Rise of the underdogs in Asian and African tournaments

If the '2023' editions of the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup demonstrate anything, it is that the parity in these tournaments stands out among international competitions. Each continent has relative powerhouses. Japan has been dominant in Asia, and South Korea always poses a threat. Egypt and Cameroon have more AFCON titles than any […]

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Ivory Coast, has been captivating, thrilling and emotional – and not just on the field. This edition has seen several surprises. Minnow Mauritania registered its first-ever AFCON win over powerhouse Algeria. Also, hosts Ivory Coast qualified for the quarterfinals after sacking its head coach. Competitive play in a good atmosphere The atmosphere […]

CAF World Cup qualifiers kicked off on FIFA+ Wednesday, Nov. 15, with all matches available on FIFA’s streaming service. In CAF World Cup Qualifying, there are nine automatic spots for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Fifty-four teams are fighting for those nine spots. Additionally, there is a 10th spot […]

The upcoming African Football League (AFL) quarterfinals will be streamed live via FIFA+. Set to begin on Friday, October 20th, the inaugural edition of the tournament will last for four weeks. The competition features some of the best soccer clubs in the entire continent of Africa. Soccer fans in most areas can watch the action […]

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has terminated its 12-year, $415 million broadcasting deal with Qatari media company beIN SPORTS. This move is likely to spark legal action. CAF signed on with beIN in 2017. The contract ran through 2028, and it covered top competitions. For example, beIN had the broadcast rights to the Africa […]

When the three whistles finally sounded at the jam-packed Brisbane Park and a fierce, intense 90 minutes of soccer finally concluded, the world was shocked. Nigeria, a team that hadn't won two games in a single Women's World Cup since 1999, shocked Australia, one of the tournament's favorites and the World Cup's co-hosts. It was […]

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is nearing the end of its qualifiers. So far, qualifying has been brutal. If anything, it has shown the challenges of performing in Africa compared to other regions and those major tournaments. Games left in AFCON qualifiers Multiple packed games bring high stakes with several star players and […]

It was evening in Doha, where 44,198 fans' hearts stopped. And for all the right reasons. Youssef En-Nesyri rose above a flailing Ruben Dias and past a helpless Diogo Costa to knock in a historic Morocco goal. Morocco knocked Portugal out of the World Cup and endangered Cristiano Ronaldo's chances of winning a World Cup. […]

Rumangabo (DR Congo) (AFP) – In war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, national park authorities are hoping a football academy will persuade youngsters to take up the Beautiful Game rather than a rifle. Around 50 children aged between 10 and 16 have signed up to the Virunga youth football training scheme at a stadium in […]

Paris (AFP) – Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha raised his Premier League goal tally to three this season with a brace in a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at the weekend. The Ivory Coast international was hailed by manager Patrick Vieira, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, after adding to his goal at Liverpool […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – African football supremo Patrice Motsepe will launch in Tanzania on Wednesday a CAF Super League, with promises of a $100 million (98 million euros) prize fund for cash-strapped clubs. Team owners have complained for decades about the costs of competing in the current marquee competition, the CAF Champions League, which offers a […]