South Africa stretched an unbeaten run to a record 16 matches Saturday with a 3-1 friendly international victory over Guinea-Bissau in Durban. Kermit Erasmus and Andile Jali converted penalties and Percy Tau scored on debut for Bafana Bafana (“The Boys”) at a wet and windy Moses Mabhida Stadium. Djalo “Aldair” Balde scored for Guinea-Bissau, whose … Read more
Guinea-Bissau’s maiden participation at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations has provided the platform for future qualifications, says the country’s football federation president. Against all odds, the west African nation contested Gabon 2017 – despite having won a total of just four competitive qualifiers in their history prior to the tournament. “When we called people … Read more
Cameroon have chosen two stars who shunned the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations-winning campaign for their first match since defeating Egypt in the final last month. Marseille midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Schalke striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting were recalled for a friendly against Tunisia in Monastir Friday. They were among eight of the preliminary Cameroon Cup … Read more
Qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations begins on Wednesday, just 45 days after Cameroon snatched victory over Egypt in the final of the previous edition. The “Indomitable Lions” of Cameroon and the “Pharaohs” of Egypt will not be involved, however, as they are among 45 countries given byes to the group phase. That … Read more
Hundreds of protesters marched in the capital of Guinea Bissau on Saturday to demand the departure of President Jose Mario Vaz, the latest sign of growing anti-government sentiment following an 18-month-long political crisis. The former Portuguese colony in West Africa has not convened parliament for more than a year and regional talks have failed to … Read more
Nightmarish conditions in Libya are helping to drive a surge in the numbers of migrants attempting to reach Italy in the depths of winter, humanitarian officials and asylum seekers say. European efforts to close the route are also thought to lie behind a 30 to 40 percent increase in the number of mainly African migrants … Read more
Facebook beat Wall Street expectations for sales and user growth in the fourth quarter of 2016, and it credits Internet.org, its free basic version of the internet in developing countries, for helping make that happen. The three most popular internet-based services or apps in Nigeria alone are Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp — all owned by … Read more
The 2016 edition of the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scored Ghana 43 points out of a possible clean score of 100 and showed that Ghana’s performance has dropped by four percentage points from its 2015 score of 47 points. A release by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local wing of Transparency International (TI), a … Read more
The 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) might have come and gone but the experiences will most definitely linger for a little while. Cameroon, against all odds, clinched the title at the expense of Egypt – the same team they lost to in the finals in 2008 – thanks to a 2-1 … Read more
Vincent Aboubakar scored a brilliant late goal to hand unfancied Cameroon a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Egypt and their fifth African Nations Cup title in an entertaining final on Sunday. Cameroon, who had eight of their players withdraw before the tournament, came from a goal down after midfielder Mohamed Elneny had put Egypt ahead midway … Read more
An A to Z of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon… A (Algeria) Once again touted as potential champions and once again flops, exiting after first round without a win. Big names like Riyad Mahrez and Yacine Brahimi failed to deliver five-star performances. B (Bouanga) Gabon striker Denis Bouanga was a revelation, overshadowing … Read more
Top quotes from the Africa Cup of Nations tournament: “I had a feeling that I was going to save the final two penalties.” – 44-year-old Egypt goalkeeping hero Essam El Hadary after saving two penalties in a semifinal shootout win over Burkina Faso. “The bags of a coach are always half-packed – ready to stay, … Read more
Ahead of the Nations Cup, there were some concerns that this tournament shorn of big-name players—the likes of Gervinho, Yannick Bolasie and Joel Matip all missed out for various reasons—would lack the starpower that typically characterises major tournaments. However, in the absence of various African heavyweights, some of the continent’s less heralded stars have stepped … Read more
After three weeks of pulsating football and great goals, the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations is down to two teams who will contest the final on Sunday, 5 February, at the Stade Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will square up with the Pharaohs of Egypt in what is expected to … Read more
The Ghanaian passport is one of the most respected passports in Africa; ranked 73rd on the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index. As of 2016, Ghanaian citizens had visa-free, visa on arrival or e-Visa access to 64 countries. Because of the ECOWAS agreement, citizens of Ghana can visit West African countries without visa for up … Read more
Football legend Joseph-Antoine Bell has charged football powers such as Ghana, Cameroun, Nigeria and Egypt to lead the drive to close the gap between Africa and the rest of the world, particularly Europe and South America, saying it is the ‘big boys’ of African football who are best placed to provide leadership for the rest … Read more
A finely-poised tie remained goalless until the 72nd minute, when Ghana goalkeeper Razak Brimah failed to deal with a free-kick into his area and John Boye’s weak defensive header merely served as an assist for Ngadeu to control and fire home. Bassogog then broke away to clinch the win and spark wild celebrations as Hugo … Read more
By El-Amisty Nobo The Black Stars of Ghana and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will come at each other’s throat on Thursday, February 2, at the Stade de Franceville in Gabon as both side’s eyes the final spot to playing Egypt in the finals of the 2017 African Cup of Nations [AFCON]. The last time … Read more
Libreville (AFP) – Senegal coach Aliou Cisse insists Africa Cup of Nations opponents Cameroon are favourites to win the eagerly-awaited quarter-final in Franceville on Saturday. Pundits beg to differ, though, making the Senegalese Teranga Lions favourites not only to reach the semi-finals, but to go on and win the competition for the first time. Senegal … Read more
Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang believes insufficient time together led to the hosts’ group-stage elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations. The Panthers needed to beat Cameroon on Sunday but could only draw 0-0. Aubameyang said: “It is really annoying because we had chances. Sadly there are days when it doesn’t go in, like my first … Read more