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The latest African football stories in short for November.
FEED THE POOR
Feeding the poor and needy is an act that draws us closer to Allah. We earn His forgiveness, mercies and blessings through this act of charity.
“Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)
Friday 29 November:
Guinea’s football fraternity will lay to rest female Fifa assistant referee Manty Keita in a cemetery in Conakry on Friday.
Keita, who had been on Fifa’s list of officials since 2012, died in a hospital in the Tunisian capital city of Tunis a week ago at the age of just 34.
She was in Tunis to receive treatment for an undisclosed illness and the cause of death has not been made public.
“The Guinean Football Federation offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, the association of Referees of Guinea and the great sports family of Guinea,” the Guinea Football Federation said in a statement.
Keita survived by her two children and husband Mohamed Fofana, who is an employee of the Guinean professional football league and also a steward for the local Syli national team (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Monaco will not be appealing against two-match suspension handed to Algeria striker Islam Slimani for his red card against Bordeaux in the French Ligue 1 last weekend.
The 31-year-old, who is on loan from English side Leicester City, will miss Monaco’s home fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday and away to Toulouse on 4 December.
He will be available again for the home game against Amiens on 7 December.
Slimani has six goals and eight assists in 10 league games for the principality side this season. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Thursday 28 November:
Former Ghana international Dominic Adiyiah has completed a one-year deal as a free agent with Chiangmai United in Thailand’s second-tier.
He has been playing in Thailand since 2015 and Chiangmai United are his third Thai club after Nakhon Ratchasima and Sisaket.
The 29-year-old helped Ghana to win the 2009 Under-20 World Cup in Egypt scoring eight goals to finish as the tournament’s top-scorer and best player.
Adiyiah was with Italian giants AC Milan from 2010 to 2012, but was never given the opportunity to play for them and was instead loaned out to several clubs including Reggina and Partizan Belgrade.
His 20 Ghana caps at senior level include appearances at both the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup in 2010. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Wednesday 27 November:
Ex-Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke, who led Tanzania to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, has applied for the vacant post with Zambia to replace Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck.
The 48-year-old, who won the 1994 Nations Cup and 1996 Olympics football gold, has been out of work since parting company with the East African nation in July.
The former Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona winger met Monday’s deadline to submit a formal application to the Football Association of Zambia (Faz).
Faz is targeting a Uefa Pro License holder or someone with equivalent qualification as well as extensive international football knowledge and experience at the senior national team level (Africa and Europe).
The 1994 African Footballer of the Year had previously managed his country’s under-17 side to World Cup success in 2015 and had a brief spell as manager of Sudanese club SC Khartoum. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Tuesday 26 November:
Former Libya international star Tarek El Taib will finally get a testimonial game three years after he announced his retirement from football.
His former Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal have announced that they will take on Egypt’s eight-time African champions Al Ahly on a date yet to be confirmed.
El Taib announced his retirement back in 2016 as he left Al Ahly Tripoli the Libyan club where he had also begun his career.
Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Entertainment, released a statement saying it would cover all expenses for the match.
The 42-year-old represented Libya at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations as well as playing for clubs in Portugal, Tunisia, Turkey, Kuwait, Egypt, Oman and Qatar.(By Morad Dakhil)
Monday 25 November:
Morocco midfielder Anuar Tuhami has signed a two-year contract extension with Valladolid, keeping him at the Spanish club until 2023.
The 24-year-old is yet to play competitively for Morocco but made his debut for them in a friendly against Burkina Faso in September.
Tuhami, who has been at Valladolid for his entire career, was born in Cueta which is a Spanish-ruled enclave in Morocco.
He has made nine La Liga appearances for Valladolid so far this season. (By Jalal Bounouar)
Sunday 24 November:
Nigeria’s Isaac Promise, who passed away in early October, was voted forward of the year by fans of American USL side Austin Bold.
The 31-year-old scored three goals in 20 appearances in the 2019 USL Championship season before his untimely death.
Promise was captain of the Nigeria U20 side that finished runners up at the 2005 Fifa U-20 World Cup and the U23s that won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He spent much of his career in Turkey, with Trabzonspor and Antalyaspor among his former clubs, and also had a brief spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Friday 22 November:
Sierra Leone international George Kweku Davies has extended his contract with Austrian club St Polten by one more year until 2021.
“He has proven with his achievements in recent times that he is an important part of our team,” St. Polten general manager Andreas Blumauer told the club website.
The 23-year-old winger has featured in 10 of St Polten’s 14 Austrian Bundlesliga matches so far this season.
Davies won his first major silverware when he helped Riga to win the Latvian league last year.
He was sent-off in the dying minutes of Leone Stars 2021 Africa Cup of Nations opening match against Lesotho at home which ended in 1-1 draw nine days ago. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Thursday 21 November:
Senegal midfielder Younousse Sankhare has had his contract with French club Bordeaux amicably terminated by mutual consent.
The 30-year-old was originally suspended by the club on 5 September for unspecified disciplinary reasons.
Sankahare, who last played for Senegal in 2017, said in an interview shortly after the suspension that he did not know why he had been punished.
Bordeaux have wished him all the best for the future and hope that he will find a new club soon.(By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Wednesday 20 November:
A team of locally-based Morocco players beat their equivalents from Guinea 3-1 as both sides began preparations for next years African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon.
Ayoub El Kaabi, who is on loan at Wydad Casablanca from Chinese club Hebei China Fortune, gave Morocco the in the 6th minute from the penalty spot.
El Kaabi was the top-scorer at the 2018 CHAN with nine goals as Morocco won the title on home soil.
Ahadad Hamid increased the lead five minutes later before Ousmane Camara pulled one back for Guinea in the 20th minute when he converted a penalty.
Nanah Ayoub ensured the win for Morocco with his goal six minutes after the break. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Zimbabwe’s caretaker coach Joey Antipas has stepped down from his role seemingly ruling himself out of taking over the job on a full-time basis.
He was appointed on an interim basis in August on a deal until the end of year but with no more international matches left to be played in 2019 Antipas has stepped aside already.
It comes a day after he led the Warriors to a 2-1 win in Zambia in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, a far cry from his first game in charge which was a shock 1-0 loss to Somalia in 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
He managed to overturn the loss to Somalia in the second leg with a 3-1 win to reach the group stage of 2022 World Cup qualifying.
His other game in charge of the full national team was a disappointing goalless draw against Botswana in a 2021 Nations Cup qualifier. (By Steve Vickers)
Tuesday 19 November:
Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel have unvieled Spaniard Juan Carlos Garrido as their new coach to replace Faouzi Benzarti, who is now in charge of Libya.
The 50-year-old, whose last job in Africa was at Moroccan side Raja Casablanca, has signed a contract until the end of June 2021.
“I’m here mainly because of the way this team plays and the passion that drives its players. This is a team that knows how to win games” Garrido said at the press conference.
“The Caf Champions League is my main motivation and so is the case for the players. We are in a difficult group so we mustn’t underestimate any teams.
“At the same time, we know that we are amongst the big teams so we will to embark on the CAFCL journey with a victory”.
Garrido’s first task with Etoile will be a local league match before he faces one of his former clubs Al Ahly of Egypt in a Champions League match on 29 November. (By Souhail Khmira)
Meschak Elia has been banned from football for 12 months by the DR Congo Football Federation (Fecofa) for falsifying his age in a passport.
The forward had been due to join Belgian side Anderlecht in August from Congolese side TP Mazembe but instead decided to pursue a deal in Switzerland with Young Boys.
He also sought political asylum in Switzerland and used a passport that stated he was born in 1997 however following an investigation by Fecofa all his previous registrations with clubs in DR Congo had his date of birth as 6 August 1996.
The highest court of Congolese football came to the conclusion that “the age contained in the new passport of Meschack ELIA LINA is a forgery in writing.”
Second-tier TAS Casablanca shocked top-flight Hassania Agadir 2-1 on Monday to win Morocco’s Throne Cup.
Despite being founded in 1947 it is a first title for TAS, who will now play continental club football next year in the Confederation Cup.’
Malick Cisse gave Hassania the lead after 14 minutes only for Ossama El Melioui to equalise just three minutes later before he scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 75th minute.
Saturday 16 November:
Sierra Leone have travelled to Cotonou for their 20121 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin in Cotonou on Sunday without striker Mohamed Buya Turay.
The 24-year-old who recently won the Swedish league with Djurgarden, will miss the group L encounter because of a toe injury.
Turay only played the last 34 minutes of the Leone Stars’ home 1-1 draw with Lesotho three days ago because he arrived in Freetown from Sweden the night before the match.
He also finished as the Swedish top flight’s highest goal scorer with 15 goals. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Guinea defender Issiaga Sylla will be available for their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Namibia in Conakry on Sunday following the death of his father.
Sylla, who plays for French club Toulouse, lost his father on Wednesday but was only informed about his bereavement after their 2021 opening qualifier against Mali the following day.
He played the entire group A match in Bamako which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Sylla hit an own goal that gave Mali a 2-1 lead in the 71st minute which was cancelled out by Sekou Conde’s goal four minutes later. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Friday 15 November:
Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez has opted out of Algeria’s squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Botswana for ‘family reasons’.
The 28-year-old captained the reigning African champions to a 5-0 win at home to Zambia in their opening 2021 Nations Cup of Nations qualifier, but has been excused from Monday’s game in Gaborone.
“He’s not travelling with us for family reasons,” Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi announced on Friday.
The win over Zambia extends the unbeaten run of the Desert Foxes to 17 matches since losing away to Benin last October. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Former Chelsea midfielder Bertrand Traore has withdrawn from the Burkina Faso squad for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan due to thigh injury.
The Group B match has been moved to Khartoum, the capital city of neighbouring Sudan.
The 24-year-old was an unused sub in Burkina Faso’s opening qualifier against Uganda at home which finished in a goalless draw on Wednesday.
Bertrand, younger brother of Alain, picked up the injury while playing a Ligue 1 game for Lyon against Marseille last Sunday. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Cape Town City midfielder Mpho Makola has been banned for six months by the South African Premier League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee for pushing a referee during a Cup game.
The 33-year-old was given a yellow card by referee Abongile Tom for his reaction after he awarded a penalty to Kaizer Chiefs in their 4-2 shootout away win at Cape Town Stadium on 19 October.
“The Disciplinary Committee has handed a six months ban to Cape Town City FC player, Mpho Makola, was found guilty of assaulting match official, Abongile Tom.” the PSL announced on Friday.
It is unclear whether Cape Town City will contest the decision. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Thursday 14 November:
Madagascar striker Faneva Andriatsima has confirmed that he will retire from international football after Saturday’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at home to Ethiopia.
The 35-year-old who plays for Saudi Arabian club Abha is the Madagascar’s all-time leading goal scorer with 14 goals in 42 appearances.
“I thought about it three years ago when we met the coach, I think it’s time for me to turn the page,” Andriatsima told Radio Foot International.
“My plan was to take the country to the Afcon and we did it. Age plays a part as does my my club in Saudi Arabia, where I would like to play another year.”
“We’ll see if the national team needs me in another capacity in the years to come, I will always be available.”
The former Sochaux, Clermont, Boulogne and Le Havre forward featured in all Madagascar’s five matches at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
He scored a goal against DR Congo to help the Barea reach the quarter-final stage where they knocked out by Tunisia.(By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Wednesday 13 November:
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse has backed winger Ismaila Sarr to succeed at Premier League side Watford, despite a difficult start to his time in England.
Sarr, 21, was a club record signing from French outfit Rennes in the summer, but has made just seven appearances in all competitions including five as a substitute.
“Sarr’s situation at Watford does not please him, he told me when we spoke,” Cisse told the media.
“But I think that little by little, he will adapt to this football where there is a lot of impact.” (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Norwegian Kjetil Zachariassen has been sacked as coach of Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko after four months in charge.
His exit follows the club’s embarrassing outings in the 2019 African Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions.
“Management has terminated the contract with Norwegian Coach, Kjetil Zachariassen after a meeting at the club secretariat in Kumasi today,” Kotoko confirmed on social media.
Zachariassen is the ninth manager to leave the club in three years. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Tuesday 12 November:
Jamal Sellami has replaced Patrice Carteron as coach of Moroccan club Raja Casablanca.
Carteron left Raja by mutual consent on Monday and it came after the club lost for the first time this season 3-2 at Youssoufia Berrechid on Saturday.
Sellami, who led Morocco to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) on home soil in 2018, has signed a contract that runs until 2021.
He worked as an assistant coach at Raja Casablanca between 2007 and 2008.
He will be assisted by Youssef Safri, who also returns the club after leaving in June. (By Jalal Bounouar)
Monday 11 November:
Sierra Leone’s home-based players resumed training with the national team on Sunday after a boycott due to unpaid allowances.
The Sierra Leone squad for their upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, at home to Lesotho on Wednesday and away in Benin three days later, includes eight locally-based players.
The players boycotted training on Saturday in protest of unpaid allowances owe to them for taking part in the regional Wafu Cup in Senegal in September and October.
The Sierra Leone Football Association president Isha Johansen and the country’s sports minister Ibrahim Nyelenkeh held talks with players to address the issue. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Friday 8 November:
Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi is ‘thankful’ as he becomes the second African to be named Spanish La Liga’s Player of the Month.
The 27-year-old scored three times for Villarreal over the course of the past month, helping his side to two league victories, to clinch October’s award.
He follows in the footsteps of DR Congo’s Cedric Bakambu – the maiden African winner – and Uruguay’s Luciano Vietto as the three Villarreal players to receive the monthly honour that has been awarded since September 2013.
“Thanks to La Liga. Thanks to Villarreal and all my colleagues who have helped me to get this prize. Now we continue the hard work,” Ekambi wrote on social media. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
In May 2018, he also became the first Cameroonian winner of the Marc-Vivien Foe Award for the best African player in France’s Ligue 1.
John Keister has been appointed as Sierra Leone’s assistant coach to replace Musa Kallon who has been relieved of his duties.
Kallon lost his job for unprofessional conduct, according to the Sierra Leone Football Association.
It means that Keister will step in to work with Sellas Tetteh, the man who replaced him as coach of Sierra Leone.
Keister, a former Sierra Leone international, also worked with Tetteh during the Ghanaian’s first spell in charge of Leone Stars.
The pair will oversee Sierra Leone’s opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin this month. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Thursday 7 November:
Tunisian coach Mondher Kebaier has recalled Saudi Arabia-based Saad Bguir, after an absence of more than two years from the national team.
The former Esperance star has been included in a 25-man squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya on 15 November and Equatorial Guinea four days later.
Wahbi Khazri is also back to the Carthage Eagles for the first time since Tunisia lost the third-place play-off to Nigeria at the Nations Cup in Egypt.
Kebaier appears to be still experimenting with his strongest squad as his third squad differs from the previous two. (By Souhail Khmira)
Morocco have recalled forward Youssef El Arabi for the first time in more than two years for their opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed a good start to the season in Greece for Olympiakos scoring seven goals in his 15 appearances in all competitions.
However Schalke’s Amine Harit misses out, with no explanation from coach Vahid Halilhodžić’s on his omission.
The Atlas Lions host neighbours Mauritania on 15 November in Rabat before travelling to play Burundi four days later. (By Jalal Bounouar)
Nigeria women’s World Cup midfielder Halimatu Ayinde has signed a three-year contract extension with Swedish giants Eskilstuna United DFF.
The 24-year-old, who joined the Damallsvenskan League outfit last year, signs a deal that will keep her at the club until 2022.
“I am really happy to be part of the Eskilstuna United family,” she told the club website.
“Very grateful to be able to extend my time at the club by three years. Hopefully we as a family can achieve bigger things next year.”
She made 19 appearances in 22 matches to help the team to a fourth place finish in the league this season.
Ayinde, who previously had spells at USA’s Western New York Flash and Belarus’ FC Minsk, played in all seven of the Super Falcons matches at the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cups. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Cameroon under-17 coach Thomas Libbih and his technical team have been sacked after failing to progress from the group stage of the World Cup in Brazil.
Libiih’s team lost all three of its games at Under-17 World Cup to finish bottom of Group E.
They lost their opening game 1-0 to Tajikistan before losing 3-1 to Argentina and finally 2-0 to Spain.
The three losses came after the former Cameroon international had led the team to the 2019 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations title in Tanzania. (By Njie Enow)
Wednesday 6 November:
Former Morocco midfielder Adil Hermach has joined the fifth-tier of French football in a bid to resurrect his career.
The 33-year-old, who has previously played in the French top-flight for both Lens and Toulouse, has signed for Beaucairois until the end of the season as a free agent.
He has been without a club since his contract with United Arab Emirates side Ajman ended in June.
Hermach made his debut for the Atlas Lions against Belgium in March 2008 and has been capped 22 times. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Melvyn Doremus, who plays for French fourth-tier club AF Bobigny, is a shock inclusion in an otherwise experienced 23-man Benin squad for their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this month.
The France-born midfielder, 23, was handed a maiden call-up by coach Michel Dussuyer for the trip to Nigeria on 13 November and at home to Sierra Leone four days later.
Injured goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe, who helped the Squirrels to a quarter-final spot at this year’s Nations Cup in Egypt, has been replaced by Cherif Cakpo.
Other notable returnees are Mama Seibou, Emmanuel Imorou, Mercelin Koukpo and Jean Ogouchi.
Dussuyer will be looking to established stars Stephan Sessegnon, Olivier Verdon, Steve Mounie and Cebio Soukou in their quest for a great start in Group L. (By Oluwashina Okeleji)
Nigeria defender William Troost-Ekong has extended his contract with Italian Serie A side Udinese by a year to keep him at the club until 2023.
The Netherlands-born player joined the Italian club from Turkish side Buraspor in August 2018, after playing for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“I feel at home here and very happy with my renewal as it enables me focus on my future,” the 26-year-old kong told BBC Sport.
“I thank Udinese for the confidence and opportunity to further progress in a highly competitive league.
“I want to help take the club as far as I can and the hard work continues.”
Turkish top-flight side Fenerbahce have extended the contract of Moroccan international Nabil Dirar until 2022.
The 34-year-old is vice-captain of the club and still a key player for the Atlas Lions, having played in all their games at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The defender has been at the club, who are fourth in the league at the moment, since arriving from Monaco in 2017, for 3.5 million.
Dirar, who has just recovered from surgery on a hernia, has made seven appearances for Fenerbahce this season and has scored two goals. (By Jalal Bounouar)
Tuesday 5 November:
Uncapped Israel-based defender Gilchrist Nguema has been called up to the Gabon squad ahead of their opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The 23-years old is among 23 players selected by the Panthers coach Patrice Neveu for their matches against DR Congo in Kinshasa on 14 November and Angola in Franceville three days later.
Nguema, who now plays for Israeli second-tier side Bnei Sakhnin, was first called-up for Gabon’s decisive 2019 Nations Cup match in Burundi in March, but he was withdrawn from the squad as he did not have a club.
Veteran goal keeper Didier Ovono, who has been capped 104 times, continues to be overlooked because he is currently without a club. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Monday 4 November:
Togo’s under-20 national team coach Ayivi Ekuevi has died in Lome at the age of 60 after an illness.
“The death of the national coach of the U20 national team of Togo Ayivi Ekuevi occurred on the Sunday night November 3 at a Military hospital in Lome,” the Togo football federation (FTF) said in a statement.
“A FTF delegation led by its secretary general went to the home of the bereaved family to present our condolences of the Togolese football family.”
He was in charge of the Togo under-20 team when they hosted the Wafu Zone B Championship last November, and when they were knocked out by Gabon in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He coached several Togolese clubs including Kara ASKO and AS Douanes now AS OTR.
His biggest achievements came when he led AS Togo Port the league title in 2017, and then oversaw them becoming the first Togolese club to reach the group stage of the African Champions League. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)
Former South Africa international Benni McCarthy has been sacked by struggling Cape Town City after two and a half years at the club.
It come after a slow start to the new South African Premier Soccer League season by City, who had finished fifth and then fourth in the standings under McCarthy over the past two campaigns but are now languishing just above the relegation zone.
“The club thanks Benni for his service over the last three seasons and wishes him well in his next endeavour. He now becomes an integral part of the club’s history and are proud of the successes we shared together,” the club said in a statement.
City have won only one of their 11 matches in all competitions this campaign, in a continuation of poor form from the end of last season.
McCarthy tweeted after the announcement: “I’m disappointed to end my time at the Club but I would like to nevertheless thank the club.
“Particularly the players, the fans and the community of Cape Town for their support and commitment over the last two years. I’m proud of my time at the Club and wish them all the best.” (By Mark Gleeson)
Friday 1 November:
Tunisian goalkeeper Mouez Hassan has joined Belgian top-flight side club Cercle Brugge until the end of the season with an option to extend the deal for an additional season.
The 24-year signed as a free agent as he had been without a club since his contract with French club Nice ended in July.
He was sent on loan to Southampton in 2017, and to French club Chateauroux part of last season before he left Allianz Riviera.
Born in France he represented the French various youth teams before he committed his international future for Tunisia last year.
He made his debut for the former African champions against Costa Rica in a friendly international in Nice, and he also was part of the Carthage Eagles squad at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. (By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)