Planet Sport Football Africa

This week we catch up on the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt with the top four teams qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile.And with the European season coming to a close, we highlight a few of the top African players around Europe – we assess how Nigeria's Victor Osimhen has done at Galatasaray, we talk about Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, who's helped PSG to the Uefa Champions League final, and we look at the scoring exploits of Guinean Serhou Guirassy at Borussia Dortmund.Plus Stuart on Trent Alexander-Arnold's time at Liverpool, and Jamie Vardy on his exploits with Leicester, as he prepares to leave the club.

This week we focus on the long-running court case following the death on the pitch of Martins Chineme in Nigeria. A court case found Nigeria's leading football bodies to be negligent for the death of Chineme, who had heart issues, and global players' union Fifpro says it's a landmark ruling.  Also we look back at the drama of last weekend's CAF Champions league semi-final second legs, with Sundowns of South Africa knocking out holders Al Ahly to set up a final against Pyramids of Egypt.   And with Liverpool winning the EPL title, Stuart asks how good the team is.

This week we have a special report from the Arsenal Africa Fan Festival in Kigali, Rwanda, as Gunners fans from around the continent got together.We take a look at the CAF African Schools Football Championship 2025, taking place in Ghana.And with Liverpool likely to be crowned EPL champions this weekend, we look at the race for the Champions League places.

This week we go in-depth on Andre Onana and Manchester United, with the Cameroon goalkeeper making errors for United and getting dropped, only to be brought back for Thursday's game against Lyon, with coach Reuben Amorim defending him.We assess Onana's performance over the past two seasons at United, and his future prospects.Also we catch up on the U17 AFCON in Morocco, with 10 African teams having qualified for the U17 World Cup. Plus Stuart on the drama of the Uefa Champions League semi-finals.

This week we catch up on the CAF Champions League, with two South Africa v Egypt semi-finals.And in the CAF Confederation Cup a stunning result for Stellenbosch of South Africa, knocking out holders Zamalek in the quarter-finals, while Simba of Tanzania turned things around against Al Masry to make it through.There's a row involving Cameroon keeper Andre Onana before United's Europa League showdown with Lyon.Also we hear from Real Madrid and Germany defender Antonio Rudiger, whose father is from Sierra Leone, on his charitable foundation in Sierra Leone and his views on the power of sport.Plus Stuart on the Uefa Champions League and Kevin de Bruyne's decision to leave Man City at the end of the season.

This week we go to Morocco and hear about the Under-17 AFCON being hosted there.We also hear how the Atlas Lions are doing ahead of the senior AFCON in Morocco in December.Also we take a look at the first legs of the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, with Pyramids of Egypt the biggest winners.And lots on the EPL, as Liverpool continue their march towards the title.

This week we catch up on the World Cup qualifiers for Africa, with Nigeria in trouble after being held to a draw by Zimbabwe, with Ghana on track with back-to-back wins, and with Algeria, Egypt and Morocco are all looking good at this stage.We hear from Nigeria coach Eric Chelle.Also we look ahead to this weekend's FA Cup quarter-finals, and Stuart highlights some of the African players doing well across Europe.

This week we catch up on the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Africa, the latest games are on up until Tuesday, with so much to play for.And we find out about the African Club Association – launched in 2023 to support club football, but how does it work, and what are the priorities?Also we take a look at scouting – what are scouts and football agents scouts looking for exactly when they assess African players? Plus Stuart on Newcastle's long-overdue trophy in England.

This week we talk about CAF president Patrice Motsepe, who's been re-elected unopposed for a second term, as we look at how he has steadied the ship on the continent.Also the Fifa Council elections took place at the CAF General Assembly, with a few surprise winners and losers.And we explain how Equatorial Guinea's record goalscorer Emilio Nsue has been officially cleared to play for the country by Fifa, coming back from a ban.Plus Stuart on the plans for a new stadium for Manchester United.

This week we focus on football in Libya, as Senegal's Aliou Cissé has been appointed Libya national team coach, with a contract that will make him the second-highest-paid coach in African football, and with a glittering new stadium opened in Benghazi. Will Libya be rewarded with success?Also we talk about the issue of players switching international allegiance, and we hear from Chuba Akpom, who switched allegiance from England to Nigeria, but is still waiting to be called up by the Super Eagles.And Stuart has lots on the FA Cup, including analysis on Manchester United's exit from the competition.

This week we talk about the controversy sparked by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, as he suggested that the AFCON is not considered a "major tournament", as he was discussing Mohamed Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or.Was he disrespecting the tournament, or is there any truth in what he said?Also we're talking sport and politics, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled in favour of the Algerian Football Federation and USM Alger in a matter centred on the disputed territory of Western Sahara.And Stuart on the EPL, as Liverpool extend the gap over Arsenal at the top.

This week we zoom in on Africans in the English Premier League, with Egypt's Omar Marmoush, Burkina Faso's Dango Ouattara and Beto, from Guinea-Bissau, all shining of late.We also talk about the Uefa Champions League, with Real Madrid knocking Man City out, and we talk to the 1997 African Footballer of the Year – Victor Ikpeba of Nigeria.Ikpeba played as a striker and spent six seasons with Monaco in France and three seasons in Germany at Borussia Dortmund, and won the 1994 AFCON and Olympic Gold in 1996.Ikpeba tells us what it takes to make it at the top level.

This week we talk to Ghana great Andre “Dede” Ayew, who's now 35 and the Black Stars' most-capped player.Dede tell us about his longevity in his career.Also we go down memory lane and talk about Ayew's legendary father Abedi Pele, three-time African Footballer of the Year in the 1990s.Plus Stuart on the dramatic Merseyside derby.

This week we to Nigeria's Victor Osimhen, who was linked to Arsenal and Chelsea ahead of this season, but ended up at Galatasaray in Turkey. Osimhen tells us about his targets for the Super Eagles under new coach Eric Chelle.We have lots on the just-ended transfer window, with Zimbabwean Marshal Munetsi joining Wolves. Also we look at transfer spending in Africa, as South African club Mamelodi Sundowns were Africa's biggest spenders on transfers in 2024.And more on the AFCON draw as we hear from Zambia and Botswana.

This week we analyse the draw for the 2025 AFCON, with Cameroon v Cote d'Ivoire among the appetising match-ups in the group stage, and with three Southern African teams in Group B – South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe, along with seven-time champions Egypt.Also we talk about football in Burundi, as we hear from Burundi international Youssouf Ndayishimiye, who has been outstanding for French club Nice this season.And lots on the EPL from Stuart, who also looks at some of the most bizarre yellow cards ever.

This week we catch up on the CAF Champions League, with South Africa's Orlando Pirates impressing in the group stage, while TP Mazembe, Yanga and Raja Casablanca all missed out on the quarter-finals.Also we speak to two France-based players turning out for Le Havre, Egypt international striker Ahmed Hassan, who's hoping for a place in the Pharaohs' AFCON squad, and Emmanuel Sabbi, who was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents and represents the USA, where he grew up.And Stuart on the EPL and the Uefa Champions League and on Erling Haaland's new mega-contract with Manchester City.

This week we talk about the surprise decision to delay the 2024 African Nations Championship to August, just 18 days before it was due to kick off in East Africa.Also we dig into one of the longest-running debates in African football – whether national teams are better off with local coaches or foreign coaches.While local coaches like Walid Regragui with Morocco and the late Stephen Keshi with Nigeria and Togo did great things, we still have European coaches coming in to the continent and usually receiving better treatment than local coaches.We speak to Emerse Fae, who won the AFCON last year with Cote d'Ivoire.And we have Stuart on the EPL, as Arsenal narrow the gap on Liverpool.

This week we catch up on the Caf Champions League, as holders Al Ahly of Egypt saw their 27-match unbeaten run coming to an end.Also, this week marked the 15th anniversary of one of the most dreadful incidents in the history of African football – the attack on the Togo team bus ahead of the 2010 AFCON in Angola, as shootings left two members of the Togo delegation dead and 10 others injured. Emmanuel Adebayor reflects on the incident.And we have listeners' views on Manchester United and Stuart reflects on United's improved performance against Liverpool.

This week we speak to one of the best female goalkeepers in the world, Nigeria's Chiamaka Nnadozie, who won the African Women's Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second successive year last month.She tells us about her journey to Europe, to Paris FC. Also we take a look at the calendar for 2025 in African football, with a busy year ahead, and we have Stuart with the EPL latest, and a look at whether Man United coach Reuben Amorim should change his formation.

This week we look back at 2024 in African football, with a memorable edition of the AFCON in Cote d'Ivoire, a good football tournament at the Olympics for the men, but disappointing for the women.We spoke to many African football stars, including Emmanuel Adebayor, the 2008 African Footballer of the Year, shared the story of how he was unable to walk until he was five, and how a visit to a church in Ghana led to him starting to walk, and how it was the sight of a football that saw him spring up to his feet.Also Stuart on the EPL, with Marcus Rashford wanting to leave Manchester United.

This week we talk about Nigeria's Ademola Lookman, winner of the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award.Also we have an interview with Benin coach Gernot Rohr, the German who coached Nigeria from 2016 to 2021, and who has qualified Benin for the 2025 AFCON.And we have Stuart on Ahmad Diallo's journey to success at Manchester United.

This week we talk about Morocco being confirmed as co-hosts of the 2030 Fifa World Cup.We analyse the draw for the Fifa Club World Cup, with some big games for the four African teams to look forward to.We catch up on the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, and Stuart explains the significance of sporting director Dan Ashworth leaving Manchester United.

This week we talk about the stadium tragedy in Guinea, with at least 56 people killed in a crush at a match.We look ahead to Matchday 2 of the CAF Champions League, and with Mohamed Salah having one of his best seasons ever with Liverpool, we look at his future at the club beyond this season, with no new contract for the Egyptian as yet.Also we speak to one of Nigeria's most experienced players in European football Anthony Ujah, now based in Bulgaria. Ujah gives us insights into the various pressures that players face.Plus Stuart on the EPL title race.

This week we focus on the Caf Champions League, as the group stage got underway on Tuesday with an easy win for record 12-time champions Al Ahly of Egypt.Also we speak to Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong, on life at Saudi club Al-Kholood his Troost-Ekong foundation in Nigeria, and the tough road ahead for the Super Eagles in 2026 World Cup qualifying.Also Stuart looks at possible reasons for Man City's crisis.

This week we catch up on the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, as Ghana and Guinea failed to make it, Botswana qualified for only the second time, Tunisia progressed but with a stuttering campaign, and Morocco did it in style.Also we have an interview with Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka, who's on loan from Brentford to German side Augsburg. He tells us about life in the Bundesliga.And Stuart tells us about huge attendances in the English Championship.

This week we talk about the decisive few days in African football as the last two rounds of qualifiers for the 2025 AFCON are on.Senegal have already qualified, and we speak to their football federation president Augustin Senghor on the decision to part ways with the team's most successful coach, Aliou Cisse.Also we talk about Amad Diallo's great recent form with Manchester United, and whether the Ivorian can secure a place in the United starting line-up.And we have Stuart on Man City's slump in form.

This week we talk about the Caf Women's Champions League, which starts on Saturday in Morocco, with increased prize money.We look at the career of African football legend Emmanuel Adebayor, who recently had a testimonial in Togo to mark the end of his career. And Adebayor tells us about his faith - how he sleeps with his Bible under his pillow, and how he was unable to walk until he was 5, and how a visit to a church in Ghana led to him starting to walk, fittingly at the sight of a football.Also Stuart on the new Manchester United coach Reuben Amorim – is everything now in place, or are there still issues of concern at the club?

This week we zoom in on the Ballon d'Or ceremony, as Rodri took the men's award ahead of Vini Junior, amid allegations of racism.We also look at the nominees for the CAF Awards, with Victor Boniface, Mohamed Salah and Mohammed Kudus all missing out.Also, CAF president Patrice Motsepe says he is looking to secure a second term, and Stuart on Manchester United's future following the sacking of Erik Ten Hag.

This week we talk Beach Soccer, with Senegal playing Mauritania in the final of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt on Saturday.We find out more about the game and hear from Nigerian Abu Azeez, an African legend of beach soccer. Also we have a look at the Caf Congress, with positive financial developments reported, and lots on the Uefa Champions League, as plenty of African players impressed this week.

This week we look at the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, with Nigeria pulling out of their game in Libya in controversial circumstances, and with Ghana in serious trouble and looking unlikely to qualify.Also we look ahead to the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, and Stuart analyses Thomas Tuchel's appointment as England manager.

This week we look at the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, with teams in back-to-back qualifiers in the space of a few days, and a lot at stake.We also talk about the Egyptian who's outscoring Harry Kane in Germany – Egypt forward Omar Marmoush, and we analyse the Ballon D'Or nominees, with Nigeria's Ademola Lookman the only African player on the 30-man shortlist.And Stuart assesses the situation at Manchester United, as the poor results continue.

This week we analyse the surprise decision by the Senegal Football Federation to part ways with national team coach Aliou Cisse, after a long and successful time in charge.We also look at the Fifa ban for Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o, which bars him from attending any Cameroon international matches for six months.We speak to Ivorian defender Cedric Kipré, who moved to Reims in France as he hopes to make it to the Cote D'Ivoire national team.And lots on the Uefa Champions League, as Mohamed Salah becomes the highest-scoring African player in Champions League history.

This week we catch up on the teams that made it through to the group stage of this season's CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, with some tough qualifying ties and lots of big teams making it through.We speak to Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Agbadou, was named as captain of French club Stade de Reims at the start of the season. We talk about some of the other Africans who have captained teams in Europe's top five leagues.And lots on the EPL, as Thomas Partey and Nicolas Jackson impress, and an assessment of Real Madrid and Barcelona's seasons so far.

This week we look at the plans and preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship, the CHAN, with the dates announced for the tournament, which will take place in February in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. We hear from CAF president Patrice Motsepe.Also we talk about the issue of national teams and clubs in continental action having to play home games away from home because of not having approved stadiums – is the CAF crackdown working?And we have Stuart on the new-look Uefa Champions League.

This week we catch up on the opening games in qualifying for the 2025 AFCON, with North African teams making great starts, while Ghana have only one point from their first two games.Also we speak to young Gambian talent Adama Bojang, who's moved on loan to Grasshopper Club Zurich in Switzerland as he looks for first team football to get into the Gambia senior national team.And with the EPL back this weekend, Stuart looks at some of the notable transfers, and highlights how the sale of Scott McTominay and Conor Gallagher was effective in helping Man United and Chelsea to balance their books.

This week we dig into the Victor Osimhen saga, as the African Footballer of the Year has ended up at Galatasaray, with a move to Chelsea falling through.We pay tribute to Ivory Coast defender Sol Bamba, who died last week aged 39.With the 2025 AFCON qualifiers underway, we hear from Ghana defender Alidu Seidu, and we have Stuart on the EPL and on Ivan Toney's move to Saudi Arabia.

This week we go to Paris and find out how the 2024 Paralympic Games are comparing to the Olympics.We head to Lagos too, as Nigeria have appointed German Bruno Labbadia as the new Super Eagles coach just ahead of the start of the AFCON qualifiers.And Stuart looks at some of the eye-catching transfers in Europe.

On this week's show we get the latest on Morrocco's preparations for the 2025 AFCON, and talk about their bronze medal in the men's football at the Paris Olympics.With the new EPL season underway, we talk about some of the leading African prospects – Yankubah Minteh, the Gambian winger who's joined Brighton, Ghana's Abdul Fatawu at Leicester, Nossair Mazraoui and Ahmad Diallo at Man United, and of course Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. And Stuart looks at the issues at Chelsea with their bloated squad.

n this week's show we pay tribute to former CAF president Issa Hayatou, who is being remembered as a fierce defender of African football during his 29-year reign.We look ahead to the new EPL season, and highlight a few African stars to watch out for.And we speak to Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare, who plays for Belgian side Genk, having had spells in Latvia, Germany and France. He tells us about the pressure of being a centre-forward.

This week's show is another 2024 Paris Olympics special, with Stuart Weir and Piers Edwards both in Paris.We talk about Morocco's bronze medal in the men's football, and Stuart and Piers tell us about their experiences of the Olympics, the sights and the sporting highlights.Plus, we talk EPL, with the start of the season just a week away, and the Community Shield on this weekend. 

This week's show is a 2024 Paris Olympics special, with Stuart Weir and Piers Edwards both in Paris.We talk about Zambia's cruel defeat to Australia in the women's football, as they exited at the group stage along with Nigeria, plus Guinea and Mali in the men's tournament.We hear from Zambia striker Racheal Kundananji. And Stuart and Piers tell us about their experiences of the Olympics, the sights and the sporting highlights, stories and statistics and lots more.

On this week's show we focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics, we find out what it's like in Paris, what to expect, and we look at the men's and women's football tournaments as Africa tries for a third gold in the men's competition.Also Stuart looks at the transfer moves in the EPL, the new managers, and the latest concerns over there being too much football on the calendar.  

On this week's show we look at the South African government's decision to stop paying for so-called superfans to attend the AFCON and other sports events.We talk about CAF's decision to stage the CAF Super Cup in Saudi Arabia for the second year in a row.We speak to Nigeria midfielder Peter Etebo, who's back in action after missing the whole of last season due to injury. And we have Stuart on Euro 2024.

On this week's show, with the Euro 2024 final on Sunday, we talk about Spain star Lamine Yamal and his African roots.We have an in-depth interview with Nigeria and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who had a good second season in the EPL but was plagued by injuries. Awoniyi talks about last season, his family, faith and culture.Also Stuart looks ahead to the England v Spain final and he explains why some top players have holes in their socks.

On this week's show we talk about Gambia winger Yankuba Minteh's move to Brighton, making him the most expensive African Under-20 player ever.We also look at Africans that are leaving the EPL due to non-renewal of contracts, including Joel Matip at Liverpool.And we focus on the issue of match-fixing and hear from a Zambian, Nchimunya Mweetwa, who was banned by Fifa for three years in a match-fixing scandal, resulting on him missing out on a big move in Europe. Mweetwa now warns other about the dangers of match-fixing.

On this week's show we speak to Peter Ndlovu, the Zimbabwean who made history as the first black African to play in the EPL, and also the first African to score in the EPL, when he was playing for Coventry City.We look at the reasons that led CAF to schedule the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December 2025 and January 2026, over Christmas and New Year.We have lots on Euro 2024, and Stuart assesses the impact that African players made in the Saudi Pro League in the just-ended season.

On this week's show we explain the details of the latest episode of match-fixing in Africa, in Uganda, with a second scandal unearthed in the space of a year.We take a look at a list of the 10 most valuable African footballers, with Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea and Senegal somewhat surprisingly on top.And we have lots on Euro 2024, including an interview with France's all-time top scorer Olivier Giroud, on his background, his football and his faith.

On this week's show we catch up on an exciting week in Fifa World Cup qualifying for Africa, with a shock defeat for Nigeria, a great start for Cameroon's new coach, an epic win for Ghana over CAR, and great scenes in Juba as South Sudan opened the newly-renovated national stadium in Juba for a big derby match. And with Euro 2024 getting underway, we look ahead to the tournament, and we highlight some of the many players there with African roots.

On this week's show we try to get to the bottom of the astounding story that the top scorer at the African Cup of Nations five months ago, Emilio Nsue, was never eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea throughout his entire 11-year international career. We talk about the ongoing World Cup qualifiers and hear from Liberia coach Mario Marinica on the challenges of travelling for two games in less than a week. Also we look back at Real Madrid's Champions League triumph and contrast the huge success of star forward Vinicius Jr with the repeated racial abuse that he received throughout the season. Plus Stuart takes us through the latest stories and rumours around EPL managerial appointments.

On this week's show we talk about the chaotic week in Cameroonian football, with Marc Brys replaced as coach after a heated exchange with FA president Samuel Eto'o, but seemingly reinstated after some twists and turns. We have the full story from Yaounde.Also we look at the incredible exploits of Egypt's Al Ahly, who won a record-extending 12th CAF Champions League title last weekend.And Stuart has lots on the EPL and the background to the upcoming vote that Premier League clubs will have to decide whether to scrap the use of VAR.