by Emmanuel Atanga | Mar 27, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Former World and African Footballer of the Year George Weah has strongly criticised Confederation of African Football for its controversial decision to strip Senegal national football team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco national football team.
Weah described the ruling as a damaging blow to the credibility of African football, arguing that it undermines trust in fairness, consistency, and the integrity of the game across the continent.
The controversy stems from the AFCON final in Rabat on January 18, where Senegal briefly walked off the pitch in protest following contentious refereeing decisions, including a disallowed goal and a penalty awarded to Morocco. Despite the incident, play resumed under the referee’s authority, with Senegal eventually securing a 1-0 victory after extra time.
However, CAF’s appeal board later overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 win on disciplinary grounds linked to Senegal’s conduct during the match.
Weah challenged the decision by referencing football’s governing principles, particularly the authority of the referee during a match. He insisted that once a game is completed under the referee’s supervision, its outcome should stand.
According to him, the referee’s post-match report classified the incident as a temporary stoppage rather than a forfeiture, suggesting that any punishment should have been limited to sanctions rather than altering the final result.
Weah further dismissed circulating social media claims suggesting he supported CAF’s decision, clarifying that such reports were false and misleading.
The former Liberian president has backed Senegal’s move to appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, urging the body to act decisively to correct what he described as a miscarriage of justice.
Meanwhile, the controversy has triggered wider reactions, including unfounded reports linking Guinea national football team to a potential claim over the 1976 AFCON title. The Guinean Football Federation has since firmly denied any such intentions, distancing itself from the speculation.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Mar 27, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Ghana national football team will lock horns with Austria national football team in an international friendly on Friday evening at the iconic Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna, in what is expected to be a competitive and insightful encounter for both sides.
The match, set for 18:00 local time and to be broadcast live on Ghana Television and TV3, is part of both teams’ preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. With over 40,000 tickets already sold, anticipation is high for the clash.
Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick has stressed that his team will treat the game with full seriousness, despite its friendly status. He noted that Ghana’s blend of technical ability, physical strength, and athleticism makes them an ideal opponent to test his squad.
The Austrians head into the fixture after a rigorous training camp in Marbella, Spain, where they focused on sharpening tactics and building team chemistry. Rangnick has also introduced fresh talents such as Paul Wanner and Carney Chukwuemeka, both of whom have impressed in training.
Forward Michael Gregoritsch, who played a key role in securing Austria’s World Cup qualification, expressed enthusiasm ahead of the match, highlighting the importance of every international fixture.
For Ghana, the match serves as another crucial opportunity to assess their readiness against European opposition.
Head coach Otto Addo remains optimistic, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of modern football and the growing competitiveness across nations.
Captain Jordan Ayew also underlined the team’s determination to represent the country with pride, acknowledging the challenge Austria presents.
Historically, both nations have met only once before, playing out a 1-1 draw in Graz in 2007, which adds further intrigue to this encounter.
With both teams boasting strong physical presence, tactical discipline, and technical quality, the Vienna showdown is expected to provide a valuable benchmark as they fine-tune preparations for the World Cup.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Mar 27, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Preparations of the Ghana national football team in Vienna have been disrupted following a reported robbery at their team hotel ahead of their international friendly against Austria national football team.
The squad, which opened camp on Sunday and began training on Monday, encountered the incident after their third training session on Wednesday. Two players reportedly discovered that their Rolex watches, valued at approximately $20,000, had gone missing.
On Thursday, a member of the technical team also reported the loss of $2,250 in cash, raising further concerns within the camp.
Team officials promptly alerted local authorities, but attempts to investigate through security footage were unsuccessful after hotel management indicated that the cameras were not functioning at the time.
Despite the unfortunate development, the Black Stars remain focused on their scheduled fixture against Austria at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, with kickoff set for 17:00 GMT.
Head coach Otto Addo and his squad will subsequently travel to Stuttgart for another high-profile friendly against Germany on Monday, March 30.
Both matches are seen as key preparation fixtures as Ghana fine-tunes its squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Mar 27, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Ghana national football team head coach Otto Addo has expressed strong confidence ahead of his side’s international friendly against Austria national football team, insisting his team is fully prepared for the challenge.
The match is set to take place at Vienna’s Ernst-Happel-Stadion, with kickoff scheduled for 17:00 GMT.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Addo acknowledged the quality of the Austrian side and praised their experienced head coach Ralf Rangnick. However, he stressed that his players must remain focused and disciplined in executing their tactical approach.
According to Addo, the game is expected to be highly competitive, and Ghana must deliver a near-perfect performance to achieve a positive result. He emphasised that while Austria possess strong qualities, the Black Stars are ready to meet them head-on.
The Ghana coach also highlighted the importance of staying fully concentrated on the Austria clash before shifting attention to their next high-profile friendly against Germany.
Following the Vienna encounter, the Black Stars will travel to Stuttgart for a second preparatory match on Monday, March 30.
Both fixtures serve as vital tests for Ghana as they finalize preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Mar 27, 2026 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Jamaica national football team have booked their place in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over New Caledonia national football team in a match played in Mexico early Friday.
The decisive moment came in the first half when Bailey Cadamarteri reacted quickest to a rebound, firing home what proved to be the winning goal.
Jamaica will now face DR Congo national football team in the final, with the African side aiming to secure what would be the continent’s 10th ticket to the expanded 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the hopes of the Nigeria national football team have officially ended following a failed appeal by the Nigeria Football Federation. The federation had sought to replace DR Congo in the play-offs, raising concerns over player eligibility, but FIFA dismissed the complaint.
In another semi-final clash, Bolivia national football team edged Suriname national football team 2-1 to progress, and they will now face Iraq national football team in Pathway 2.
