Category: Football Africa

Mozambique stun Gabon in historic AFCON 2025 victory
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Mozambique stun Gabon in historic AFCON 2025 victory

The Mambas, who had struggled for nearly 16 matches without a victory on the continental stage, finally turned their fortunes around with an impressive performance at the Stade Adrar.

The match came alive just before halftime when Faizal Bangal put Mozambique in front in the 37th minute, deftly heading home a brilliant cross from Geny Catamo. Just five minutes later, Mozambique extended their lead when Dominguês was brought down in the penalty area by Bruno Ecuele Manga.

Catamo calmly stepped up to take the penalty, placing the ball in the bottom left corner with precision.

Gabon, however, found a glimmer of hope deep into the stoppage time of the first half through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The seasoned striker capitalised on a rebound after Didier Ndong’s initial shot was parried, solidifying his legacy as one of the oldest goalscorers in AFCON finals history.

The momentum shifted back to Mozambique shortly after the break; in the 52nd minute, Diogo Calila leapt highest in the centre of the box to meet a cross from Witi, powering a header into the roof of the net and restoring the two-goal cushion.

In response, Gabon made several tactical adjustments, bringing on Alex Moucketou-Moussounda and Royce Openda to enhance their attack. The pressure from the Panthers finally bore fruit in the 86th minute when Moucketou-Moussounda found the net from close range following a corner, setting up a nail-biting finish.

Despite late efforts from Mario Lemina and Jacques Ekomié, Mozambique’s goalkeeper, Ernan Siluane, stood firm, making several critical saves to maintain their lead.

When the final whistle blew, it marked a historic achievement for Mozambique, ending a nearly four-decade wait for a win at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Post-match Reaction from Geny Catamo, the TotalEnergies Man of the Match for Mozambique, “I am incredibly proud to represent Mozambique and to have played a part in our first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations. We take great pride in this win, and I hope it inspires us to keep working hard for more victories in the future. I urge everyone to keep supporting us; together we can go far, and our goal is to keep pushing ahead in this tournament.”

Gabon 2-3 Mozambique
Goalscorers: P. E. Aubameyang 45+5, A. Moussounda 76e / F. Bangal 32e, G.Catama 42e (P), D. Callila
Nigeria edge Tunisia in five-goal thriller to reach AFCON knockout stage
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Nigeria edge Tunisia in five-goal thriller to reach AFCON knockout stage

Nigeria secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against Tunisia in Fez on Saturday night. This win allowed Nigeria to qualify for the Round of 16 in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in Morocco in 2025.

In an exciting match, Nigeria took an early lead of 3-0, but Tunisia mounted a late comeback, pulling within one goal before Nigeria secured the win. Ademola Lookman was key for Nigeria, contributing two assists and a goal.

He assisted Victor Osimhen’s opening goal before Wilfred Ndidi doubled the lead with a header. Lookman scored in the 66th minute after a setup from Osimhen.

Tunisia fought back, with Montassar Talbi scoring a header from a free-kick and Ali Abdi converting a penalty after VAR ruled a handball. They nearly equalised in stoppage time, but Ferjani Sassi’s header missed wide.

With this win, Nigeria leads Group C with six points and will face Uganda next, while Tunisia, now with three points, plays Tanzania. Lookman, named Man of the Match, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and his own role.

Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle, praised the team’s intensity and ball recovery. In contrast, Tunisia’s coach, Sami Trabelsi, acknowledged their disappointment but highlighted the positives in their late performance, emphasising the need to capitalise on chances in future matches.

AFCON 2025: Mane rescues Senegal in draw with DR Congo
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

AFCON 2025: Mane rescues Senegal in draw with DR Congo

Ex-Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scored the equaliser as Senegal avoided a DR Congo upset, while Benin beat Botswana in their Group D second matches on Saturday.

The Africa Cup of Nations continues this Saturday with an important match between Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In their last first-round encounter, the teams concluded with a 1-1 draw.

Sadio Mané was awarded the TotalEnergies Man of the Match for his outstanding performance and goal against DR Congo.

Senegal started strong, dominating possession but struggling with final passes and missed chances, including from Jackson, Sarr, and Mané. DR Congo, while disciplined, had a disallowed goal for offside.

As the second half progressed, Senegal’s intensity dropped, allowing DR Congo’s Bakambu to score after a mistake by Mendy. However, Senegal quickly equalised when Ibrahim Mbaye set up Sadio Mané.

The match ended intensely, with both teams pushing for victory but ultimately drawing 1-1, each earning a fourth point in the tournament.

Earlier on, Benin recorded its first AFCON win in their history

Yohan Roche netted a deflected goal to secure Benin’s first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, leading to a 1-0 win against Botswana in their Group D match in Rabat on Saturday.

With this win, Benin now has three points after two games, putting them on equal footing with Senegal and the DRC, who are set to face off later on Saturday in Tangier.

The breakthrough came in the 28th minute, when Roche combined with captain Steve Mounie for a quick one-two inside the box. His shot from about 9 meters (10 yards) took a significant deflection off a defender, finding its way into the net.

Mali's Tom Saintfiet expresses satisfaction after drawing with Morocco
by Football Sierra Leone

Mali’s Tom Saintfiet expresses satisfaction after drawing with Morocco

Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet has expressed his satisfaction following the 1-1 draw between his team, Mali, and the AFCON host nation, Morocco, in their Group A match on Saturday.

The match, which took place in Rabat, was keenly contested and ended in a draw, leaving the qualification for the Round of 16 to be determined on the final matchday.

Coach Tom Saintfiet commented, “We dedicated two to three hours to analysing the Moroccan team. In the beginning, they performed well; however, after some substitutions, we were able to address their transition effectively.

The first 10 minutes of the second half presented us with good opportunities. While Morocco launched strong attacks, we were fortunate to have experienced players who managed those challenges well. I am pleased with my team’s performance, and we will work on building their confidence as we prepare for the next match, where a victory is essential.”

Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui remarked, “We played an intense match and had the opportunity to secure a win. Congratulations to Mali for obtaining a point.

We need to remain resilient; conceding a penalty is a part of the game, and we must not lose hope. Winning the Africa Cup of Nations is a long journey, and while we did not achieve the desired outcome today, we remain confident as we head into the final group match.”

Morocco will face Zambia, and Mali takes on Comoros in the Group A final round of matches, with qualification for the knockout phase still firmly within reach for both teams.

Egypt first to reach knockout stage as Angola and Zimbabwe draw blank
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Egypt first to reach knockout stage as Angola and Zimbabwe shared points

Egypt reached the round of sixteen after winning 1-0 against South Africa in their second match of Group B in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The match was tense at the Adrar stadium in Agadir, Morocco. Egypt scored first when a penalty was awarded to them after a VAR review.

Salah was fouled for the penalty after Mudau’s arm caught him. The referee initially let the game continue, but VAR reviewed the play for a long time.

Some pundits thought the call was too harsh, but the final decision was a penalty, scored by Salah just before halftime.

Later, the referee made another decision, showing Mohamed Hany a second yellow card for a poor challenge, stepping on Mokoena’s toe.

That was an unnecessary move by Hany. The momentum shifted to South Africa after the break, but the Pharaohs made it difficult for them.

However, South Africa thought they got a penalty of their own when Yasser Ibrahim clearly handled the ball in the area as he slid to attempt to block Mokoena’s shot.

Even with VAR getting involved, the referee’s original decision of awarding a free-kick just outside the box remains unchanged. As seven minutes of added time ticked away, Egypt managed to hold on and claim victory in the match.

Earlier, Angola and Zimbabwe played out a 1–1 draw in their Group B encounter at the Stade de Marrakech this Friday, leaving both sides still searching for their first victory in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025.

In a competitive clash where both defences were tested, it was Angola who struck first, only for Zimbabwe to respond late in the first half to ensure the points were shared.

With the draw, both Angola and Zimbabwe remain without a win in AFCON 2025. Their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages now hinge on strong performances in their remaining group matches, as they look to build on this performance and secure vital points in the race for qualification.