FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Sep

01

2025

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…

Aug

22

2025

By The African Mirror

Wanyama: TotalEnergies CHAN is Africa’s hidden gateway to football greatness

CHAN 2024

VICTOR Wanyama’s name resonates across Europe, from anchoring Celtic’s midfield to starring in the Premier League with Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. Yet, when the former Harambee Stars skipper talks about football, his passion returns home. Today, he believes one tournament above all is shaping the future of African players—the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN). “CHAN is a very important tournament for African football,” Wanyama told CAFOnline.com. “It gives the local players a chance to show what they can do and is also a good platform for scouts to come and watch some great talent and pick them up for bigger leagues…

Aug

21

2025

By The African Mirror

Quarter-final line-up set as CHAN 2024 enters knockout stage

CHAN 2024

THE TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 has reached its knockout phase, with the quarter-final fixtures confirmed after a dramatic final round of group matches on Tuesday night. For the first time in CAF history, a major competition is being co-hosted by three nations — Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — and all three will feature in the last eight, ensuring the festival of football continues to attract huge crowds. The co-hosts’ collective progress has added further weight to the tournament’s “Pamoja” (Swahili for together) theme, as East Africa prepares for another round of capacity stadiums and fervent support. Kenya Top Group…

Aug

21

2025

By The African Mirror

Sudan’s Kwesi Appiah: From late start to rising contenders at CHAN 2024

CHAN 2024

TOURNAMENT football is often defined by momentum, and for Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah, his side is finding theirs at precisely the right moment. The Falcons of Jediane topped Group D of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, edging holders Senegal on goal difference after a tense 0-0 draw in Zanzibar on Tuesday night. Remarkably, Sudan had assembled just four days before the competition began, yet Appiah’s men have progressed unbeaten through the group stage. “We started the competition slowly but progressed to beat Nigeria and grind out a result against Senegal,” the Ghanaian tactician explained. “The more we advance,…

Aug

20

2025

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

East Africa’s upgraded stadiums spark a robust vision for sports tourism

CHAN 2024

THE 2024 CHAN, a tournament exclusively for home-based players, has given Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania a shared and immovable deadline to meet international hosting standards. For Kenya, the deadline has been matched by form on the pitch. The Harambee Stars are enjoying a dream run, booking a quarter-final slot after edging Zambia 1 – 0 on Sunday. The team has also won over two-time champions Morocco. According to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) official Michael Senelwa, the infrastructure gains are as significant as the football. “These facilities are an investment in positioning East Africa as a serious contender for bigger tournaments…

Aug

19

2025

By The African Mirror

Kenya coach McCarthy warns against complacency, Grant shifts Zambia focus to future

CHAN 2024

KENYA’S unbeaten march into the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 came with a warning from head coach Benni McCarthy — focus must remain as the journey gets tougher. The Harambee Stars defeated Zambia 1-0 in Nairobi to finish top of Group A with three wins and a draw, sparking celebrations among their home fans. But while McCarthy hailed the achievement, his opposite number Avram Grant was already looking ahead, stressing that the tournament had served as a testing ground for Zambia’s next generation. McCarthy urges focus after perfect group stage “I am very happy that…

Aug

15

2025

By The African Mirror

Atlas Lions roar back to life in Nairobi thriller

CHAN 2024

UNDER the blazing floodlights of Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium, Morocco's Atlas Lions delivered a masterclass in redemption, tearing apart Zambia 3-1 in a pulsating TotalEnergies African Nations Championship encounter that will be remembered for years to come. The two-time champions arrived in Kenya's capital with their backs against the wall, their dreams of continental glory hanging by the thinnest of threads after a shocking defeat to the hosts. But on this electric night, with the East African air crackling with tension, Morocco reminded everyone why they wear the crown. From the opening whistle, the Atlas Lions prowled their territory with…