by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 3, 2025 | Africa, International, Nigeria, Soccer, World Cup
With a crucial World Cup Qualifier against Nigeria just around the corner, South Africa’s head coach Hugo Broos insists his immediate focus is not on the Super Eagles, but rather on their upcoming clash with Lesotho.
The AFCON 2023 bronze medalists currently top Group D with six points, and will first face neighbors Lesotho before hosting Nigeria at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein next Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Soweto, Broos stressed the importance of keeping his team grounded.
> “The game next Friday is about a week away and I don’t want to think about Nigeria for the moment,” the Belgian tactician said. “My focus is on Lesotho because I know that is the most important game for the moment.”
Broos emphasized that victory against Lesotho is crucial to avoid future complications in the qualifiers.
> “It is important we get victory against them because if we don’t, maybe we are going to have more troubles in the future. We cannot afford to drop points, otherwise we will be under stress when we play against Zimbabwe and Rwanda in October.”
Despite Nigeria’s star-studded squad, Broos remains unfazed, describing all of Bafana Bafana’s upcoming matches as “must-win.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s preparations are already in full swing. Fifteen Super Eagles players have arrived at training camp in Uyo, including Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu, Nantes’ Chidozie Awaziem, Boavista defender Bruno Onyemaechi, teenage prospect Benjamin Frederick, and goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye.
Both teams will be aiming to solidify their position in Group D, with South Africa keen to protect their lead and Nigeria desperate to close the gap.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 3, 2025 | Africa, Ghana, International, Nigeria, Soccer, World Cup
The race for Africa’s nine automatic tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached a fever pitch as September’s international window (3–9) promises drama, heartbreak, and history-making moments.
With four rounds of qualifiers left, giants like Egypt and Morocco could secure early tickets to the finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Meanwhile, surprise packages such as Cape Verde, Comoros, and war-torn Sudan continue to dream of a first-ever World Cup appearance.
The campaign, which began in November 2023, has seen traditional powers jostle with ambitious underdogs, while others, like Nigeria, face the danger of crashing out early for a second consecutive edition.
Group A: Mohamed Salah’s Egypt lead Burkina Faso by five points and could seal qualification with victories over Ethiopia and the Stallions.
Group B: A thrilling three-way tussle pits Senegal, DR Congo, and Sudan against each other in a make-or-break window.
Group C: South Africa lead, but uncertainty lingers over a FIFA ruling on fielding an ineligible player. Nigeria must win both matches to stay alive.
Group D: The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde are eyeing history as they welcome Cameroon for a decisive clash.
Group E: Morocco, Africa’s history-making semifinalists in 2022, are poised to be the continent’s first confirmed qualifiers with their perfect five wins from five.
Group F: Defending AFCON champions Ivory Coast and Gabon go head-to-head in a decisive duel.
Group G: Algeria are closing in on qualification with a strong lead over Mozambique.
Group H: Tunisia remain unbeaten, while an appeal by Equatorial Guinea could shake up the group standings.
Group I: Ghana top the table but face stiff challenges from Comoros and Mali, with qualification within touching distance in Accra.
As the continent braces for these crunch fixtures, Africa’s dream of conquering the expanded 48-team World Cup edges closer to reality. This window could see both giants and minnows write new chapters in their footballing history.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 3, 2025 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer, World Cup
The Black Stars have safely arrived in Chad as preparations intensify for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash.
Led by captain Jordan Ayew, a 22-man squad touched down at Hassan Djamous International Airport in N’Djamena on Tuesday evening after departing Accra at 3:20 pm. The team was warmly received by officials of the Ghana Embassy and local organisers before heading to their hotel base.
Among the travelling squad are key names such as Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, Tariq Lamptey, Mohammed Salisu, and Antoine Semenyo. Youngsters like Benjamin Asare, Jonas Adjetey, and Caleb Yirenkyi also made the cut, reflecting head coach Otto Addo’s blend of experience and fresh talent.
The Black Stars will hold their final training session on Wednesday before Thursday’s showdown against Chad, a tie seen as pivotal in their qualification campaign. Ghana currently tops Group I with 15 points, three clear of second-placed Comoros, who face Mali in another high-stakes fixture.
The Ministry of Sports has confirmed full government backing, approving the budget to cover travel, accommodation, medicals, and bonuses for both the Chad game and the upcoming home tie against Mali in Accra on September 8.
With four World Cup appearances already to their name, the Black Stars are determined to secure another ticket to the global showpiece in 2026, and the next two fixtures could prove decisive.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 3, 2025 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Kenpong Football Academy’s European adventure continues this afternoon as the rising Ghanaian side take on the U-18 team of Belgian giants KRC Genk in their second game of their training tour.
The young stars from Winneba made an emphatic start to their campaign, coming from behind to beat Club Brugge’s U-18 side 4-1 in their opening match—a statement victory that underlined their growing reputation on the continent.
Kenpong Academy will conclude their Belgian journey with a final showdown against KV Mechelen’s U-18 side on Wednesday, September 3.
The academy, led by its founder and chairman, Kennedy Agyapong, has quickly built a name for itself as one of Ghana’s best-run football academies. With state-of-the-art facilities and a strong network of European partnerships, the club is positioning itself as a major talent hub for African football.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Sep 3, 2025 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Hungarian champions Ferencváros have bolstered their attack with the signing of Nigerian winger Bamidele Yusuf on a four-year contract from Serbian side FK Vojvodina.
The 24-year-old arrives in Budapest after a standout campaign in the Serbian SuperLiga, where he registered 18 goals and four assists. His form has continued this season, already notching three goals in five matches, making him one of the most sought-after forwards in the region.
Ferencváros manager Robbie Keane welcomed the signing with optimism, praising Yusuf as “young, hungry, and exactly the kind of pace and creativity we need going into the Europa League.”
At his unveiling at the Groupama Aréna, Yusuf expressed gratitude to Vojvodina for shaping his career and shared his excitement about the new challenge ahead. “Signing for Ferencváros is a big step forward in my career. I understand the expectations and I’m ready to give my all to help the team achieve success,” he said.
With his blistering speed and goal-scoring ability, Yusuf is set to play a pivotal role as Ferencváros aim to dominate domestically and make their mark in Europe.
