Planet Sport Football Africa

This week we talk World Cup qualifying as Egypt and Algeria book their spots, while Ghana are almost there and Cape Verde’s possible maiden qualification will go down to the final day.Also, CAF has announced a return to profitability after several years of losses – we look at the details.And former England striker Gary Lineker has apologised to Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen after questioning his character, and Stuart looks at the issues that Liverpool are facing.

This week we talk World Cup qualifying as South Africa have been docked three points, leaving Group C wide open.With Morocco hosting the AFCON in December and co-hosting the World Cup in 2030, three people are reported to have died as hundreds of young protesters have taken to the streets across Morocco to protest against the cost of the tournaments.And as Angola fire coach Pedro Goncalves, we talk about Frenchman Patrice Beaumelle the new Angola coach, perhaps the most legendary assistant coach in African football. Plus lots on the Uefa Champions League and the EPL – is there any need for Liverpool fans to panic?

This week we analyse the Ballon d’Or awards, as Mohamed Salah took fourth place behind Ousmane Dembele, and Achraf Hakimi was sixth – did they deserve higher rankings?Also, as Luca Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria, we ask whether Zinedine Zidane could have been the best African player ever.And with Nigeria forward Tolu Arokodare getting his first goal for Wolves, we find out about his outlook on football.

This week we talk about the scoring exploits of Borussia Dortmund’s Guinean forward Serhou Guirassy, who’s continued his outstanding form into this new season.Also we look at the new FIFA anti-racism panel, which includes African football legends George Weah, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor, Khalilou Fadiga and Mercy Akide – will it succeed in fighting racism in the game.And we talk about youth football on the continent, with the Southern African COSAFA U17 Championship on here in Harare, we look at some of the different approaches taken by countries in youth football.Plus Stuart on the EPL and Jose Mourinho’s return to Benfica.

This week we catch up on the drama of the latest World Cup qualifiers in Africa, as Cape Verde are a win away from qualifying, Cameroon and Nigeria are in trouble, and North African teams are impressing.Also we talk about VAR in Africa. Outside of North Africa, only Mauritania is using the technology. We look at the prospects for the continent.And Stuart on the EPL and the Uefa Champions League.

This week we take a look at some of the big transfers made on deadline day – how will Yoane Wissa do at Newcastle, what about Wolves signing Nigeria striker Tolu Arokodare, and we talk about Senegal and Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson joining Bayern Munich on loan.Also, with the latest rounds of World Cup qualifiers underway we hear from Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees on what it takes for smaller teams to make progress.Plus Stuart on the EPL.

This week we’re at the CHAN again, the African Nations Championship in East Africa. It’s Morocco against Madagascar in the final this Saturday, as all three co-hosts went out at the quarter-final stage - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.We look ahead to the final and assess the tournament.We also look at Sudan’s success story as they reached the semi-finals with their Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah.And Stuart on the EPL as it’s Matchday 3.

This week we’re at the CHAN again, the African Nations Championship, with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda all through to the quarter-finals, Uganda doing it in truly dramatic fashion.With the EPL underway we highlight a few of the potential African stars this season, and we take a look at Burkina Faso forward Dango Ouattara’s move from Bournemouth to Brentford for a club record fee. And Stuart looks at lessons from the opening matchday in the EPL.

This week we’re at the CHAN again, the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-hosting. We’re getting to the end of the group stage, with Tanzania the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals, and Nigeria surprisingly the first team eliminated.Also we have the second part of our chat with Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who hosted a Children's Festival in Ajegunle in Lagos, where he grew up with many challenges.And with the EPL kicking off this weekend, Stuart takes a look at how Manchester United are shaping up.

This week we’re at the CHAN again, the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-hosting. A great start for Tanzania and Kenya, but Uganda have to recover from a crushing defeat to Algeria in their opener.Also we speak to Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, on the Super Eagles struggles, and on the pain of relegation with Leicester City last season.Also Stuart assesses the signings at some of the top clubs in the EPL.

This week Ephraim Tagu sits in for Steve Vickers on the show, as we look ahead to the CHAN, the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship, running from Saturday up to the 30th of this month, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-hosting the tournament, which is for home-based players only.We go to Uganda and hear that the excitement levels are not that high there.Also we speak to Benin national team midfielder Junior Olaitan, who’s moved from France to Turkey. Olaitan was born in Benin to a Nigerian father and Beninois mother, and raised in Nigeria – and he tells us about playing in Benin’s win over Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier last year. And Stuart asks how good Pep Guardiola is as a manager, and looks at how tough Brentford’s season might be, with Brian Mbeumo among their departures.

This week we have lots more on the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with Nigeria playing Morocco in the final on Saturday.Former Nigeria goalkeeper Rachel Ayegba looks ahead to the final and gives us her reflections on the tournament.Also we hear about the refereeing twins from Rwanda at the tournament.And elsewhere, Stuart looks at Marcus Rashford’s move to Barcelona.

This week we have lots on the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco – Piers Edwards is there and he reflects on week two of the tournament.Also we speak to Nigeria legend Desire Oparanozie, who won the WAFCON four times and scored in three finals.And Stuart looks at Chelsea’s triumph in the Fifa Club World Cup, and what it means for them.

This week we have lots on the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco – Piers is there and he tells us about the stadiums and the atmosphere.Also we speak to Nigerian defender Benjamin Fredrick, one of the hottest young African players in England, who was named Brentford U21s Players’ Player of the Year last season. And Stuart takes a look at football and celebrity, with a profile of Manchester United legend David Beckham, and also focuses on Beckham’s astuteness in business.

This week we focus on the delayed 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, starting on Saturday in Morocco.South Africa are the defending champions, while Nigeria have a record nine titles. Piers is at the tournament and he looks ahead for us.Also we reflect on Africa’s showing at the Fifa Club World Cup, and we speak to Al Ahly chairman Khaled Mortagey.And Stuart has a feature on Sir Alex Ferguson, the EPL’s most successful manager ever, but Stuart explains how the mangers of today have less control than Ferguson had.

This week we asses Africa’s showing at the Fifa Club World Cup, with all four teams going out at the group stage.What lessons can be learnt, and did the teams perform well enough? We hear from Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso.Also we take a look at the transfers in the EPL, with Liverpool and Man City busy already.

This week we focus on the Fifa Club World Cup, with Mamelodi Sundowns making a winning start, but the other African teams finding it tough in the early stages of the tournament.We speak to Yaw Yeboah, the Ghanaian winger who’s at the Club World Cup with Los Angeles FC, in an interview from our archive during the 2020 lockdown. Yeboah talked about the things that matter most.Also we have Stuart on the death of Uriah Rennie, the first black referee to officiate in the English Premier League.

This week we focusing on the expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which kicks off on Saturday in the USA with 32 teams taking part, including four from Africa – Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance and Wydad Casablanca. We look at the innovations at the tournament, what it means for Africa, and the chances of the African teams, and we hear from Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso.Also we talk about Senegal’s friendly win over England.

This week we look back at the Caf Champions League, with Pyramids of Egypt the champions of Africa for the first time.We also talk about the Uefa Champions League final and ask whether PSG's Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakmi is the leading contender for the African Footballer of the Year award.And Stuart looks back and analyses the competition.Also we head to Angola – the nation that rose highest on the world rankings last year, and we hear from coach Pedro Goncalves.

This week we look ahead to the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, with Pyramids of Egypt holding the advantage.We also talk about RS Berkane of Morocco, the CAF Confederation Cup champions for a third time in six seasons.We focus on football in Somalia, as legends Samuel Eto’o, Jay-Jay Okocha and Emmanuel Adebayor were in Mogadishu this week to support Somalia’s campaign to host international football matches on home soil for the first time in more than 30 years.And Stuart on the EPL.