by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 30, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Asante Kotoko head coach, Karim Zito, has set his sights firmly on guiding the Porcupine Warriors into the group stages of the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup.
The Ghanaian giants advanced to the second preliminary round after edging Nigerian side Kwara United 5-3 on aggregate. Their next hurdle is Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Athletic Club, a challenge Zito admits will not be easy but insists remains within Kotoko’s reach.
“Our target is to qualify for the group stages. In football, nothing is impossible, even though it will be difficult,” Zito told Akoma FM.
The coach, however, stressed that his immediate focus is on their Ghana Premier League clash with Heart of Lions, scheduled for this weekend at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Zito also appealed for massive fan support, expressing his preference to play the Wydad tie in Kumasi, where Kotoko enjoy a strong home advantage.
“I would prefer that we play Wydad AC in Kumasi, but if it ends up in Accra, we’re fine with it. I will call on the fans to always come in their numbers and support us. When they are huge, it gives us so much confidence.”
Kotoko will now turn their attention to domestic duties before shifting back to continental football in their quest for a group stage berth.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 30, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
The stage is set for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League Round of 32, with Africa’s finest clubs ready to clash in two-legged encounters scheduled between October 17–19 (first leg) and October 24–26 (return leg).
Fans across the continent are buzzing as the draw threw up some intriguing ties. Uganda’s Vipers SC, fresh from eliminating African Stars, will lock horns with Zambia’s Power Dynamos, who stunned Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas.
Defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt begin their title defense against Rwanda’s APR, with the winner facing Ethiopia’s Ethiopian Insurance, the club boasting Ugandan forward Allan Kayiwa.
Elsewhere, South African legend Denis Onyango’s Mamelodi Sundowns meet Nigeria’s high-flying Remo Stars, while Al Ahly, the record title holders, take on Burundi’s spirited Aigle Noir.
East Africa will also be buzzing as Tanzania’s giants Young Africans and Simba SC face Silver Strikers (Malawi) and Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini) respectively.
Other mouthwatering fixtures include Rivers United (Nigeria) against Black Bulls (Mozambique), AS FAR (Morocco) squaring off with Horoya (Guinea), and a potential blockbuster between Orlando Pirates (South Africa) and the winner of St. Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo) vs. Al Merriekh (Sudan).
The winners over two legs will secure passage to the group stages, where the stakes—and rewards—rise even higher.Full CAF CL Round of 32 Fixtures
Remo Stars (Nigeria) vs Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
Vipers (Uganda) vs Power Dynamos (Zambia)
Aigle Noir (Burundi) vs Al Ahly (Egypt)
Silver Strikers (Malawi) vs Young Africans (Tanzania)
Stade d’Abidjan (Ivory Coast) vs Petro de Luanda (Angola)
Horoya (Guinea) vs AS FAR (Morocco)
Nsingizini Hotspurs (Eswatini) vs Simba (Tanzania)
Rahimo (Burkina Faso) vs Esperance (Tunisia)
Black Bulls (Mozambique) vs Rivers United (Nigeria)
Police FC (Kenya) vs Al Hilal (Sudan)
Colombe (Cameroon) vs MC Alger (Algeria)
FC Nouadhibou (Mauritania) vs Stade Malien (Mali)
US Monastir (Tunisia) vs JS Kabylie (Algeria)
St. Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)/Al Merriekh (Sudan) vs Orlando Pirates (RSA)
Ethiopian Insurance (Ethiopia) vs APR (Rwanda)/Pyramids (Egypt)
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 30, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Soccer
The stage is set in Yamoussoukro as Ghana’s U-17 side, the Black Starlets, brace themselves for a semifinal showdown with bitter rivals Nigeria in the WAFU B U-17 Championship. At stake is not just a spot in the final, but also a priceless ticket to next year’s U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum is confident his young charges are fully prepared for the challenge ahead. Speaking to the media, he expressed optimism about his team’s readiness, saying:
> “We feel good. Everyone is okay, the spirit is high, and the boys are confident. Each of them is very ready to get the results we need to qualify for Morocco.”
Ghana’s route to the semifinal came through a convincing 3-1 win over Niger in their last Group A fixture. Ogum revealed that the team has addressed mistakes made in earlier matches through intense video analysis and tactical corrections.
> “We’ve worked on the errors from our previous games, especially our defensive shape, and I expect to see big improvements against Nigeria,” he added.
The clash is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, at 19:00 GMT at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium. With both giants eyeing continental glory, fans can expect a thrilling contest under the floodlights.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 30, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Antoine Semenyo’s explosive start to the 2025/26 Premier League season has turned heads across Europe, with Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and several top clubs now tracking the AFC Bournemouth forward.
The Ghanaian international has been in sensational form, directly contributing to six goals in his first six league appearances—four strikes and two assists. According to Transfermarkt, that means Semenyo has had a hand in 75% of Bournemouth’s goals this campaign, underlining his growing importance under Andoni Iraola.
Despite penning a contract extension in the summer that ties him to the Vitality Stadium until 2030, interest in the 25-year-old has intensified. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur explored moves earlier this year, while fresh reports suggest Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Atletico Madrid are also monitoring his progress.
Crucially, Semenyo’s new deal contains no release clause, raising the prospect of a transfer tug-of-war if Bournemouth are forced to consider offers in the summer. For now, however, the club remain adamant that their star forward will not be sold, having already lost key players in recent windows.
On the pitch, Semenyo’s pace, power, and close control have made him a nightmare for defenders, while his tireless pressing and defensive work rate make him vital in both attack and defence. His blistering club form comes as Ghana prepares for next month’s decisive 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where he is expected to play a central role.
Off the field, the Black Stars forward has also spoken out against racism, calling for tougher sanctions after suffering abuse in Bournemouth’s season opener. While Premier League officials have vowed stronger measures, Semenyo insists more must be done to combat the issue.
For now, Europe’s giants are circling, but Bournemouth face a huge challenge ahead if Semenyo’s meteoric rise continues.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 30, 2025 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has warned that the club’s owners will eventually recognise they “messed up” with their transfer decisions, insisting the current squad is not strong enough to challenge for the Premier League title.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, the ex-Nigeria captain pointed to inexperience and poor squad planning as key reasons behind Chelsea’s early struggles this season. Enzo Maresca’s side have collected just eight points from their opening six league games and are battling a mounting injury crisis ahead of their Champions League clash against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.
“Inexperience. That’s what you can conclude,” Mikel said when reflecting on Chelsea’s recent defeat to Brighton. “It’s another stupid, needless mistake. We needed to strengthen at the back, get a proper striker, a centre-back, and a goalkeeper. They’ll probably look at it at the end of the season and realise they messed up.”
The 2012 Champions League winner stressed that while Chelsea’s attack is capable of creating chances, their defensive frailties make it “impossible” to compete for the league crown. Levi Colwill’s absence has left the backline exposed, and with Trevoh Chalobah also sidelined ahead of the clash with Liverpool, Mikel believes the team are “not in a good place.”
“Our defence is nowhere near good enough to win the Premier League. Strikers win you games, but defenders win you titles,” he added. “We’ve given away too many red cards, and once we go down to ten men, there’s not much you can do again.”
Mikel’s blunt assessment echoes the frustrations of many Chelsea fans, who have grown increasingly critical of the new ownership’s handling of transfers and squad building.
