FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Sep

16

2025

Morocco launches 100-day countdown to Africa Cup of Nations as ticket sales begin

FOOTBALL

RABAT, Morocco - The countdown to Africa's most prestigious football competition has officially begun, with organisers of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 unveiling giant countdown clocks across all six host cities to mark exactly 100 days until kick-off. The striking timepieces, installed in Rabat, Casablanca, Fès, Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir, serve as daily reminders that the continent's premier football festival is rapidly approaching. Each clock is ticking down to the highly anticipated opening match on 21 December at 20:00 local time, when hosts Morocco will face Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The…

Sep

11

2025

By The African Mirror

The battle for 2026 FIFA World Cup: Nigeria, Cameroon dreams hang in the balance

FOOTBALL

AS the dust settles on another dramatic day of World Cup qualifying across Africa, two contrasting narratives emerge from the beautiful game's most unforgiving theatre. While Senegal and South Africa inch tantalizingly close to booking their tickets to the 2026 World Cup, two of West Africa's most storied footballing nations - Nigeria and Cameroon - find themselves staring into the abyss of qualification heartbreak. The Rise of the Underdogs In perhaps the most stunning subplot of Tuesday's action, the tiny Cape Verde Islands delivered a thunderbolt that reverberated across the continent. With a population barely exceeding 600,000 souls scattered across…

Sep

09

2025

By The African Mirror

Africa’s World Cup renaissance: Nine nations set to shine on global stage

FOOTBALL

THE drums of African football are beating louder than ever as the continent's elite nations enter the most crucial phase of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. With just four matchdays separating dreams from devastation, nine coveted tickets to North America are sparking fierce battles across the continent. Morocco Leads the Charge with Ruthless Precision The Atlas Lions have roared their way into history, becoming the first African nation to punch their ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals. Their emphatic 5-0 demolition of Niger at home wasn't just a victory—it was a statement of intent that echoed across…

Sep

05

2025

By SPORTS REPORTER

African World Cup dreams take shape

FOOTBALL

THE race for 2026 World Cup qualification heated up across Africa this week, with South Africa maintaining their surprising grip at the summit while continental powerhouses Nigeria find themselves in unfamiliar territory - chasing from behind. South Africa's Commanding Display Against Lesotho In a match that epitomised their resurgent campaign, Bafana Bafana delivered a masterclass performance, dismantling neighbours Lesotho 3-0 at home to preserve their precious lead atop Group C. The victory was as convincing as it was crucial, with South Africa showcasing the attacking flair and defensive solidity that has defined their unexpected rise. The breakthrough came in the…

Sep

04

2025

By The African Mirror

CAF World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: The state of play as Africa’s qualifying resumes

FOOTBALL

AFRICAN qualifying restarts on Wednesday with decisive stakes and places at the 2026 World Cup on the line.The equation is simple enough: the nine group winners qualify automatically for 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA. The four best runners-up head to the CAF play-offs for a route to the inter-confederation tournament. Here’s the state of play — group by group, the current tables, plus the fixtures to come. Group A Egypt have set a fierce pace and can all but seal top spot with another strong window. Burkina Faso remain the only realistic challengers and will fancy a late…

Sep

04

2025

By The African Mirror

SA: Pirates coach Ouaddou hospitalised after highway heroics turn tragic

FOOTBALL

ORLANDO Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is fighting for his recovery in a Gauteng hospital in South Africa after a devastating road accident that has sent shockwaves through South African football. The 46-year-old Moroccan legend and former Fulham defender was struck by a Nissan NP200 pickup truck on Sunday evening while performing an act of extraordinary courage – stopping to help victims of a highway collision on his team's journey home from victory. Ouaddou and five members of his backroom staff, including defender Tapelo Xoki, were rushed to hospital following the horrific incident on the R21 highway. The coaching staff…

Sep

01

2025

By The African Mirror

Morocco star Oussama Lamlioui: ‘We proved worthy of the people’s trust’

CHAN 2024

OUSSAMA Lamlioui dedicated Morocco’s record third TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) title to the nation’s supporters after scoring twice in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Madagascar in the final at Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre. The RS Berkane forward was named TotalEnergies Man of the Match for his brace — his second award of the tournament after his group-stage heroics against DR Congo — and also secured the Golden Boot with six goals. A nation rewarded With over 38 million Moroccans following the Atlas Lions’ campaign, Lamlioui said the team had repaid the faith placed in them. “I thank the…

Aug

28

2025

By The African Mirror

AFRICAN POWERHOUSE: Continental stars command Premier League’s multimillion-pound transfer revolution

FOOTBALL

THE Premier League's insatiable appetite for African talent has reached fever pitch this summer, with continental stars orchestrating some of the most significant transfers in recent memory. From established superstars to emerging prospects, African players are not just participating in the transfer market - they're commanding it. The Exodus and Arrivals: African Giants on the Move Mohamed Salah's Liverpool Legacy Continues Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah remains a cornerstone of Liverpool's ambitions, with teammate Wilfred Ndidi naming him among the top three African players of the 2024-25 Premier League season. The Pharaohs captain, now 33, continues to defy age with performances…

Aug

28

2025

By The African Mirror

Morocco and Madagascar set up historic CHAN final in Nairobi

CHAN 2024

MOROCCO will face Madagascar in the final of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 on Saturday after both sides came through dramatic semi-finals on Tuesday. The Atlas Lions, champions in 2018 and 2020, ended Senegal’s hopes of back-to-back titles by winning 5-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw in Kampala. Earlier in Dar es Salaam, Madagascar reached their first-ever continental final thanks to a 116th-minute strike from substitute Toky Rakotondraibe that sealed a 1-0 victory over Sudan. In Kampala, holders Senegal made the brighter start when Joseph Layousse headed them ahead in the 16th minute. Morocco responded…

Aug

23

2025

By The African Mirror

The Dawn of a new era: Kenya’s football renaissance

CHAN 2024

THE roar of 60,000 voices at Kasarani Stadium still echoes through Nairobi's streets, a thunderous testament to a nation's football awakening. While Madagascar's penalty shootout victory on Friday night may have ended Kenya's historic CHAN debut in heartbreak, it also marked the beginning of something far more significant – the resurrection of Kenyan football. A Foundation Built on Dreams For 38 years, the Harambee Stars had wandered in the continental wilderness, their last semi-final appearance a distant memory. But under South African coach Benni McCarthy's guidance, Kenya didn't just participate in their first African Nations Championship – they conquered it…