FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Aug

12

2025

CHAN 2025: Drama in Kampala as Uganda soar and South Africa find their voice

CHAN 2024

THE afternoon sun blazed down on Kampala as South Africa stepped onto the Mandela National Stadium pitch carrying the weight of a nation's expectations and the burden of sitting rock-bottom in Group C. What followed was a masterclass in resilience that breathed new life into their tournament dreams. From the first whistle, Molefi Ntseki's warriors hunted in packs, pressing high and refusing to let Guinea settle into any rhythm. The early aggression paid dividends in spectacular fashion. Just ten minutes in, the dynamic duo of Thabiso Kutumela and Neo Maema combined with telepathic understanding – Kutumela's clever link-up play releasing…

Aug

06

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Defending champions Senegal strike first blood against Nigeria in CHAN thriller

CHAN 2024

IN a battle befitting two of Africa's footballing superpowers, defending champions Senegal edged Nigeria 1-0 in a brutal Group D opener that lived up to every expectation at Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night. Christian Gomis' 75th-minute strike proved the difference in a contest that showcased both the tactical sophistication and raw intensity that has made West African football a continental force. The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship – featuring exclusively domestic-based players – exploded into life as the continent's two most successful nations in recent years locked horns in what many considered a premature final. Senegal, riding high from their…

Aug

05

2025

By Jovial Rantao

CHAN 2024: Congo, Sudan share points in thrilling Zanzibar opener

CHAN 2024

THE TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 kicked off with a pulsating 1-1 draw between Congo and Sudan at Zanzibar's Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament. In the opening Group D fixture, both nations demonstrated the grit and determination that defines CHAN, the biennial competition exclusively featuring players from domestic African leagues. The match marked the first-ever encounter between these two sides at the tournament level, and it did not disappoint the lively crowd in attendance. Sudan strike first, Congo respond late Sudan looked the more dangerous…

Aug

04

2025

By The African Mirror

HARAMBEE STARS ROAR: Kenya stuns two-time champions DR Congo in electrifying CHAN debut

FOOTBALL

THE earth shook in Nairobi on Sunday night. Not from any seismic activity, but from the thunderous roar of 60,000 voices rising as one when Austin Odhiambo's left boot changed the course of Kenyan football history forever. In a moment that will be etched into the folklore of East African sport, Kenya's Harambee Stars announced their arrival on the continental stage with a seismic 1-0 victory over two-time champions DR Congo at the sold-out Moi International Sports Centre, marking their debut at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 with the kind of statement that sends shockwaves across…

Aug

01

2025

By ABDERRAHIM RHARIB

Ahmed Faras will be remembered as a football hero and symbol of Morocco

FOOTBALL

NICKNAMED Moul Lkoura, meaning the owner of the ball, Ahmed Faras, achieved iconic status in Morocco. The footballer was a hero to the people, a source of pride and national unity. Across Morocco, he is held in the highest regard for both his technical skills on the field and his character. With his passing at the age of 78, many have highlighted his humility, respect, kindness and modesty. His sense of patriotism towards Morocco was a beacon for decades, long after his playing days ended. Ahmed Faras' football trading card in 1970. Panini/Wikimedia Commons Faras also had another nickname: the…

Jul

30

2025

By The African Mirror

NIGERIA honours Queens of African Football with millions and houses

WAFCON

IN the hallowed halls of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, history witnessed a moment of pure recognition - a nation bowing in reverence to its daughters who had once again conquered a continent. The Super Falcons of Nigeria, crowned queens of African football for an unprecedented tenth time, stood not merely as athletes but as embodiments of a nation's unwavering spirit. When the final whistle echoed through the Rabat Olympic Stadium in Morocco, it carried with it the weight of legacy - a legacy that began in 1998 and has flourished through decades of dedication, sacrifice, and unparalleled excellence. The…

Jul

29

2025

By The African Mirror

The Queen bids farewell: A football icon’s golden goodbye

WAFCON

IN the dying moments of a penalty shootout that would decide third place at the TotalEnergies WAFCON 2024, tears streamed down the face of a warrior. Not tears of defeat, but tears of completion. For Jermaine Seoposenwe, the Cape-born magician who painted her dreams across football pitches worldwide, this was the final chapter of an extraordinary 15-year love affair with the South African national team. As the dust settled on Friday's heart-wrenching 4-3 penalty loss to Ghana, one of African football's most treasured jewels quietly closed the book on a career that redefined what it means to wear the Banyana…

Jul

28

2025

By CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

Nigeria wins its 10th Wafcon title – but women’s football has never been more competitive

WAFCON

NIGERIA’S Super Falcons came from two goals down to beat Morocco 3-2 in the thrilling championship final at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Rabat. But even despite Nigeria’s stunning comeback, with a winning goal two minutes from full time, it has become clear that the days of the West African nation’s sole dominance of women’s football in Africa have ended. Nigeria’s return to the pinnacle of the important Africa-wide tournament should not be read as a continuation of the country’s dominance on the field. Yes, Nigeria has now won Wafcon 10 times in 12 competitions. But the…

Jul

23

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Heartbreak and Heroics: Defending champions fall as Morocco and Nigeria set up dream final

WAFCON

THE dust has settled on two titanic battles that will be remembered for years to come, as defending champions South Africa crashed out in heartbreak while hosts Morocco defied the odds to reach their second consecutive final. When the final whistle blows on Saturday in Rabat, it will be the Atlas Lionesses facing Nigeria's Super Falcons in what promises to be a spectacular conclusion to a tournament that has captured the imagination of African football. In what was billed as "the final before the final," Nigeria delivered a masterclass in tournament football, stunning defending champions South Africa 2-1 in a…

Jul

23

2025

By The African Mirror

Andile Dlamini: How to turn pressure into legacy

WAFCON

SOME people are born with it. Confidence. The way they walk. The way they talk. The way they approach high-pressure situations. The way they approach adversity. The way they stand out when their backs are against the wall. Andile Dlamini is one of them. She belongs up there. Three clean sheets in the three games that she has played at the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 in Morocco have Dlamini standing on cloud nine. South Africa’s finest and the reigning WAFCON Goalkeeper of the Year from the 2022 edition is stacking up exceptionally good performances like a…