by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 26, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Soccer
The Ghana Football Association has officially named Black Stars assistant coach Desmond Ofei as the new head coach of the Ghana U-23 national team, the Black Meteors.
Ofei, 37, previously led the Ghana U-20 side to Africa Games glory in 2023 and secured qualification for the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. Although his team fell short of a FIFA U-20 World Cup spot after a narrow penalty shootout defeat to hosts Egypt, his tactical acumen has earned him a swift promotion within Ghana’s national team setup.
Earlier this year, Ofei joined Otto Addo’s Black Stars backroom staff as deputy coach after the dismissal of Joseph Laumann. Now, he will combine that role with guiding the Black Meteors. His immediate mandate is to assemble a strong squad capable of qualifying for the 2027 CAF U-23 Cup of Nations and ultimately ending Ghana’s long absence from Olympic men’s football—a stage the country last reached in 2004.
Ofei will be assisted by experienced coaches Baba Nuhu Malam and Yaw Preko. A UEFA A-licensed tactician, he boasts a rich coaching résumé, including stints with Royal Antwerp’s U-18 and U-21 teams, Lokeren U-21, and Portuguese side Lusitano SAD. His scouting and coaching experience spans Belgium, England, Holland, France, Portugal, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, adding valuable international expertise to Ghana’s U-23 project.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 26, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Soccer
Ghanaian powerhouse Asante Kotoko have landed safely in Lagos as they gear up for the decisive second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first qualifying round clash against Nigeria’s Kwara United on Sunday, September 28.
The Porcupine Warriors hold a slim advantage after a thrilling 4–3 victory in the first leg at Accra’s Ohene Gyan Stadium, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture.
The team departed Ghana early Saturday and touched down at Murtala Mohammed International Airport to continue final preparations. All 23 traveling players will take part in a mandatory training session at the MKO Stadium to acclimatize to the weather conditions and playing surface before Sunday’s 15:00 GMT (3:00 p.m.) kickoff.
With the aggregate scoreline still wide open, Kotoko will be aiming to protect their lead and secure progression to the next round of the competition.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 26, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer, World Cup
Nigeria international Victor Boniface has shed light on why the Super Eagles sometimes struggle to deliver their best performances, attributing the issue largely to a lack of preparation time.
The Werder Bremen forward explained that tight schedules make it difficult for players to build on-field chemistry. “We have so many players, but sometimes we have limited time to train. It’s not like at the club where you work every day,” Boniface said. “I could play on Sunday, travel to Nigeria on Monday, arrive at camp on Tuesday, and then the game is on Friday. With the stress of traveling and little time to train, it’s difficult to prepare properly.”
Despite the challenges, Boniface appealed to supporters to remain patient and positive. “We are giving 100%. You all saw the Africa Cup of Nations — the fight and effort were there. People think that because we have good players, it will always be easy, but it’s not like that. We don’t want to lose either, but we try our best. The most important thing is for the fans to keep believing in us, even when we have a bad game. We always want to make the country proud.”
Boniface missed Nigeria’s September international window, which featured matches against Rwanda and South Africa. With the final round of World Cup qualifiers in October and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon, the striker is eager to reclaim his place in the squad and help the Super Eagles rise to the challenge.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 26, 2025 | Africa, Europe, International, Soccer
Paul Pogba has heaped praise on former Liverpool star Takumi Minamino, revealing his admiration for the Japanese international’s discipline and intelligence on the pitch.
Speaking about Minamino, Pogba admitted he is inspired by the AS Monaco forward’s dedication. “Takumi is always the first to arrive at training and the last to leave,” the French midfielder shared. “I’ve never seen a player so disciplined yet enjoying football so much at the same time. That’s something I need to learn from him.”
Pogba also highlighted Minamino’s sharp football brain. “When you watch him play, you can clearly see he’s always thinking on the pitch. He’s incredibly smart, and his movement shows just how deeply he understands the game.”
The Juventus star’s glowing words underline Minamino’s growing reputation in Ligue 1 as not only a talented attacker but also a consummate professional whose approach sets an example for teammates and rivals alike.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 26, 2025 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
South African football fans face a rare scheduling dilemma this weekend as Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates step onto the continental stage at the exact same time.
On Saturday, 27 September, both clubs will chase CAF glory with 15:00 kick-offs. Kaizer Chiefs host Angola’s Kabuscorp at the FNB Stadium in a CAF Confederation Cup second-leg clash, while Orlando Pirates welcome Lioli FC to Orlando Stadium for their CAF Champions League return leg.
It’s an unusual situation. The Premier Soccer League usually ensures the two giants don’t clash on the schedule, allowing supporters to follow both teams. But CAF’s calendar offers no such luxury.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Chiefs. After suffering a 1-0 defeat in Luanda last week courtesy of Julio’s 59th-minute strike, the Glamour Boys must win by at least 2-0 to progress. A 1-0 result would force a penalty shootout, but conceding even once could prove fatal to their campaign.
Pirates, on the other hand, carry a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead after dominating the first leg in Bloemfontein. Only an extraordinary collapse—a 3-0 loss forcing penalties or a 4-0 defeat outright—would deny the Buccaneers a place in the next round.
For viewers, the SABC will broadcast both matches live: Kaizer Chiefs vs. Kabuscorp on SABC 2 and Orlando Pirates vs. Lioli on SABC 1. Fans may have to pick a side—or perfect the art of channel-hopping—as Soweto’s giants battle for continental advancement.
