu Fofanah

Saidu Fofanah, one of the top midfielders in the Sierra Leone Premier League, has signed with AS Pikine – Ligue 1 (Senegal) for two seasons and has described his move as an exciting challenge.

He expressed his excitement about joining the Association Sportive de Pikine based in Pikine – their home venue is the Stade Alassane Djigo, with a capacity of 5,000.

Saidu, 27, made his international debut with the Sierra Leone national team in a 1–0 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification win over Benin on 15 June 2021.

He stated that his decision to move to Senegal was to try a new challenge in his football career and experience a different style of football in one of the best countries in West Africa and the continent.

He expressed his eagerness to compete in a new league outside Sierra Leone and help his new teammates, just as he did with FC Kallon.

“The season will start next month on 19th October, but there will be a four-team tournament starting on Friday. I’m looking forward to showing what I can do on the pitch.”

Saidu was part of the Sierra Leone squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Saidu Fofanah was playing for the Senegalese team in a warm-up friendly.
Saidu Fofanah was playing for the Senegalese team in a warm-up friendly.