Category: Football Africa

Benchikha appointed Simba coach after Oliveira exit
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Simba appoint Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha as head coach

Tanzanian giants Simba SC have confirmed the appointment of Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha as their new head coach.

The Reds of Msimbazi announced their new boss via Facebook with a welcoming message, “Welcome to our new coach, Abdelhak Benchikha.”

Benchikha will kick start his Simba reign after the dismissal of Brazilian Roberto Oliveira. Last season, Benchikha guided Algerian club USM Alger to TotalEnergies Confederation Cup glory. 

Simba ended Oliveira’s 18-month tenure after a disappointing African Super League elimination by Al Ahly last month.

The Algerian first task ended in a 1-1 draw against ASEC Mimosa

in the TotalEnergies Champions League encounter on Saturday. 

Benchikha had a success story with USM Alger after he delivered a continental trophy. 

Hopefully, their new technician can replicate USM Alger’s success after recent setbacks.

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Burkina Faso wallop Ethiopia to go second behind Egypt
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burkina Faso wallop Ethiopia to go second behind Egypt

The Les Étalons of Burkina Faso recorded their first win in the 2026 World Cup qualifier over Ethiopia Walias on Tuesday in Morocco.

All three goals were scored in the second half at El Jadida, Morocco, to claim up to second behind Egypt.

The Burkinabess opened the scoring in the 69th minute through a Blati Touré (Burkina Faso) right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal, assisted by Bertrand Traoré.

Ten minutes later, Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) converted a penalty with a left-footed shot to the high centre of the goal.

Their third came in the 90th minute from Dango Ouattara’s right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.

Having opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Guinea Bissau third on Friday, they now secured four points from their opening two matches ahead of Bissua on goal difference. 

Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Djibouti are fourth, fifth and sixth on the table, respectively, following matchday two.

Elsewhere, South Africa suffered a serious setback in Group C after losing to Rwanda in Butare. Rwanda won 2-0 both goals in the first half, while the South Africans battled to create attacking opportunities for themselves.

Rwanda tops the group with four points, followed by South Africa with three, Nigeria, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe with two apiece and Benin with a point – precisely on the table.

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Côte d’Ivoire beat The Gambia 2-0 to make it two in two in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cote d’Ivoire’s perfect start as Liberia suffer second defeat

2023 Africa Cup of Nations host Cote d’Ivoire recorded a second straight win in their 2026 World Cup qualifying after beating the Gambia 2-0 on Monday to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Christian Kouame and Seko Fofana scored the goals for the Elephant in Dar es Salaam at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, where Gambia played their home Group F tie.

As a result, Jean-Louis Gasset’s side topped Group H with six points and eleven goals in favour. 

Elsewhere in Group H, Ten-man Liberia suffered a second straight defeat in the qualifiers after Equatorial Guinea defeated the Lone Star 1-0 courtesy of captain Emilio Nsue’s early goal. 

Emilio Nsue was the scorer for Equatorial Guinea in their opening win against Namibia on Wednesday. 

In th day’s other matches, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya and Madagascar recorded emphatic away victories over Djibouti, Seychelles and Chad, respectively.

The qualifiers take place on Tuesday as teams aim to gain early advantages.

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FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying matches and results on Monday
FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying matches and results on Monday
A brace from striker Mahmoud Trezeguet gave Egypt a 2-0 win over a 9-man Sierra Leone at the Samuel K. Doe stadium in Monrovia on Sunday (19th November 2023)
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nine-man Sierra Leone suffer 2-0 defeat to Egypt

Mahmoud Trezeguet scored a brace as Egypt dislodged nine-man Sierra Leone in match day two of the 2026 World Cup qualifier in Liberia on Sunday.

Coach Amidu Karim started brightly but was unable to take advantage of half-cut chances in the opening minutes of the game at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium.

The visitors took the lead in the 18-minute after a decent finish as Egypt maintained their perfect start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 away win against Sierra Leone in Liberia on Sunday.

His second came in the 62-second minute from a clever pass from Liverpool’s striker Mohamed Salah, who fines Trezequet to double the visitors lead.

Sierra Leone frustratedly finished the match with nine players on the field, as Tyrese Fornah and Abdul Jarju Kabia were sent off – with only a point from their opening two games. 

The victory bookmarked Egypt’s first victory over Leone Stars in three meetings as Leone Stars played two games in the qualifiers with no goals, one draw and a loss and two goals conceded,

Egypt sits atop Group A with an impeccable six points from two games, leading ahead of Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone, each having amassed only one point after one game.

How qualifying works

The nine group winners will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup 26™. The four best runners-up will compete for one place at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

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Sierra Leone with a chance to shine and make world headlines
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Sierra Leone with a chance to shine and make world headlines

On Sunday, a win for Sierra Leone will surely make global news as they welcome African giant Egypt for their third meeting in match day two of their 2026 World Cup Group A qualifier in the Liberia capital, Monrovia.

Maximum points for the host will be significant as Egypt and Sierra Leone gear up for a pivotal World Cup qualifying match.

Coach Amidu Karim opened the 2026 World Cup qualifier with a draw against Ethiopia in Morocco under difficult circumstances. 

Coming from a comfortable 6-0 thrashing over Djibouti, Sierra Leone must dig deep to get anything against the seven-time African champions. 

Mohamed Salah and Mohamed Elneny made their International debut when Sierra Leone first defeated Egypt 2-1 in September 2011 in the 2012 African Cup of Nations Group G qualifier. 

Portuguese coach Rui Vitoria will count on the Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Nantes Striker Mostafa Mohamed, Zamalek’s Ahmed Mostafa Sayed & Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny, to name a few, if they are to register two straight wins. 

Sierra Leone does not have the big pedigree superstars like their opposition. However, team spirit can be vital, like when they stage a four-goal comeback against the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State, during the AFCON qualifier in November 2020.

The Sierra Leone coach remains optimistic about their prospects against Egypt, a team with seven African Cup of Nations titles under its belt. 

Mo Salah, who becomes the Pharoahs’ all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifiers after his four goals against Djibouti, is without a doubt – one of the weapons to defuse by the Leone Stars left-back Emmanuel Samadia, supported by his left winger. 

The significance of this encounter is immense for both teams, with the Pharaohs aiming to maintain their dominance and Sierra Leone wanting to stay on course for their first World Cup appearance.

Sierra Leone coach Karim holds fond memories of his time in the Egyptian league during the 1990s and hopes to steer his team towards their maiden World Cup appearance.

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