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Category: Soccer

CAF Confirms AFCON Shift To Four-Year Format With African Nations League Introduction

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The Africa Cup of Nations will move to a four-year cycle following a scheduled 2028 edition, ending its long-standing biennial format, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe announced on Saturday. The change forms part of a wider reorganisation of Africa’s international football calendar, designed to reduce fixture congestion and better align with global competitions. Although hosting AFCON every two years has traditionally been a key revenue stream for African national associations, Motsepe said the financial impact would be offset by the introduction of a new African Nations League. “Our focus now is on this AFCON but in 2027 we will be going to Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, and the AFCON after that will be in 2028,” Motsepe told reporters in Rabat on Saturday, ahead of the opening match of the Morocco-hosted tournament. “Then after the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029 we will have the first African Nations League… with more prize money, more resources, more competition. “As part of this arrangement, the AFCON now will take place once every four years.” The African Nations League, expected to mirror UEFA’s competition, will be staged annually and is intended to generate increased funding while maintaining competitive opportunities for national teams. AFCON has been held largely every two years since its first edition in 1957, but calendar clashes have become more frequent over the past 15 years as international and club competitions have expanded. The ongoing tournament in Morocco is the eighth edition since the 2012 finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, reflecting a period marked by repeated scheduling challenges for Africa’s flagship football competition.

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Chelsea Fight Back From Two Goals Down To Rescue 2-2 Draw Against Newcastle

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Chelsea rescued a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park on Saturday, sparing Enzo Maresca from a potentially uncomfortable post-match discussion after trailing by two goals to Newcastle. Nick Woltemade put the Magpies in control with a first-half brace, threatening to deepen Chelsea’s recent struggles. But the Blues responded after the break, with Reece James curling a stunning free-kick into the net and Joao Pedro producing a smart solo finish to earn a point. The draw keeps Chelsea in fourth place, though their recent form—just one win in five Premier League matches—remains a concern. For Maresca, the comeback was a timely boost following a turbulent week that sparked speculation over his long-term role at the club. On Friday, Maresca dismissed reports linking him to Manchester City as “100 percent speculation,” despite City reportedly considering him as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola should the Spaniard depart at season’s end. The rumours emerged after Maresca hinted at a lack of backing from Chelsea’s hierarchy, calling the 48 hours following last weekend’s victory over Everton the worst of his time at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s rotation policy has drawn criticism this season, often leaving the team disjointed. After making 11 changes for Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-final win at Cardiff, Maresca returned to his senior squad, only for them to struggle against Newcastle’s high-intensity start. Woltemade, eager to atone for his own goal in last weekend’s defeat to Sunderland, opened the scoring within four minutes. A Jacob Murphy cross found Anthony Gordon, whose shot was parried by Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez, leaving Woltemade to tap in from close range. Chelsea’s defence looked vulnerable again in the 20th minute as Gordon’s precise cross allowed Woltemade to score his second, confirmed onside after a VAR review. Chelsea’s struggles continued until the interval, though Woltemade missed a clear chance just before half-time. Maresca’s halftime instructions appeared to have an immediate effect. James struck a brilliant free-kick in the 49th minute, cutting Newcastle’s lead, while a controversial non-awarded penalty for a challenge on Gordon went Newcastle’s way. With injuries depleting Newcastle’s defence—including Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Sven Botman, and Tino Livramento—Chelsea began to press, with Pedro Neto forcing a smart save from Ramsdale. Their persistence paid off in the 66th minute when Joao Pedro cleverly headed Sanchez’s long kick past Malick Thiaw and finished clinically inside the box, earning Chelsea a vital equaliser. Maresca’s relief was evident as he celebrated with an animated jig on the touchline.

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Morocco 2025: Super Eagles Target Fourth Crown as Biggest AFCON Kicks Off

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Nigeria’s arrival in Fés on Thursday evening, aboard a chartered flight from their final training camp in Cairo, signalled the reality of a stout challenge for a fourth continental title as the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals commence in the Kingdom of Morocco on Sunday. Winners at home in 1980, and in Tunisia in 1994 and South Africa in 2013, the Super Eagles will launch their onslaught for another title against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on Tuesday in the historical city of Fés, with the added impetus of wanting to appease their teeming fans at home and in the diaspora over failure to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup finals in the Far West. The retirement of William Troost-Ekong, on the margin of the team’s departure to Cairo for their final training camp, has opened the door for midfield enforcer Wilfred Ndidi to take the captain’s armband, with veterans Simon Moses and Alex Iwobi, and prolific forward Victor Osimhen as possible assistants. The much-anticipated opening ceremony on Sunday, featuring among others, Nigeria’s globally-acclaimed singer Davido at the iconic Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, will be followed by the opening match between hosts Morocco and Comoros, with the Atlas Lions hoping for a great start to continue their incredible run of glory in international football. Nigeria, who won their first AFCON title on home soil 45 years ago after defeating Tanzania in their first match, will strive for a huge win in order to be in good stead and retain a winning mentality ahead of clashes with difficult customers Tunisia (on Saturday, 27 December) and Uganda (on Tuesday, 30 December). Coach Eric Chelle opened a window on his frame of mind going into the tournament when he spoke to CAFOnline.com last month. “When you coach Nigeria, you have to win everything.” It is the reality that he faces and has to deal with especially after the World Cup miss. Tanzania, coached by Nigeria legend Emmanuel Amuneke (a 1994 AFCON winner) to qualify and participate at the 2019 finals in Egypt, will be making only their fourth appearance at the competition, and a second consecutive appearance following their outing in Cote d’Ivoire. They have played 9 matches overall, drawing three and losing six, without a single win. Tunisia have 21 previous appearances at the championship (one more than Nigeria), and consistency is their middle name, Morocco 2025 being their 17th consecutive appearance. Their only previous triumph was on home soil in 2004, when they edged Morocco’s Atlas Lions in a tension-soaked Final in Rades. The Carthage Eagles have played a total of 83 matches at the AFCON, winning 25, losing 28 and drawing 30. Among their previous losses were a 2-4 reverse to co-hosts Nigeria in 2000, and a lone-goal defeat by the Eagles in the third-place match of the 2019 finals in Egypt. There was another contentious third-place match, in Ghana in 1978, that was awarded to Nigeria after the Carthage Eagles walked off the pitch following a goal by Baba Otu Mohammed. Tunisia eliminated Nigeria in the Round of 16 in Cameroon four years ago. Uganda’s Cranes have always proved difficult customers for the Super Eagles in any qualifying campaign or championship. Philip Omondi scored both goals to eliminate Nigeria in the semi-finals of the 1978 championship in Ghana, and since then, even with star-studded squads, the Eagles would always struggle against the Cranes. Their clash in Fes on Tuesday, 30th December is something to look forward to. Uganda will be heading to their eighth participation in the AFCON, though they missed out in the last two finals in Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire. The Cranes have played a total of 23 matches at the finals, winning only 4, drawing 3 and losing 16. Their runner-up position in Ghana in 1978, when they were crushed by Opoku Afriye-led Black Stars in a festive Final in Accra, remains their best result till date. On the balance, the Super Eagles, who have played a total of 104 matches across their 20 previous outings, are expected to safely negotiate their way through the group stage in Fes, and then take it one-game-at-a-time in the knockout rounds in Morocco. President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON) expressed his belief in the team to deliver in the North African kingdom. “We have prepared the team with the objective of lifting the trophy. The FIFA World Cup miss still bites, but if we are able to win the Africa Cup of Nations, it will go a long way to assuaging the feelings of our fans at home and in the diaspora, and it will also be good for the present generation of Super Eagles as they will have at least one major triumph to their name.” Gusau’s administration has done remarkably well to maintain the very best standards in travel, accommodation and other logistics for the team, despite challenging times and downturn in the global economy. “It has not been easy, but we have to continue to appreciate and show that we value the contributions of the players and officials at all times. They have to travel and lodge in convenience, and that is something we must always find a way to work out despite the challenges that the Federation faces. “I have confidence in the coaches and the players that we have to turn the present gloom around and make Nigeria proud in Morocco.”

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Ecuadorian Footballer Mario Pineida Shot and Killed in Guayaquil

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Ecuadorian footballer Mario Pineida has been shot and killed in the port city of Guayaquil, his club confirmed on Wednesday. Pineida, 33, was a member of Ecuador’s national team for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and played for Fluminense in 2022. In a post on X, his club, Barcelona SC, expressed deep sorrow, stating it “regrets to inform, with deep sorrow, that it has been officially notified of the death of our player Mario Pineida, an event that occurred following an attack against him” in Guayaquil. The Interior Ministry also confirmed Pineida’s death and said a special police unit has been assigned to investigate the case. Reports indicate that Pineida was attacked by two individuals on motorcycles, who opened fire on him, his mother, and another woman. Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang violence linked to drug trafficking, and several footballers in Ecuador have been targeted in recent months. In September, three players from Ecuador’s second division were killed, one reportedly connected to sports betting, while local footballer Bryan Angula was wounded in a shooting a month later.

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FIFA Awards Malaysia Three 3-0 Defeats Over Ineligible Players, FAM To Appeal

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FIFA has handed Malaysia a major blow, awarding the nation three 3-0 defeats after it was found to have fielded ineligible players, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed on Wednesday. Matches previously recorded as friendly wins against Palestine and Singapore, along with a home draw with Cape Verde earlier this year, have all been overturned. The sanctions follow FIFA’s suspension of seven foreign-born Malaysian national team players who submitted falsified documents claiming Malaysian ancestry. FAM, which had already been fined $440,000 in the ongoing scandal, has now been hit with an additional $12,500 penalty. A FIFA disciplinary committee meeting held last Friday declared, “Malaysia is declared to have lost 3-0 in all three matches,” the association said. The investigation began after FIFA received a complaint following Malaysia’s 4-0 victory over Vietnam in June during an Asian Cup qualifier, where two of the implicated players scored. FIFA’s probe found that Hector Hevel, Jon Irazabal, Gabriel Palmero, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Joao Brandao Figueiredo did not have a parent or grandparent born in Malaysia, as required for national team eligibility. FAM, however, insists it acted appropriately and confirmed it will appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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Former Wolves Player, Ethan McLeod Dies in M1 Car Accident

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Macclesfield footballer Ethan McLeod has died at the age of 21 following a road traffic accident on the M1 motorway. The forward, who came through the Wolves academy, was returning from Bedford Town after Macclesfield’s 2-1 win on Tuesday night when his white Mercedes collided with a nearside metal barrier around 10:40 pm near junction 15 for Northampton. Despite assistance from members of the public and police officers, McLeod was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash caused the M1 to remain closed overnight and it reopened at approximately 7:30 am. Police have appealed for anyone with dashcam footage or additional information to come forward. Macclesfield FC released a heartfelt statement on Wednesday afternoon, paying tribute to the young forward.

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FIFA Confirms $50 Million Prize For 2026 World Cup Winners

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FIFA has confirmed that the champions of the 2026 World Cup will pocket $50 million, as part of a record-breaking $655 million prize fund for the tournament. The figure represents an almost 50 per cent rise from the $440 million shared among teams at the 2022 edition in Qatar. The next World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. It will also mark a historic expansion, with 48 teams competing instead of the traditional 32. At the last World Cup, Argentina earned $42 million after Lionel Messi inspired them to a dramatic penalty shootout win over France, who took home $30 million as runners-up. In 2026, however, the finalists who fall short will receive $33 million, while the third-placed team will earn $29 million and the losing semi-finalists $27 million. Countries knocked out at the group stage will each collect $9 million, and every participating nation will be given an extra $1.5 million to support their preparation ahead of the competition. According to FIFA, the expanded format is designed to deliver the biggest and most lucrative World Cup ever, reflecting both the increased number of teams and the sport’s growing global appeal.

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Ahmed Musa Retires From Super Eagles After 15-Year International Career

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Ahmed Musa has officially retired from international football, closing a 15-year chapter with the Super Eagles that established him as Nigeria’s most capped player and one of its most accomplished modern internationals. In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday, Musa reflected on his career and the honour of representing his country. “After a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from international football, bringing to an end almost 15 years with the Super Eagles. From the very first call-up, wearing the green and white meant everything to me,” he said. Musa recalled his early days, saying, “I was just a young boy when the journey started. I remember being invited at the same time to the U-20, U-23, and the Super Eagles. I was young, still learning, and always travelling, but I never complained. Whenever Nigeria called, I showed up. It was never something I had to think twice about.” He also highlighted the pride of reaching 111 caps for Nigeria. “Playing 111 matches for my country is something I hold with deep respect. To become the most capped player in the history of Nigerian football is a great honour. Every time I wore the jersey, I understood the responsibility that came with it.” Musa looked back on some of his career milestones, including winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and making history at the FIFA World Cup. He was the first Nigerian to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match, achieving the feat against Argentina in 2014, and later became the first Nigerian to score in two World Cups, netting twice against Iceland in 2018. “Winning the 2013 AFCON will always stand out. That team showed what it meant to play for Nigeria. Scoring at the World Cup, against Argentina and Iceland, are memories I will always carry with me. To score four goals at the World Cup and be Nigeria’s highest goalscorer on that stage is something I am truly grateful for,” he said. Musa expressed gratitude to teammates, coaches, support staff, administrators, and Nigerian fans for their unwavering support throughout his career. “As I step away from international football, I do so with peace and gratitude. I know I gave my best. I know the Super Eagles will continue to move forward. And I know that this bond will never be broken. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle. Thank you, Nigeria. Thank you for everything,” he added. At club level, Musa returned to Kano Pillars in October 2024 for a third stint and has remained with the four-time Nigeria Professional Football League champions, taking on the role of general manager ahead of the 2025–26 season.

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