FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Mar

18

2026

Morocco handed AFCON title after Senegal are stripped

FOOTBALL

TWO months after they were crowned champions, had a trophy tour in their nation's capital and awarded lucrative bonuses, Senegal have been stripped of their mantle as African football champions. Morocco have been named the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Champions after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appeal board made a landmark decision, overturning Senegal's helm as the champions of the 2025 tournament following an appeal made by Morocco. The night in question involved a goal scored by Ismaila Sarr that was disallowed before Morocco were awarded a late penalty following VAR intervention. In protest to the call, Senegal…

Mar

14

2026

By The African Mirror

José Riveiro among candidates if Kaizer Chiefs pull the trigger on coaching change

FOOTBALL

WITH pressure continuing to mount at South Africa’s top team, Kaizer Chiefs, following inconsistent results through different phases of the season, speculation has begun to grow around the future of co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze, with reports linking both to a possible exit from the club. Chiefs have struggled to match the pace set by title contenders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, with frustration among supporters becoming increasingly visible in recent weeks. Although Amakhosi have not signalled any immediate changes, speculation continues that they could pull the trigger, with several candidates reportedly in the mix. José Riveiro One…

Mar

14

2026

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

A digital database of African football talent is coming soon

FOOTBALL

GROWING up in Ghana, Nana Yaw Oppong-Mensah spent countless afternoons playing football in neighbourhood matches where the level of competition was often surprisingly high. He remembers the players he grew up with as technically gifted, fast, and fiercely competitive. Yet years later, many had disappeared from the professional pathway. “In Africa, there is a lot of talent in the communities,” Oppong-Mensah explained in an interview with Bird Story Agency. “You see players who are incredibly good, but many of them never get the visibility they need to move forward.” For Oppong-Mensah, the problem is not a shortage of ability. It…

Feb

20

2026

By LLOYD KAI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Coach Tibu’s female football team is breaking barriers

FOOTBALL

BY 9 am, Fathime Hamisi Omari is standing on a football pitch in the quaint, creekside community of Mnarani. She has already seen her child off to school. Now, she is in full-blown coach mode. Whistle in hand, she commands the technical drills for Moving The Goalposts (MTG) United. Known to her community and peers as "Coach Tibu," the 32-year-old is the head coach of MTG’s football team. Her presence on the sidelines is a deliberate disruption of the status quo in a region where professional sports coaching remains an overwhelmingly male-dominated field. "To be honest, being a female football…

Feb

18

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Nigerian striker Osimhen breaks silence: “I was victim of racist abuse at Napoli”

FOOTBALL

GALATASARAY striker Victor Osimhen has delivered explosive testimony about his acrimonious departure from Napoli, accusing the club of racist treatment and betrayal following a penalty miss last season. In a revealing interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nigerian international detailed the events that fractured his relationship with the Serie A champions, centring on a controversial TikTok video posted by the club that mocked his penalty miss. "After Napoli posted that TikTok video, something definitely broke," Osimhen told the Italian publication. "Anyone can miss a penalty, anyone can be mocked for it. But Napoli did it only to me —…

Feb

17

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Nigeria awarded 2026 FIFA World Cup spot in boardroom after DR Congo disqualified for fielding ineligible player

FOOTBALL

NIGERIA has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup without kicking another ball, after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruled that the Democratic Republic of Congo fielded an ineligible player during their Best Losers Playoff match. The decision, announced by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee, overturns DR Congo's 2-1 victory and awards the match to Nigeria by forfeit with a 3-0 scoreline, handing the Super Eagles the final African qualification spot for the tournament. The ruling centres on an unnamed player referred to as "Player X" in FIFA's decision, who scored during the playoff match but had not completed the required nationality switch…

Feb

09

2026

By WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU

East Africa’s dismal football record doesn’t match its passion – what needs to happen

FOOTBALL

EAST Africa loves football. From the streets of Nairobi and the markets of Kampala to the beaches of Dar es Salaam, the passion for soccer is an undeniable current running through the region. Yet, despite fan support, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania haven’t translated this enthusiasm into sustained international success. A new book that draws on the career-long research of Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu explores the deep roots of the game in the region. It also examines the structural and gender challenges and the immense opportunities that lie ahead. We asked him about it. How was the modern game introduced? The…

Feb

06

2026

By The African Mirror

Exclusive: South Africa Sports Minister backs US ‘ICE’ programme ahead of FIFA World Cup

FOOTBALL

FOLLOWING their elimination in the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Bafana Bafana will now turn their attention to the biggest stage in world football — the FIFA World Cup. As South Africa’s qualification campaign continues, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has once again made headlines with strong and controversial remarks ahead of the global tournament. The FIFA World Cup will be hosted jointly by the United States of America and Mexico. However, strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States have raised concerns that visa restrictions could prevent South African supporters…

Jan

29

2026

By The African Mirror

CRACKDOWN: Massive fines for Senegal, Morocco as CAF wields iron fist to restore AFCON’s tarnished reputation

FOOTBALL

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has delivered its most emphatic statement on discipline in recent memory, imposing crushing financial penalties and lengthy suspensions on players, coaches and federations following the chaotic breakdown of order that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. In sanctions that totaled over $1 million in fines and saw multiple suspensions handed down, CAF's Disciplinary Board made clear that the disgraceful scenes in Rabat on January 18 - when Senegal's squad temporarily abandoned the pitch in protest and near-riots threatened to engulf the continental showpiece - represented an unacceptable breach that demanded severe consequences.…

Jan

29

2026

By CHUKA ONWUMECHILI

Afcon drama: what went wrong and what went right at the continent’s biggest football cup in Morocco

FOOTBALL

THE 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco, produced thrills and several story lines, some good and others not so good. It ended in a victory for Senegal – their second Afcon championship. While the 1-0 victory over Morocco was deserved, the championship game ended on a sour note as fans invaded the field and the winning country abandoned the game for 16 minutes. I’m a sports communications scholar and an author of multiple books on football as it relates to Africa. The top four positives of the tournament were: quality matches played on impeccable surfaces…