FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Jul

20

2025

WAFCON2024: Four of Africa’s football queens ready for a battle for the finals

WAFCON

THE dust has settled, the pretenders have fallen, and now only the true royalty of African women's football remains standing. Four magnificent teams have clawed their way through the unforgiving gauntlet of the CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024, each carrying the dreams of a nation and the weight of continental glory on their shoulders. This is where legends are born and dynasties are forged. On Tuesday, the footballing gods will witness two seismic semifinal clashes that promise to shake the very foundations of the beautiful game. At the majestic Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco's Atlas Lionesses…

Jul

19

2025

By The African Mirror

Bryan Mbeumo’s sensational £71m move: Manchester United welcomes a new African star

FOOTBALL

MANCHESTER United have completed the signing of Cameroonian forward Bryan Mbeumo for a staggering £71 million, marking one of the most headline-grabbing transfers of the summer window. The blockbuster deal, which involves £65 million paid across four instalments and up to £6 million in performance-related bonuses, underlines United's intent to revolutionise their attacking line and return to Premier League glory. Mbeumo, 26, established himself as a Premier League force during his tenure at Brentford, where he netted 20 goals and provided 8 assists last season. His formidable work ethic, fleet footwork, and flair for decisive moments made him the focal…

Jul

18

2025

By The African Mirror

WAFCON2024: The Golden Boot inferno: A blazing battle for Africa’s crown

WAFCON

THE dust has settled on the group stage of the CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024, but the real fireworks are just beginning. As eight nations prepare for knockout warfare, a spectacular duel for the Golden Boot Award has erupted into the most captivating storyline of Africa's premier women's football showcase. The Crown Jewel Contenders At the summit of this goal-scoring volcano stand two magnificent markswomen, locked in a deadly dance of precision and power. Ghizlane Chebbak, Morocco's talismanic captain and defending Golden Boot champion, has unleashed a four-goal fury that has opponents trembling. The Atlas Lionesses'…

Jul

17

2025

By CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

WAFCON: 3 signs that African women’s football is finally starting to thrive

WAFCON

WOMEN’S football in Africa has been through radical changes over the past few years. From small beginnings in the late 1990s, it has grown to the point that its biggest competition is receiving considerable global attention. The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) is heading into its quarter-final matches, with eight countries still in competition. So far, the tournament, held every two years, has delivered the promised competitiveness. The days of wide gulfs between competing teams appear to have receded, the prize money has increased, and the tournament is finding willing audiences globally. As a scholar of sports communication…

Jul

15

2025

By The African Mirror

Hearts of Lions: Four nations exit WAFCON 2025 with honour intact

WAFCON

THE quarterfinal gates of the 2025 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations have closed on four dreams, but not before the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia, Tanzania, and Botswana wrote their names in tournament folklore with performances that transcended mere results. In Casablanca's sweltering heat on July 14, Botswana's Mares experienced the beautiful agony of football's cruel arithmetic. Their 2-1 victory over Tunisia should have been a celebration - a testament to their fighting spirit as they clawed back from a halftime deficit with the kind of resilience that defines champions. Instead, it became a lesson in how dreams can…

Jul

15

2025

By Jovial Rantao

WAFCON2025: Champions assert dominance as knockout stage takes shape

WAFCON

THE defending champions sent a thunderous message to the rest of the continent as South Africa demolished Mali 4-0 in a masterclass performance that sealed their place atop Group C and announced their serious intent to retain the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations crown. Banyana Banyana were ruthless from the opening whistle, with Lebohang Ramalepe striking a psychological blow just five minutes in. The forward's composed right-footed finish into the top right corner immediately established South Africa's dominance and left Mali's defence scrambling for answers that would never come. The champions' clinical edge was on full display when…

Jul

15

2025

By The African Mirror

SA: Orlando Pirates sensation Mohau Nkota seals historic R52 million Saudi Pro League move

FOOTBALL

A 20-year-old striker has become the youngest South African to secure mega-money transfer to Al-Ettifaq in landmark three-year deal Orlando Pirates sent shockwaves through South African football on Sunday with the confirmation of their rising star Mohau Nkota's blockbuster transfer to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Ettifaq, in a deal worth approximately R52 million that rewrites the record books for South African football. The 20-year-old sensation, who took local football by storm in his debut professional season, has secured a historic three-year contract with the Saudi Arabian powerhouse, where he will line up alongside European heavyweights Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa Dembélé.…

Jul

14

2025

By The African Mirror

WAFCON2025: STUNNING UPSET! Botswana breaks hearts in Casablanca with last-gasp victory

WAFCON

IN one of the most dramatic finishes in recent WAFCON history, Botswana delivered a crushing blow to host nation Morocco with a heart-stopping 2-1 victory that will be remembered for years to come at the Stade Père Jégo on Sunday. The Southern African minnows, written off by many before the tournament began, saved their best for last with an injury-time thunderbolt that left the passionate Moroccan crowd stunned into silence and sent the small but vocal Botswana contingent into absolute delirium. Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse will wake up Monday morning as a national hero after her 95th-minute winner capped off one of…

Jul

12

2025

By Jovial Rantao

Tanzania stun defending champions in WAFCON thriller as Group C hangs in balance

WAFCON

TANZANIA delivered a stunning performance to hold defending champions South Africa to a dramatic 1-1 draw in the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, throwing Group C wide open with just one round of fixtures remaining. The result leaves South Africa and Mali deadlocked on four points each at the top of the group, while Tanzania and Ghana remain tied on one point apiece in a group where any of the four teams could still advance to the quarterfinals. Tanzania shocked Banyana Banyana in the 24th minute when Opah Clement rose unmarked to power home a header from close…

Jul

12

2025

By The African Mirror

Nigeria into quarter-finals as Ihezuo sinks battling Botswana

WAFCON

A late goal from Chinwendu Ihezuo was enough to secure Nigeria’s place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as the Super Falcons edged past a spirited Botswana side 1-0 in Casablanca. In a tightly contested encounter at the Stade Larbi Zaouli, Ihezuo’s composed 89th-minute finish finally broke the resistance of the Mares, who had frustrated the nine-time champions for much of the game with a disciplined defensive display and outstanding goalkeeping from captain Sedilame Boseja. Nigeria, who had thumped Tunisia 3-0 in their opener, were made to work far harder by a Botswana…