Will this be Leicester’s strongest season in the Premier League since their 2016 Championship?

Leicester reacts to Leicester City's Premier League Title Success on May 03, 2016 in Leicester, England.

(May 2, 2016 - Source: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images Europe)

Be afraid, be very afraid!

With Arsenal on the ropes and down on the floor, a familiar foe was standing right over their carcasses; Jamie Vardy. Two goals for the English international in a 3-0 victory for the Foxes meant that the Gunners had officially become his favorite customer. With a tally of 8 goals against them in the Premier League, against no else has he scored more. Rodgers' boys had not only inflicted a third loss in three matches for Emery's charges; but pulled off a Thanos and the magical stones on them. With 3 snaps of the fingers, more of rippling of the net in this context, Arsenal's hopes of finishing in the top four had vanished into thin air, almost at the speed of Leicester light or sound of their red agonies. The Foxes themselves had almost nothing to lose but plenty of pride to gain. A top 7 finish was almost out of reach given how well Wolves and Everton had performed in the preceding month leading to the fixture. Rather, on that 28th of April 2019, a bloody message had been imprinted on plain tables with the claws of a Fox, "they were coming for all of them when the season restarts." This time not as Foxes wearing sheep clothing, as they did in the 2015/16 when they won the Premier League title with odds of 5,000-1. But as the real deal, untamed and unleashed!

Statistically 3rd best in the Premier League?

Back to the main question, could 2019/20 really be Leicester's strongest season since winning the title in 2016? Well, the short answer is an emphatic yes! Just for kicks, since the appointment of former Liverpool manager in February of 2019, only champions Manchester City and European champions Liverpool have won more Premier League points than the King Power residents. Not a bad company to keep. If we are to extrapolate this historical data, we learn that it's pretty realistic for them to finish 3rd behind the aforementioned two. Not to worry, we are not putting all our eggs in that one basket, there is more wind in their sails, but first; let's look at how they've started.

“Upfront, we all know what they’ve got; some good old English speed and killer instincts in Jamie Vardy. The befitting introduction to this piece. The 32-year-old scored 14 goals in 17 Premier League appearances since the arrival of Rodgers on March 3. Only Aubameyang and Mane came close to that record with 12 goals each. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Jamie Vardy and James Maddison of Leicester City applauds fans after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City at Anfield on October 05, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 4, 2019 - Source: FELIPE TRUEBA/Getty Images Europe)

Foxes don't false start

At the time of writing this piece, Leicester were in 4th place, just two points off second-placed Manchester City. It had only been 8/38 games into the season but the table quite accurately told how the 20 teams had fared. The Foxes in particular could have been higher up the pecking order given their performances had been miles, better than the results. That rampant display against Arsenal at the close of the 2018/19 season was indeed no clouds without rain. In their first 8 matches of the new campaign, they lost only two.

A narrow 0-1 lost at Manchester United and 1-2 away at Liverpool. In the latter, the Reds actually needed a 90+5 Milner penalty to get all 3 points and register a successive 17th Premier League win. They were unlucky not to get a win at Chelsea after coming from behind to take the game to the Blues and eventually secured a point. At home against Tottenham, the Foxes soundly beat the 2019 Champions League finalists by a 2-1 scoreline. Also included in the 8 games is an emphatic 5-0 win over Newcastle. Clearly, they look more than ready for the challenge. Super competitive against the big guns and ruthless when matched up with the so called lesser opposition.

Wilfried Ndidi of Leicester in action during the pre-season friendly match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City at Molineux on July 29, 2017 in Wolverhampton, England.

(July 28, 2017 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

A well balanced and vicious squad

The mix is just right. It's no fluke that they've performed the way they did. After Manchester City and Liverpool, Leicester arguably boast of the most balanced squad. Forget the price tags, star names and focus on the word "balanced." Let's actually look at how they line-up. Even after losing Harry Maguire to Manchester United in a world record deal for a defender, Johhny Evans and Caglar Soyuncü look like a good combination of experience and youth. No wonder they've conceded only 7 goals, a 2nd best record in the division after Liverpool and tied with Sheffield United.

The modern game is all about full-backs flying up and down the flanks, and the Foxes have two of the best in the division. Ben Chilwell who is mostly preferred by Gareth Southgate in the current England setup and the dynamic Ricardo Perreira who recorded the 4th highest tackles in the league last season. Wait, did we forget Schmeichel? The skipper goalkeeper needs no introduction and his sure displays in goal has him continue staking a claim among the best there is. From the middle of the park and going forward, they're even better. All of the 22-year-old Nigerian international, Wilfried Ndidi who has consistently and statistically been among the top two tacklers in the league since the 2017/18 season, the £40 million signing in Youri Tielemans and Newcastle top goal scorer from last season in Ayoze Perez; provide depth and options. Time will not allow us to exhaust the insurmountable talents of Harvey Barnes, Hamza Choudhury, Demarai Gray, Marc Albrighton or the man from Sampdoria, Dennis Praet and maybe everyone's favorite, the puppet master who pulls all the strings, James Maddison. But the point is more than clear, their midfield is loaded!

Upfront, we all know what they've got; some good old English speed and killer instincts in Jamie Vardy. The befitting introduction to this piece. The 32-year-old scored 14 goals in 17 Premier League appearances since the arrival of Rodgers on March 3. Only Aubameyang and Mane came close to that record with 12 goals each. Even as a backup, the former Manchester City and Nigerian forward in Kelechi Iheanacho could be lethal enough if afforded the opportunity. It get's even more interesting when we learn about the ingenuity of the man who organizes them.

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Leicester City celebrates victory with Wes Morgan of Leicester City after the Premier League match between Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth at The King Power Stadium on March 30, 2019 in Leicester, United Kingdom.

(March 29, 2019 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

They've got Rodgers, Brendan Rodgers!

Let's get one thing clear, joining Leicester is not a step up for the Irishman but a step up for the club. Brendan Rodgers' CV is up there for everyone to see and his talents are no strange to the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp is not the first man to bring Liverpool within touching distance of the league title since 1989-90, Rodgers did it in the 2013/14 campaign. Only needing two wins to clinch the coveted prize, the Reds blew up a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 at Crystal Palace that effectively handed the Premier League title to Manchester City. How good a job the now 46 year-old had done in that race cannot be overemphasized. He bloodied the likes of Raheem Sterling and set-up Luis Suarez for worldwide success.

Rodgers' next job at Celtic was more silverish and fruitful, winning the Scottish treble twice between 2016-18 In all, he left Scotland with 7 titles in 3 years to his name. In feeding their ambition, calling upon the tactician is almost as good an appointment as it gets. Even more, Rodgers himself returns with a slight knack to prove a point in the Premier League after Liverpool gave him the sack. It's the intersection of ambition. Little wonder they've already upped their game; the manager knows the league, knows how to win and has great experience working with young English players which Leicester have in abundance.

If you want be a little bit cynical, you could argue that amongst the so called big 6 teams, perhaps only four have better managers as per their CVs. United's Solskjaer and Chelsea's Lampard have been barely tested but we won't hinge on that, knowing it doesn't always work like that.

Right place at the right time, as traditionally top sides falter

Leicester as a club tested the highest glory, liked the smell and have always been back for more ever since. They've sacked managers such as the Premier League winning manager himself, Claudio Ranieri, Craig Shakespeare and Claude Puel for doing only enough to stay in the top flight. Their boldness has perhaps seen fortune knocking on their door. For the first time in quite a number of years, the traditional big 6 sides look shaken.

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City (l) celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on September 29, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 28, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

Obviously not Liverpool and highly doubtful of City even after starting the campaign very strangely losing to Wolves and Norwich. Manchester United are languishing in the bottom half of the table and their young and unbalanced squad look like they would have punched way above their weight if they finish within the top 6. It looks like 3rd place will be Arsenal's to lose as we may need rocket science to understand what's really going on at Tottenham, and the young Chelsea side look no better than the Foxes. Wolves who finished above Leicester last campaign look burdened by Europa League commitments and West Ham seem decent with record signing Sebastian Haller up top and the talents of Yarmolenko, Lanzini somewhere in the mix; but even Premier League winner in Manuel Pellegrini is still pondering on how to fix his defence. What about other last season's big performers in Everton and Watford? At this point, they both look like they are fighting just for their lives. The former were in 18th place after 8 games and the latter rock-bottom in 20th, courtesy of non-existent strike force and managerial crisis respectively, howbeit amongst many other things.

Foxing their way through

With all of an extremely talented and balanced squad, tactically astute manager, an ambitious board and the vulnerable state of state of the top 6, the stage looks set for the 2015/16 Premier League champions to fox their way through. Well, except if other sides exponentially improve their performances. At this rate, the Foxes are unlikely going to wait for that to happen but rather continually go for the jagular!

Is VAR a superhero or a villain in the future of global football?

VAR has come under scrutiny once more after a series of controversial decisions made using the instant replay system during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.  FIFA introduced virtual assistant refereeing technology on the global football stage in the 2018 FIFA Men's World Cup in Brazil. It has received significant push back from football fans who argue that VAR will disrupt the game as it has come to be loved. Much of the same argument still exists. The position of VAR skeptics is that an increased focus on accuracy would take away the flair and free play. The relevance of VAR has been brought into question even further this year. VAR dominated headlines in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup after players and coaches raised fresh criticism about its relevance to global football.

“The statistics still show VAR improved the decision-making accuracy in the group stages to 98% as compared to 92.5% without it. Human error in football has always been frustrating given the fact that once the referee makes a call, whether right or wrong; there was no way to check in real-time.  ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Alex Morgan of the USA is fouled by Stefanie Van der Gragt of the Netherlands leading to a penalty during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France.

(July 6, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

VAR controversy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup  

FIFA's decision to approve the use of VAR at the tournament came in March, just three months before the start of the competition. The timing of the VAR was the major challenge, with some coaches and pundits calling out FIFA for using the Women's World Cup as a testing ground for VAR. Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses had a passionate protest during their round-of-16, 3-0 loss to England. Specifically, after feeling hard done by, the Cameroonians proceeded to stop play for minutes, refusing to continue the game in protest of the VAR decisions. Ellen White's second goal of the match was firstly ruled as offside and later allowed after VAR consultation. The same way that the Indomitable Lionesses felt that VAR had robbed them of their chances; other teams also faced a similar fate to the Cameroonians.

Among the other teams that had a bone to pick with the VAR system, was Scotland.  In the group stages of the tournament, Argentina came back from a 3-0 loss against Scotland to draw, 3-3. In stoppage time, a late infringement led to a VAR penalty decision which was initially saved by the Scottish goalkeeper. In a shocking twist, the referee ruled that the goalkeeper moved from the line before Argentina took the penalty shot and after consulting VAR, the penalty was retaken. Nigeria was too a victim of the penalty retake after France had missed the penalty, it was judged with VAR that the Nigerian goalie had moved off the line before the kick. 

Previously, such minor infringements would have gone unnoticed, but VAR is making the enforcement of the rules of the game much stricter. While everyone would agree that the rules should be observed for fair play, some do feel that football is becoming too rigid and too technical. 

Part of the debate around the FIFA Women's World Cup was around the new rule that was responsible for dashing the dreams of both Scotland and Argentina. The new rules from the International Football Board say that a goalkeeper must always have one foot on the line during a penalty kick as opposed to the previous rule of two feet.

The big screen inside the staduim informs fans of a VAR review in consideration, after referee Milorad Mazic awards Senegal a penalty, which he then rescinds after looking at the VAR footage during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Senegal and Colombia at Samara Arena on June 28, 2018 in Samara, Russia.

(June 27, 2018 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

Do we even need VAR?

VAR is not detached from traditional refereeing —it's a sidekick to the match official, and it's not an either-or situation. Referees still have the last call in deciding whether an infringement has been made. Having video-assisted refereeing has overall reduced the number of incorrect calls and improved the accuracy of referees. The statistics still show VAR improved the decision-making accuracy in the group stages to 98% as compared to 92.5% without it. Human error in football has always been frustrating given the fact that once the referee makes a call, whether right or wrong; there was no way to check in real-time. 

A positive aspect of VAR is that it increases the transparency of the calls made by referees. They are countless allegations of dubious referees being caught in the thick of match fixing scandals that have rocked the footballing world and made us question the authenticity of the entire system. These referees were often part of a large scheme of match-fixers and betting mafias. When these ​match-fixing scandals​ come to the public's attention, it has always triggered a discussion around solutions to prevent such callous disregard of ethics by match officials. VAR can bring accountability, which has sometimes been lacking in football.  Before VAR, it was easy for referees to make dubious calls as a referee, VAR makes it more challenging to hide blatant match-fixing attempts. 

Colombia players confront referee Milorad Mazic after he awards Senegal a penalty before rescinding the decision after reviewing VAR footage during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Senegal and Colombia at Samara Arena on June 28, 2018 in Samara, Russia.

(June 27, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

While the coming of VAR was quite a noble effort by the football governing bodies, the interpretation of "match-changing situations" needs to be given more attention. Referees have lost the autonomy to make decisions without leaning on the VAR to confirm each decision, leading to longer and slower games. I would argue that the biggest flaw of VAR is that it slows down the pace of the game. Games are now featuring more abrupt 2 minutes, even up to 4 minutes stop to allow the referee to review the VAR footage. Before VAR, it was rare to see a game stop as many times as has become common. Ultimately, increase in stoppage time has increased the average length of matches. In the 2018 Men's World Cup, the average stoppage time increased from 5.4 minutes to 6.4 minutes.

VAR going forward

The success of VAR depends on making some critical changes to how it's used. The Premier League will use VAR for the first time in the 2019/20 season. The Football Association has been paying close attention to the controversies surrounding VAR at the Women's World Cup in preparing for the launch of VAR in the 2019-2020 season. One thing that has come up in how the FA would like to do things differently to how we've seen VAR in previous tournaments is to reduce its interference and apply it more consistently in accordance with the laid out rules.

Despite the controversies, I would argue that VAR should stay. Fair play is becoming more of a reality owing to VAR. The FA has correctly defined the guidelines for the part that VAR will play in the Premier League. FIFA must reanalyze the interaction with VAR globally which would allow for more seamless consultations.

2019 WWC Review: After all the African teams failed to make it past the Round of 16, What’s next for the game in Africa?

With the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup now in the books, it's time to reflect on what an amazing month of soccer it was, precisely for Africa. This year’s World Cup, saw two of Africa’s three representatives reaching the round of 16. Below we breakdown the happenings of the tournament with a focused attention on the African teams; Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa as well as the future of the sport on the continent moving forward.

“Further to this, according to Yasmine Arkoub, co-founder of sports consulting firm, Melting Sports, there are also plans to launch an African Women’s Champions League. Additionally, former Nigerian player Yusuf-Aromire has also launched the SheFootball Initiative to encourage young Nigerian girls to get on the pitch.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Claudia Goette of Leverkusen challenges Amanda Dlamini of South Africa during the women's friendly match between South Africa and Bayer Leverkusen at Sport School Hennef on July 12, 2012 in Recklinghausen, Germany.

(July 11, 2012 - Source: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images Europe)

AFRICA’S 2019 WORLD CUP EXPLOITS SUMMARISED

Nigeria

Nearly knocked out of the group stages as a result of a controversial VAR decision, the Nigerian Super Falcons had a decent world cup performance as they managed to reach the round of 16. While they were knocked out by two time champions, Germany, the West African team did meet their primary objective of at least qualifying for the knockout stages. Thus, the team will look to build on from this in preparation for future tournaments and ultimately the 2023 World Cup. What is more, coach Thomas Dennerby looks to have unearthed some young players who could be long term foundations of the squad.

Cameroon

Cameroon qualified for the round of 16 after beating New Zealand 2-1 in their final group match. A big letdown for the Cameroonians was their failure to be clinical in front of goal throughout the tournament. The Indomitable Lionesses were very creative and threatening going forward but a bit less cohesive defensively. In their last time out, Cameroon lost 3-0 to England in a match that was characterised by intense physicality and various controversial VAR decisions. One may not be faulted for believing that the less sportive behavior displayed by the Cameroon team during their match against England marred their never say die attitude which had helped them reach the round of 16. The players refused to restart the game after England had scored a goal awarded by a controversial VAR decision, causing a conundrum on the field of play in an unbearable sight for football fans.

South Africa

To whom much is given much is expected, says an old adage. After a stellar showing at the 2018 Women’s AFCON tournament last year where they reached the finals, much was expected from the South African women’s team. The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was Banyana Banyana’s first ever appearance at that stage. The team lost all three matches though they did manage to salvage some pride by scoring a consolation goal courtesy of star player Thembi Kgatlana in their 3-1 loss against Spain. Nevertheless, perhaps some positives can be taken from Banyana’s world cup journey. Their ability to reach the tournament for the first time is something not to be taken lightly. Furthermore, the team has been able to blend in experience and youth that has come up the ranks, and as such, by the time the next world cup tournament arrives, a majority of the team’s youngsters would have reached their peak and will be ready to be more competitive.

Cameroon line up during the Women's Football first round Group E Match of the London 2012 Olympic Games between Cameroon and Brazil at Millennium Stadium on July 25, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales.

(July 24, 2012 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

THERE ARE OTHERS

While the above teams have exerted their place as the leading women’s football nations from the continent, there are other teams that are closely behind them that may rise in the near future. These include Mali, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Mighty Warriors were the first Zimbabwean national football team to make it to a global event after qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Previously, Zimbabwe had qualified for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations three times and their best performance was a fourth place finish at the 2000 edition held in Nigeria. Moreover, the upcoming COSAFA Cup will be an opportunity for the Mighty Warriors to redeem themselves and show their competence especially after failing to book a place at the Africa Women's Cup of Nations (AWCON) last year.

SOME CHALLENGES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE WOMEN’S GAME

It must be pointed out that African national teams (both women and men) still have a long way to go if they are to succeed in major tournaments such as the Men and Women’s FIFA World Cup. Prominent even today, stories of pay disputes between players and the football governing body remain poisonous to the development of the sport and if left unaddressed, will continue to be a problem. Such disputes have reared their ugly heads as a result of the corruption and general mismanagement that plagues high-level football across Africa. Despite being home to large throngs of football lovers and also some of the world’s best players, football federations across the continent are engulfed by cancerous maladministration which creates a lot of problems that ultimately force players to take extreme measures in an effort to get their payments. Noteworthy examples that come to mind include the issues faced by the Nigerian women’s team after beating Cameroon 5-0 to win the AWCON back in 2004. The Nigerian federation refused to pay players their bonuses and pending allowances as the federation claimed there was no money. The players eventually got their dues after continued pressure from both players and the media. Fast forward to 2019, the same issue arose at the end of their world cup journey.  It was reported that the Super Falcons refused to return home unless they were paid. Therefore, the absence of proper structures to deal with such problems will continue to result in unrest and lack of optimal performances from national team players.

Renata Costa of Brazil scores a header during the Women's Football first round Group E Match of the London 2012 Olympic Games between Cameroon and Brazil at Millennium Stadium on July 25, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales.

(July 24, 2012 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

A GLOBAL VIEW

In the same vein, another predominant issue not only in African women’s football but globally as well, has been the issue of unequal pay between the men’s and the women’s teams. It was reported that Banyana Banyana, South Africa women’s team, were paid 10 times less than Bafana Bafana, the men’s team. As such, this damning discovery resulted in the South African Football Association (SAFA) taking action to rectify this. To this end, in May 2019, SAFA increased Banyana's pay and made it equivalent to their male counterparts in a move that was welcomed by many South African football lovers. It was also reported that Nigeria too, has recently taken steps to correct the wage disparity between male and female players. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) told CNN it conducted a pay review in 2017 resulting in basic match bonuses for the Super Falcons being raised to $3,000 per player, while the basic bonus for the men's team was reduced from $10,000 to $5,000 per player. According to Samuel Ahmadu, a member of the women's committee for the NFF, the enormous pay gap in the African game can partly be attributed to poor handling of female football teams by their sports associations.

INFRASTRUCTURE & REASONS TO BE HOPEFUL

Despite the difficulties faced by many female players on the continent, there are signs of hope for the women's game. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has been making bold steps towards investing in women's football. In 2018, the CAF President in a speech at the CAF women's football symposium alluded that the organization would prioritize women's competitions and support local federations in managing women's teams. Further to this, according to Yasmine Arkoub, co-founder of sports consulting firm, Melting Sports, there are also plans to launch an African Women's Champions League. Additionally, former Nigerian player Yusuf-Aromire has also launched the SheFootball Initiative to encourage young Nigerian girls to get on the pitch. The Super Falcons legend offers training for girls and provides football kits for those who can't afford them. "There are a million girls out there who want to play football but are not being encouraged. They just need the support and access to opportunities," she said.

Worth noting is that many African players have been travelling overseas in search for better opportunities to develop their football talents and advance their careers, yet the national teams have found themselves unable to shine on the global stage and many nations are still without a professional league. It is said that out of the 54 national associations in Africa, 25 countries currently have a women’s league with only four boasting well-organized and quality competitions, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa. As a result, the insignificant number of leagues on the continent hinders many players’ abilities to compete at the highest level consistently, both at national and club level.

“Fast forward to 2019, the same issue arose at the end of their world cup journey.  It was reported that the Super Falcons refused to return home unless they were paid. Therefore, the absence of proper structures to deal with such problems will continue to result in unrest and lack of optimal performances from national team players.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Asisat Oshoala #8 of Nigeria reacts after scoring the second goal against Sweden during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.

(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

Considering all else, there is a long way to go for African football, and the following are some of the action points that I believe need to be addressed by relevant stakeholders in order to improve the sport. Firstly, football associations should make it a priority to source for more sustainable sponsorship for national women’s leagues. This will help in not only having enough prize money for the leagues, but it will also help in attracting local players to remain in the continent as a result of increased competitiveness in the domestic leagues, as well as increasing awareness and abolishing stigma surrounding women’s football which can ultimately draw more sponsors. Additionally, more partnerships between countries should be formed to fast-track the development of players. For instance, one notable initiative in this regard has been the partnership between SAFA and the Spanish La Liga which has seen the League commit to sponsoring the South African Under-17 women’s national team’s (Bantwana) trip to Spain to play two important friendly matches against select sides from La Liga’s national women’s league. SAFA’s representative remarked, “we have received balls to give to our provinces from La Liga, they have sent us La Liga qualified coaches to train our local coaches and have been heavily involved in initiatives with our regions and provinces to develop the sport at grassroots level.”

More of such partnerships are needed across the continent if women’s football in Africa is to rise to the level it belongs.

MLS Preview: Top 10 Must Watch Players Of African Descent - #7 Emmanuel Boateng

Apparently, Boateng is not the least popular last name in Ghana and neither is the name, Emmanuel. Other than the Chinese Super League based Emmanuel Boateng who once helped Levante sink Barcelona by scoring a hatrick in the 2017/18 La Liga season, the Major League Soccer have their own.

The 24-year-old LA Galaxy forward, Emmanuel “Ema” Boateng got re-signed by the club prior to the commencement of the 2019 season after his three-year contract had run out. He is one such an individual who is yet to realise his full potential at the MLS’ most successful club with a record 5 titles. In his first spell, Ema scored 8 goals and assisted 12 others in a total of 87 appearances (58 starts) across three seasons. The pacey, diminutive winger is an absolute joy to watch in his element. The kind who can slither past opposing players with ease and a rare eye for goal when he chooses. With Galaxy in the mood of chasing another MLS title after missing out on the playoffs in the 2018 season, Ema couldn’t be more important now. Their top man and captain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has promised to break all records in the American league and that would be made even easier with quality players such as Giovani Dos Santos and Emmanuel Boateng around him. Even the LA Galaxy General Manager was not shy to highlight the importance of the uncapped Ghanaian:

“We are excited that Ema will be returning to LA Galaxy. Ema is a talented young player who brings excitement and depth to our roster. We look forward to his continued development as a player and future contributions to our team.”

— Dennis te Kloese, LA Galaxy General Manager

Boateng was born and grew in Ghana, in a home that lacked running water and electricity. He first made contact with the US after winning a scholarship to attend Cate School in Carpinteria, California. He quickly climbed up the ranks, playing for the University of California, Santa Barbara men’s soccer team before short stints in the Swedish league and eventually making an MLS debut with LA Galaxy in 2016. His story has been featured on documentaries and most notably on CNN.

FT's 10 Best Moments of 2018: #6 Riyad Mahrez gets his move to Manchester

At FirstTouch, we have a saying that goes like, “a year is never over until we close it.” In the spirit of that ideal, we took our time to look back at the ten most defining moments of 2018, as far as African football is concerned. Could you guess what they are? Number 6 is ready for you.

“Talks of how much more the Algerian could contribute given what he achieved with the diminutive Leicester City. Many neutrals, especially Africans wanted him to move and they grew increasingly impatient as the move never seemed to surface.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal with John Stones of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Burnley FC at Etihad Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 19, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

Ever since Leicester City pulled off the miracle of winning the 2015/16 English Premier League with the most insignificant odds, Riyad Mahrez had always been linked with a move away from the King Power. The 27-year-old Algerian impressed potential suitors by his stellar performances on the right wing of Claudio Ranieri’s set up, scoring a couple of goals and setting up late bloomer, Jamie Vardy for the Premier League Golden Boot Award of that campaign. Riyad become mostly known for his famous Mahrez chop of cutting inside from the wing, chopping defenders and sagging the far side of the net.

Talks of how much more the Algerian could contribute given what he achieved with the diminutive Leicester City. Many neutrals, especially Africans wanted him to move and they grew increasingly impatient as the move never seemed to surface. Top European clubs such as Arsenal were one of the teams’ who for a long time had Mahrez on their wish list but with no success. It was the noisy neighbors of Manchester who eventually won the Algerian’s signature in the summer of 2018. Even after Pep Guardiola’s plans to get Riyad to City were derailed in January of the same year. The dream transfer became a reality and in Manchester City’s typical lavish spending style, with a record transfer fee for the club of £60 million also becoming the record transfer fee for an African player.

With City looking like they can repeat yesteryear’s record breaking season, Mahrez looks settled in Pep’s squad already making a huge impact in their journey to possible European dominance.

CAF Champions League: First leg of the final marred with VAR controversy

Al Ahly's Ahmed Mohammed celebrates his winning goal during the international friendly match between AS Roma and Al Ahly on May 20, 2016 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

(May 19, 2016 - Source: Chris Whiteoak/Getty Images Europe)

Al Ahly SC and Esperance de Tunis met in Borg El Arab in Egypt in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final last Friday. The match was nothing short of dramatic with an unprecedented total of three penalties being awarded during the game, two to Al Ahly and one to Esperance. There was a hive of controversy surrounding the awarding of Al Ahly’s two penalties by the match referee, Mehdi Abid Charef. The first penalty was awarded for a foul against Moroccan striker, Walid Azaro who fell seemingly unprovoked at slight contact by the Esperance goalie. A 56th minute goal by Amro Elsoulia extended Al Ahly’s lead to 2-0. Eventually, Esperance de Tunis made a comeback after a foul by Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohammed El Shenawy won them a penalty that was successfully converted by Belaili Mohammed in the 62nd minute. In the most dramatic fashion, Ahly regained their two goal cushion after Walid Azaro once again, won another controversial penalty for a foul by Chamseddine Dhaouadi which seemed to have been outside of the penalty area.

Many were in disbelief at how the referee could have made such a blunder especially since on both occasions, he consulted VAR extensively to ascertain the validity of the penalty claims. This was the first time that the FIFA sanctioned technology was used in African football, unfortunately, the occasion was tainted by the controversy of the two “imaginary penalties”. Many are calling out the Algerian referee for failing to spot out the insincerity of Al Ahly players’ penalty calls. Any hopes of a preliminary victory for Esperance in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final were dashed due to two controversial penalty decisions. Tunisian FA president, Wadiaa Jariaa, called for an emergency FA meeting after the game in a move that signalled the gravity of the situation.

We are all aware that incidents of this nature are not rare. In fact, the occasional bad judgement or very debatable penalty calls  by a referee are commonplace in the game of football. And as football fans we are outraged every time (that is, if it the decision is not in our team’s favor). However, some have put the blame on the low standards of African Football for this particular incident:

“For a continental summit, we reach a peak of mediocrity. The credit and reputation of African football are at stake. ”

— Nabil Djellit, France Footbal

VAR display is seen prior to the serie A match between Frosinone Calcio and Bologna FC at Olimpico Stadium on August 26, 2018 in Turin, Italy.

(Aug. 25, 2018 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Friday night was meant to be the historic debut of the VAR system in continental football, and a sign that African football is keeping up with the latest developments. Unfortunately, it has left football fans questioning the utility of the VAR if referees still fail to make accurate calls especially when the stakes are very high. According to FIFA VAR is supposed to reduce human error and essentially make the game of football fairer and more equitable. Video Assistance Referring can be called upon in instances of disputed goals, penalties, red cards and to properly identify a player who has made an infringement. VAR has been a divisive topic, with some applauding the new tech and others calling for a more organic, non assisted approach to refereeing, where errors are expected.

Al Ahly lead 3-1 on aggregate and the eight time winners are closer to securing a record ninth title as they continue dominance as Africa’s finest team. An enthralling second leg match is set for November 9th in the Tunisian capital of Tunis. Espérance de Tunis will be hoping to come back from the 2 goal deficit to steal away the title hopes from Patrice Carteron’s men. They will certainly be more cautious not to give away any more penalties to their title rivals.

Tell us your thoughts on VAR, is it really making the game fairer or do you think that we need to wait for the referees to get accustomed to the tech before we banish VAR? How bad does that this incident reflect on African football, if at all? Perhaps it’s just one of the those things that people write off African football for when the actual issue may be the flaw of a particular something, in this case a technology.

FT Coach Tribute: The job where there's more than meets the eye

“On the contrary, questions were raised as to why these signings were made because they didn’t fit the profile of ‘a Liverpool type of winger’ which usually characterizes a British lad with a swerve in his locker and chips in with an odd goal once in a while. It is because of such decisions that I think management is not as easy as I thought it was. ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

The futures of some great coaches still remains to be uncertain with the likes of Arsene Wenger and Zinedine Zidane still jobless after having undoubted success at their former clubs. Watching Monday Night Football and following all the press conferences familiarizes the fans with the nitty gritties of the game. Because of that, the fans tend to ask questions about certain decisions made by managers in their preferred Starting XIs against different teams. Almost everyone feels like they can do a manager’s job and set a winning team on paper but it’s not that simple. There is more to coaching than setting the formation and picking the best players that suit that system. Let’s dive into the other duties of a modern soccer manager in the MLS or EPL.

(SOUTH AFRICA OUT) Pitso Mosimane of Mamelodi Sundowns reacts during the Absa Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United at Loftus Stadium on December 20, 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa.

(Dec. 19, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Getting the best out of the players in the league matches requires a special attention to each individual. This can be applied on the training ground where the managers identify the weaknesses and strengths of each individual and finds ways to make everyone play as a team. All this go through the minds of a coach and sometimes bring them sleepless nights whilst us fans are impatient to see our players in action in the next match. The manager, with the help of his assistant coaches, has that responsibility to set the right training drills and make sure that the player turns up the way he wants to in the League. Take Alex Iwobi for instance. He looks a different player this season under Unai Emery at Arsenal. The Nigerian player seems to have found a position on the pitch which suits him which is wide out the left and playing as a direct winger. Under Arsene Wenger, he was in and out of the team because he was deployed in countless positions which did not suit neither his style of play nor the team. Emery has me convinced that with the right coach and willingness to learn, any player can go places.

Soccer players are human and they also need to feel motivated to get the job done. A manager has the responsibility to make sure that the player feels wanted at the club and also motivated to play in the next game and do bits. Wayne Rooney left Manchester United for Everton in 2017 in search for that self-belonging. Still, both Sam Allardyce and Marco Silva failed to bring the best out the player until this year when he moved to the MLS. Wayne Rooney arrived at DC United when the club was in the relegation zone and transformed his team to be real contenders for the MLS trophy with a comfortable place on the MLS playoffs. He scored 12 goals and provided 6 assists in 17 starts. The player felt wanted at the club and he has since been trying to pay back the faith the club had in bringing him across oceans to the MLS.

Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 21, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

Another role that often skips the mind of an average fan is the role the manager has in the recruitment of the players that suit their style of play. Take Liverpool and their intense pressing game, one ought to find that unique talent that not only offers the goals and assists but also the work rate to keep pressing forward when out of possession and recover the ball in less than 20 seconds. The club successfully recruited two Africans, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah who are expects in that role. On the contrary, questions were raised as to why these signings were made because they didn’t fit the profile of ‘a Liverpool type of winger’ which usually characterizes a British lad with a swerve in his locker and chips in with an odd goal once in a while. It is because of such decisions that I think management is not as easy as I thought it was.

Finally, a club’s image is a significant part of the business. Because of that, the club board identifies managers with a personality, coaches who do not crumble under pressure and fail to respond to questions asked by the journalists in the press conferences. It requires a woman or man of character who can speak their truth and leave both the media and fans satisfied with their plans for the club. This is a rare quality that comes with management.

Do you think you have what it takes to manage these big clubs? Tell us why.

EPL: Matchday 10 African Round Up

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal

Eric Bailly of Manchester United speaks with Marcelino Garcia Toral, Manager of Valencia after the Group H match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester United and Valencia at Old Trafford on October 2, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 1, 2018 - Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)

Arguably Arsenal’s best players this season, Alex Iwobi and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could not lift their team over the line and achieve a 12th straight win against their opponents. Crystal Palace had their Ivorian forward, Wilfried Zaha who gave the defenders a torrid time during the course of the match. The match ended in a 2-2 draw in the London derby with Aubameyang claiming a goal after a controversial hand of God by the French forward, Alexandre Lacazette. Wilfried Zaha had a hand on the final result as he won a penalty for Palace which eventually led to an equalizer.

Manchester United vs Everton

Jose Mourinho’s men claimed a 2-1 victory at home. The Red Devils continue to look like a team on the up with some decent performances of late. Eric Bailly, however, continued his exile as he watched the match from the stands with Mourinho preferring Smalling and Lindelof at the back. The club also received an injury boost with the return of Marcos Rojo which leaves the Ivorian further down the pecking order.

Chelsea vs Burnley

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Oxford United and Manchester City at Kassam Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Oxford, England.

(Sept. 24, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

Maurizio Sari’s men were at their best against Sean Dyche’s Burnley on Sunday. They thumped the home team by 4 goals without return to stamp their authority in the title race. The former Nigerian international, Victor Moses could not make the bench even in the absence of the on-form Belgian international, Eden Hazard. It seems like history is repeating itself at the club for the African who was surplus to requirements to all the Chelsea coaches but Antonio Conte. The player was sent on loan countless times before the Italian showed faith in him. Victor Moses has to take some time to think about his situation at the club if he wants to save his career in football. The winger deserves better.

Tottenham vs Manchester City

Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester in action during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at The King Power Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Leicester, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 17, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Algerian forward Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal in the soccer match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Wembley Stadium on the 29th of October, 2018. The new Manchester City forward has been preferred on the right side of the midfield by Pep Guardiola ahead of the likes of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane. He has started the last 5 matches across all competitions with a total of 4 goals and 1 assist. Mahrez is starting to regain that fear factor he had in Leicester City’s title winning year. With him, Manchester City are even stronger.

Leicester City vs West Ham

Leicester City came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 against 10-man West Ham United. The away team lost their captain, Mark Noble to a red card after a reckless tackle in the second half. Nigerian defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi came to the rescue for Leicester and scored a deflected shot from 30 yards out. The result of the match was overshadowed by the events that followed shortly after full-time. A tragic accident occurred near the staff car park at the King Power Stadium. A helicopter with 5 passengers crashed and burst into flames after Leicester City’s match against West Ham. Among the deceased was the owner of Leicester City,

2019 AFCON Qualifiers - Big wins, Bailly redemption & Salah's corner kick goal

Angola players celebrate their first goal during the 2013 Orange African Cup of Nations match between Cape Verde Islands and Angola from Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on January 27, 2013 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

(Jan. 26, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

The 2019 AFCON qualifiers action resumed on Friday with a total of ten matches played all across the continent. Friday could easily be summarised as a goal fest with many sides winning big and obviously a sizeable not losing small. Here is what happened.

You might have not predicted this but, Aubameyang was not on the scoresheet as the Panthers grabbed a much needed 3-0 home victory against lowly ranked South Sudan who are still pointless after three matches. We will wait and see if the South Sudanese will be able to salvage some pride in the return leg on Tuesday.

The most talked about thriller will be Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah’s goal, scored direct from a corner kick in the Pharaohs 4 - 1 victory over Swaziland. Egypt and Salah’s international form is hitting some serious levels as they are proving to be the most free scoring side in the whole campaign as they have bagged 10 goals in the last two matches.

The wait for an international goal continues for Crystal Palace’s Zaha as he only managed an assist in Ivory Coast’s 4-0 demolition of Central African Republic. The Elephants fielded a strong lineup which was no match for the travelling team. Fulham’s Seri, AC Milan’s Kessie, Basel’s Serey Die, Zaha, Manchester United’s Bailly and Spurs’ Aurier were all among the notable names on the starting team sheet. The biggest redemption came for Eric Bailly who has been struggling this campaign under Jose Mourinho in the English Premier League. Eric scored the second goal of the match, shortly after assisting J.Kodja for the first of the contest. Lyon’s Maxwell Cornet continued his club form with a goal and C.Doukoure also added another as Ivory Coast moved to within three points of group leaders, Guinea who beat Rwanda 2-0 and are still yet to drop a single point in the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.

Wilfried Kanon of the Ivory Coast leaps to control the ball during the International Friendly match between the Ivory Coast and Senegal at the Stade Charlety on March 27, 2017 in Paris, France.

(March 26, 2017 - Source: Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe)

The Sable Antelopes of Angola came from behind at home to beat the qualifiers’ dark horses, Mauritania, 4-1. The two finished the night tied on six points in group I and will await Saturday’s results of the Burkina Faso and Botswana match before they fix their eyes on the return leg on Tuesday. The 2019 hosts, Cameroon, who automatically qualify by virtue of being hosts edged Malawi 1-0 courtesy of powerful strike by Paris St Germain’s forward, Eric Maxim Choupo Moting. The 29-year-old handed Clarence Seedorf’s first victory as the Indomitable Lions coach.

Elsewhere, the Islanders, Cape Verde grabbed their first victory of the campaign as they comfortably saw off the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, 3-0 with forward Ricardo Gomes scoring a brace in the encounter. The Blue Sharks climbed up to top of group L after being rock-bottom as a result of that victory, with Uganda and Lesotho still to play their third match on Saturday.

Here are the full lists for results, fixtures and standings of the 2019 Africa Cup Of Nations Qualifiers. How are things looking up for your favorite team?

Is Dembele ready to share Messi's Barcelona "burden"?

False start

Many believed Ousmane Dembele’s first season at the Catalans would be excellent considering the hefty prize tag that came with the player’s move from former club Borussia Dortmund in 2017. He was bought by the club for a price of €147 million as a replacement for Brazilian dynamite, Neymar but life at the Camp Nou did not quite kickoff well for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner. A combination of long term injuries as well as lack of game time were some of the reasons for the Frenchman's disappointing  first season at the club. In the summer of 2018, barely a year into his Barca career, there were already rumours linking him with a loan move away from the club, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool vying for his signature. However all of that did not materialize and the Frenchman declared at the start of the season that he was staying put with the club.

The Usain Bolt kind of start

Ousmane Dembele of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between FC Barcelona and PSV at Camp Nou on September 18, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.

(Sept. 17, 2018 - Source: Alex Caparros/Getty Images Europe)

Fast forward to the current 2018/19 season, all that seems to be changing. The new  La Liga campaign has started off on a high note for Dembele as he has been in the thick of things in many of his team’s first few games. In his first three games for the club this season, Dembele has scored two goals, showing the quality that he can be key in easing the pressure off Lionel Messi and Suarez in terms of scoring as well as creating goals. Although he did not get a lot of game-time in France’s ridiculously talented squad during the recent world cup, Dembele has not let that affect him as he has began the new season on a high.

Most fans believe that Dembele’s growth at the club will be enhanced by having Lionel Messi supporting him. Barca’s main man is the central point of Barca’s every move thus Dembele should aim to learn more from the little Argentine magician in terms of both his decision-making and movement around the pitch. That way he will be able to exert himself properly and increase the confidence coach Ernesto Valverde has in him. What is more more, being surrounded by a great deal of other quality players such as Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez will certainly be beneficial for “Mosquito’s” development, More so ease the pressure that came with his price tag. On his best day, Dembele can embarrass the best of wing backs with his blistering pace and endless dribbling ability, which are some of the qualities that made the club gain interest in the player.

“Fast forward to the current 2018/19 season, all that seems to be changing. The new  La Liga campaign has started off on a high note for Dembele as he has been in the thick of things in many of his team’s first few games.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

I personally consider Dembele to be in the top ten world’s best young players because of his raw talent. He is that type of player who has the potential to be the best player provided he gets the right mentoring and enough game time. Ernesto Valverde has been slowly throwing the Frenchman into the thick of things this season and I am sure most Barca supporters are enjoying that and would hope that they will see more of Dembele this season. After all, he is the fourth most expensive player on the planet and I am persuaded many would agree with me that Ousmane is certainly too good to rot on the bench. The 2018/2019 season seems to be the one for Dembele to finally stamp his authority and secure his place in the talented Barcelona squad.

Now more than ever

Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Presnel Kimpembe of France celebrate victory following the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.

(July 14, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

Barca seems to be in kind of a renaissance with loads of talent brought in the summer such as  the 21-year-old Malcolm, Arturo Vidal, Lenglet and another Brazilian in Arthur. The old guns who carried Barcelona through many years of glory, that is the Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Pique and Messi have all moved on or are soon to depart and make way for the new. They seem to be figuring out a new style of play and Messi remains the stabilizing factor in the far from smooth transition period. Dropping seven points in the past three La Liga games against Girona, Leganes and Athletic Club, is so much unlike Barcelona. There is no better for Dembele to take some pressure over Messi and make an undisputed claim for a key role in the club that is reinventing itself.

Will he continue rising to the occasion? Should the new Barcelona be built around him? Have your say in the comment box below.

What you need to know about the men's AFCON 2019

Are you wondering about the details of the biggest African showcase coming to our screens in 2019 or do you even know its coming? Here’s what you need to know about the biennial Men’s African Cup of Nations otherwise known as AFCON organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Kolo Toure and Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast look dejected after losing to Egypt during the AFCON semi-final match between Ivory Coast and Egypt held at the Baba Yara Stadium on February 7, 2008 in Kumasi, Ghana.

(Feb. 7, 2008 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Brief History

The most successful nation in the tournament is the Pharaohs of Egypt with a record seven titles. North Africa is the most successful region with 10 titles, followed by West Africa with 9, Central Africa with 8, East and Southern Africa with 2 titles apiece.

Current Champions

Cameroon lifted the 2017 AFCON Cup after defeating Egypt, 2-1 in Gabon. The Indomitable Lions sealed their 5th title in spectacular fashion after fielding a team with less known players going against all odds, upsetting the likes of Sadio Mane’s Senegal and Mo Salah’s Pharaohs.

Where and when?

Cameroon was selected to host the 2019 tournament running from the 7th-30th of June 2019. A relatively convenient period that does not clash with the schedule of most club football leagues in Europe and around the world where the players ply their trade. CAF’s President, Ahmad Ahmad did however express concern over the West African nation’s infrastructure readiness to host the tourney with the final decision to be made in the CAF Extraordinary General Assembly on the 30th of September 2018. South Africa and Morocco have emerged as the countries likely to take up the mantle, should Cameroon fall out of favor.

Who is participating in the qualifying rounds?

The top ranked 45 teams on the continent and three winners from the preliminary qualification round were placed in 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for AFCON 2019, the first edition to pit 24 teams in the finals. Sixteen teams had been participating in the finals before the upcoming 32nd edition.

A Democratic Republic of the Congo supporter cheers during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group C football match between DR Congo and Morocco in Oyem on January 16, 2017. / AFP / ISSOUF SANOGO

(Jan. 15, 2017 - Source: AFP)

Group Stages Fixture Dates

• Matchday 1 ---  20-28 March 2018
• Matchday 2 ---  3-11 September 2018
• Matchday 3 & 4 ---  8-16 October 2018
• Matchday 5 ---  12-20 November 2018
• Matchday 6 ---  18-26 March 2019

Here is a full list of the fixtures.

Players to look out for in the qualifiers

Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona locally known as the Smiling Assassin is one such an individual already topping the scoring charts with three goals from matchday one. The list is obviously endless with a wealth of talent both at home and abroad coming together to fight for the continent's most coveted prize. Players which will never be robbed of a mention include Senegal’s Sadio Mane, FIFA Best Top Three finalist Mohamed Salah, South Africa’s Percy Tau, Ivory Coast’s Franck Kessie who featured on our hidden gems series, Alex Iwobi, the majority of shoe shine piano football from Mamelodi Sundowns and many more.

AFCON Fun- Fact

The nicknames of the participating national teams are as vicious as they come. So much to do with lions, eagles, stars and many safari animals, selling the richness of the continent. The possible explanation is perhaps to intimidate the opponent off the pitch before they battle it out on the grass. Some of the names include:

Egyptian players and coaching staff celebrate winning the Africa Cup of Nations final match between Ghana and Egypt from Universitaria Stadium on January 31, 2010 in Luanda, Angola.

(Jan. 30, 2010 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

• The Lions of Teranga - Senegal
• The Super Eagles - Nigeria
• Lions of the Atlas - Morocco
• Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) - Zambia
• Indomitable Lions - Cameroon
• The Elephants - Ivory Coast
• Bafana Bafana ( Boys! Boys!) - South Africa
• Black Stars - Ghana
• Taifa Stars - Tanzania

One lucid moment of the tournament

Zambia won their first AFCON title in 2012 co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, 19 years after most members of Zambian national team on their way to Senegal for a FIFA World Cup qualifier, perished in a plane crash. The plane had just taken off from Libreville, Gabon - the region where the 2012 troops won the title for their fallen heroes.

Do the FIFA POTY Nominees hint at a new era?

The national team captains, coaches, fans and selected journalists casted their votes and they have been tallied. After a decade of dominance by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with each claiming five individual honors for the world’s best football player, we are witnessing some new trends across most of the categories. Indeed, I cannot deny the Messi and Ronaldo are among the unique breed of footballers that this world will ever know but it was becoming a little too boring. Here are top three new features of the “new age” I am most excited about.

Timely reminder that football ingenuity can’t be reduced to a simple goal statistic

Mohamed Salah of Egypt celebrates with teammate Marwan Mohsen after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Saudia Arabia and Egypt at Volgograd Arena on June 25, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia.

(June 24, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

One of the reasons why Ronaldo and Messi had not left the podium since 2008 is that they are goal scoring machines and they are surrounded by other great players in the biggest of clubs which almost always win trophies. For almost all the years these two won the FIFA Ballon d’Or Award now known as FIFA Best Award, it was given to the one whose club had claimed the UEFA Champions League trophy or scored the most goals.The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andres Iniesta, Antoine Griezmann, Xavi, Manuel Neuer and Franck Ribery were well in their right victims of the Ronaldo-Messi era. Great football talents who happen to have been born at the wrong time as many people would say.

The good news for the first time, we see a player like Luka Modric making the top three list, a complete midfielder who is hardly on the scoresheet but almost inspired his country Croatia, to their first ever FIFA World Cup triumph, losing to France in the 2018 final in Russia. The 32-year-old  did win the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in May, bagged the Golden Ball for the best player at the 2018 World Cup finals but quite remarkably and unusually pipped Ronaldo to the 2018 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award. A sign that the Ronaldo and Messi era could very soon be behind us.

Egyptian king, Mohamed Salah deservedly made it to this year’s top three with Ronaldo completing that list and Messi missing out. Salah broke the scoring records in England, banging in 32 goals in a 38 match season and helped Liverpool reach the Champions League final. He also won all the individual awards in England but making the list without winning any major team trophy emphasises this change I am trying so hard to describe.

Unfamiliar but familiar faces in goal

Kasper Schmeichel of Denmark reacts during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between 1st Group D and 2nd Group C at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on July 1, 2018 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

(June 30, 2018 - Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images Europe)

If I were to ask for the names of the three top goalkeepers in the world, most certainly, the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Manuel Neuer and David De Gea would frequent on most people’s list. They are really goalkeepers of some of the elite and acclaimed football clubs in the world. Quite honestly, they are great and probably deserve the naming. But this year, the voters decided on some talented individuals between the sticks who have not received the deserved praise over the years. Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester City in the Premier League and Denmark, Hugo Lloris who captained France to the 2018 World Cup title and Thibaut Courtois, the best goalkeeper in Russia 2018 make up the three men shortlist. Does this signal an element of enhanced objectivity in choosing players for these awards, without necessarily looking at the crest of their clubs or their national colors?

We just love that Senegalese fans are nominated for one of the awards

You cannot really blame us for singling out exceptional contributors to the game from the beloved continent of Africa. That’s what FirstTouch Africa aims to bring the global stage anyway, telling the untold stories of invaluable significance, steering communities forward.

Senegal fans enjoy the pre match atmosphere prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Japan and Senegal at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 24, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

(June 23, 2018 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe)

The Lions of Teranga football fans are part of the nominees for the FIFA Fan Award after their resounding efforts to keep Russia clean at the world cup finals. These guys literally picked up all litter after each and every game they cheered their heroes on, even after the bitterest of games that saw Senegal exit the tournament in the group stages because they had more yellow cards than the second placed Japan in Group H. Even the Japanese fans also headlined Russia for the tidy civility acts and are nominated together with Senegal as a unit.

Below, is a full list for all the nominees.The winners will be announced on 24 September at Royal Festival Hall in London.

 

 

 

 

Men's player

Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus & Portugal

Luka Modric - Real Madrid & Croatia

Mohamed Salah - Liverpool & Egypt

Women's player

Ada Hegerberg - Lyon & Norway

Dzsenifer Marozsan - Lyon & Germany

Marta - Orlando Pride & Brazil

Men's coach

Zlatko Dalic - Croatia

Didier Deschamps - France

Zinedine Zidane - former Real Madrid

Women's coach

Reynald Pedros - Lyon

Asako Takakura - Japan

Sarina Wiegman - Netherlands

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois - Real Madrid & Belgium

Hugo Lloris - Tottenham & France

Kasper Schmeichel - Leicester & Denmark

Puskas Award

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) v Liverpool

Denis Cheryshev (Russia) v Croatia

Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (AEK) v Olympiacos

Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro) -v America MG

Riley McGree (Newcastle Jets) v Melbourne City

Lionel Messi (Argentina) v Nigeria

Benjamin Pavard (France) v Argentina

Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal) v Iran

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid ) v Juventus

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) v Everton

Fan Award

Sebastian Carrera (Deportes Puerto Montt, Chile)

Peru fans

Japan and Senegal fans

FT World Cup 2018: Belgium vs Tunisia, A Seven Goal Frenzy

The beauty of the World Cup is not only experienced by the victors. Due to the fact that the tournament is, in fact, a final including different countries that have qualified from their respective confederations, the fans here have been incredibly celebratory and for good reason. Belgium is a country that is enjoying international tournaments with a bit more expectation due to their golden generation of talent that comprises their squad. Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku are household names but all entering their prime years in their respective careers.

Tunisia is a country with passionate fans that have waited 12 years to see their country appear in the World Cup and have been waiting 40 years for a victory in a World Cup match. How fitting that the last match we had tickets to see live, was a neutral fan’s dream match. After watching a slightly more conservative approach from Cristiano and Portugal, it was thrilling to see how Roberto Martinez sent out a Belgium side to attack Tunisia relentlessly in search of victory. It was equally thrilling to see Tunisia try to match Belgium’s footballing prowess with their own brand of attacking football. Rather than sit back and soak up pressure looking to counterattack, Tunisia tried to keep possession and build attacks from their defense. Unfortunately for Tunisia, an early Hazard penalty kick quickly followed up by a Lukaku goal meant that they would have to become even more adventurous against an incredibly potent Belgium side that was poised to seize the extra space Tunisia would leave exposed when attacking. While Tunisia certainly could be applauded for their brave tactics. Belgium maximized their physical advantage over Tunisia and was running rampant as the first half came to a close.

Spartak Stadium was the venue for this match and its intimate seating helped to create a cacophonous atmosphere for both Belgian and Tunisian fans. The second half was a bit more of the same, Belgium attacks followed by Tunisia attacks, and as the game drew to a close, Tunisia was able to score a second goal through Wahbi Khazri. To hear the Tunisian fans celebrate that second goal even though the game was 5-2 and drawing to a close, represented all the pride and joy felt by Tunisians to have earned the opportunity to compete at the World Cup. It was incredible to be a part of and witness.

FT World Cup 2018: Live From Russia - Cristiano Proves Decisive Against Morocco

FirstTouch is in Russia for the World Cup 2018. We will be attending multiple games and celebrating the world’s game with fans from all across the world! Enjoy our blogs that document some of our experiences.

The most riveting thing about experiencing the World Cup 2018 in Russia has been seeing world class players up close and personal. When you watch the game on television, it is completely different from seeing the movements and progressions that occur in a game. This experience is especially highlighted when witnessing one of the greatest players to ever play the game of football. We have been fortunate to see both players on either side of the debate of which is the GOAT. Lionel Messi came first, and although he was breathtaking to watch live, his missed penalty against Iceland proved decisive for all the wrong reasons, unfortunately. Cristiano Ronaldo, however, proved decisive for all the right reasons as Portugal defeated a Morocco team that largely outplayed them for most of the match. His fourth-minute header was the only goal in a 1-0 victory and when he scored it, the Luzhniki Stadium erupted with a roar equally mixed with cheers and boos. And this moment best encapsulates all that is Cristiano, in my opinion. A player with adoring fans worldwide, but also a player some fans love to hate.

Morocco, to their credit, played excellent football. Their build-up play was measured and their comfort on the ball was impressive, particularly against the reigning European Champions. The Portuguese manager, Fernando Santos, is famous for producing tactically disciplined teams that are resolute in defense and equally impressive in their attacking moments. So to see Morocco have Portugal against the ropes for large parts of the match was at times surprising, but to a devout Moroccan fan, it would not have come as a surprise perhaps. I must admit to not having seen too many Moroccan games before this one, but I am familiar with some of their standout players. Medhi Benatia and Younes Belhanda are two of the most successful Moroccan exports, but as a team, there were skillful players in each position. All that was unfortunately lacking was a decisive attacker to seize the chances that Morocco was able to create against Portugal’s defense. Pepe and his fellow defenders bent but did not break. Rui Patricio came up with several key saves, and one wonders if not for the early goal from Cristiano, would the game have assumed a slightly different dynamic. Portugal, at times, was more than happy to sit deep and absorb Moroccan attacks wave after wave, only to then counter with quickness, using Cristiano as the perfect release outlet.

Cristiano Ronaldo showed all 80,000 fans packed into Moscow’s biggest stadium why he commands all the attention and adoration he does. Earlier in his career, he used to run defenders ragged and confuse them with an array of skills performed at breathtaking speeds. Now, he chooses his moments, his endless runs are now decisive sprints and quick bursts of movement in the box. He has become a world class striker and for all of Morocco’s guile and creativity, they sorely lacked a player with the ruthless efficiency of Cristiano. As an attacking player on a counter-attacking team, there are inevitably moments in the match he must wait and defend more than he would like to. However, when called into action, a hush would come over the crowd as Cristiano would explode into action. His movements are much more intentional at this stage of his career and his decisions much more direct and decisive. Every time he had the ball in Morocco’s final third, one sensed a goal could come of whatever he created. Cristiano was also incredibly selfless in his efforts to defend set pieces, with the irony being that he of all people understands the importance of staying focused for those several moments in a match when an accurately delivered ball can affect a change or provide the decisive moment. Having seized the first moment that arrived on his head after a sharp, quick movement in the box to lose his defender, it was admirable to see how often he won defensive headers as well.

Overall, it was an excellent match for the neutral to watch, but as a long-time Cristiano fan, I was finally afforded the pleasure of seeing why he proves so decisive so often. Whereas Lionel Messi controls the game, Cristiano decided his game. Portugal left the pitch with all three points, albeit a draw or even a Morocco win would have been a more fair result. But football is rarely fair. It is a cruel sport that sometimes robs the better team of any tangible satisfaction. Morocco played excellent football but left with 0 points. And Portugal, as well as all football fans were again reminded how decisive and crucial Cristiano Ronaldo is.

FT World Cup 2018: Live From Russia - We Witnessed A Monumental Upset

FirstTouch is in Russia for the World Cup 2018. We will be attending multiple games and celebrating the world’s game with fans from all across the world! Enjoy our blogs that document some of our experiences.

The opening game between Russia and Saudia Arabia set the country aflame with perhaps even more passion and jubilation for the World Cup now that the host nation had announced itself in such a real way to the world. The second game in Moscow for our viewing pleasure was Germany vs Mexico. The World Cup 2014 champions against CONCACAF's best contender. As Americans abroad, we felt inspired to support Mexico regardless of my own personal history in Germany. What a decision that would turn out to be. It was quite possibly one of the most exhilarating moments of my life to be in that stadium and witness such a game. The emotional overload, however, began as you entered the Moscow public transit. Some of the newer trains had televisions in it so you could watch highlights or even the games themselves, and with each passing metro station that brought us closer to the stadium, we could encounter more and more fans from each country. German fans and Mexican fans singing and descending upon the stadium with excitement for the first game for each country at the tournament. 

What made the game so thrilling was not just our incredible seats our father was able to acquire for all of us, but the ambiance of the atmosphere itself. I have yet to watch a game in Mexico, but due to the fact that the Mexican fans greatly outnumbered the German ones, the Luzhniki Stadium felt more like Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The charm of the World Cup is that everyone puts aside political beliefs and any and all seemingly divisive emotions to celebrate the world's game. Even with such a numerical advantage in the stands, I never felt any hostility. In fact, our seats were behind a group of Germans that came from a town one hour from Dortmund, the city I lived and played in. In front of them sat a group of Brazilians that were clearly there to support the Mexicans, but everyone was engaging in banter before the game. 

The game itself was a thrilling encounter and a tactical masterclass from the Mexican coach and players. Germany was not immediately prepared to play at the tempo Mexico started the game with, and Lozano's first-half goal led to an eruption in the stadium and beer showers from the Mexican fans above us. It was quite simply the best 1-0 game I have ever watched and I cannot wait for the next game we will go to. 

FT World Cup 2018: Live From Russia - Saudi Arabia meets Russia in the Luzhniki

FirstTouch is in Russia for the World Cup 2018 this summer. We will be attending multiple games and celebrating the world’s game with fans from all across the world! Enjoy our blogs that document some of our experiences.

Day 2 [June 14]

It’s no secret both my brother and I were a bit nervous ahead of our trip to Moscow. Between the both of us, Russia was one of the few European countries we have yet to cover in our travels for football or personal reasons. The only point of reference we had for the culture was our father, who also on the trip, travels to Moscow annually to help educate and assist their veterinary efforts in combating the Avian Influenza. This would be different though. Russia is hosting the 2018 World Cup, a month-long festivity with fans spanning the entire globe in attendance. Even though my family is Cameroonian, we were coming from the United States, and tensions between both US and Russian countries after the latter‘s perceived role in the outcome of the US’s 2016 Election couldn’t be more rigid.

What is interesting to me about perception, is that at times we often allow bias and fear to cloud our initial judgments which can greatly alter our experiences if we let them. Maybe politically, one could argue to justify these biases, but in Football, the World Cup has historically been full of instances where opposing nations have seized the once in every four-year opportunity and used it to be kind to one another. June 14th, the tournament opener between Russia and Saudi Arabia were no different. The match was held in Luzhniki Stadium and upon emergence from the Sportivnaya metro station, the energy from all of the fans was infectious. It was like we were all kids on our first day at summer camp! Excited to rep where we came from while eager to see all of the different places others represented as well.

After what seemed like 100 selfies and videos, we were seated in the middle of a sea of Russian fans, with Saudi Arabian fans flanking us on either side. It was clear from the Opening Ceremony to the national anthem, to the kickoff that this was more than an event to the Russians, it was a celebration. And boy was it a night to celebrate for The Golden Eagles, who after an inspirational speech from Putin, were on top of the Saudi Arabians as soon as the opening whistle sounded. It didn’t take long for them to break through when  Russia’s Top U-23 player Aleksandr Golovin crosses the ball into the opponent's box finding the head of Yuri Gasinskiy for their first goal in the 12th minute. With no exaggeration, I can confidently say I have never seen a stadium erupt like this in my entire life. Some were screams of relief, having been able to grab an early lead after an edgy first 10 minutes, and some were shouts of surprise, as Russia had not been expected to do well in the tournament this summer. Some were of excitement and joy, as the game would go on to be a 5-0 victory for the Russians, a result not even Putin himself expected. And that’s the beauty of a celebration no? As my family and I embraced the Russian fans around us after each of the five goals, each unique moment represented an equal right at emotion for all of us experiencing the match. And that’s what a real celebration is. We may all be here for different reasons but above all, we are here to celebrate and partake in the positivity that the World Cup exudes. Heading back to the hotel, everyone from the security guards to the metro workers, to our hotel staff was ecstatic and proud for their nation’s performance. And in the name of celebration, we couldn’t have been happier for them.

FT World Cup 2018: Live From Russia - Day 1 Destination Moscow

FirstTouch is in Russia for the World Cup 2018 this summer. We will be attending multiple games and celebrating the world’s game with fans from all across the world! Enjoy our blogs that document some of our experiences.

Day 1 [June 13th]

The FIFA World Cup is a celebration of the world’s sport and a wonderful combination of different cultures and peoples. This summer my brother and I are fortunate enough to attend and immerse ourselves within the millions of other fans that will also be journeying to Russia. Although USA and Cameroon both failed to qualify, we are fans of football and will support the other African teams that did qualify. 

After creating FirstTouch, our continued vision has been to package creative content in a unique way and we will have the opportunity to deliver a glimpse into the passion and excitement that the World Cup provides. We will have access to 4 of the 5 African teams playing in the tournament and since we are staying in Moscow, we will also be able to document the excitement from the capital of the host nation.

The most exciting moments for me personally will be witnessing world class players compete at the highest level for their countries. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Eden Hazard, the list goes on and on and that doesn’t include the players that will make a statement and announce themselves as a talent to consider in the future.

Our trip from D.C to Moscow via Brussels was shared by fans from Mexico, France, and Colombia who will all be hoping to see their countries succeed in a few days time.

Impact of Football on Fans

How often do we actually sit down and think about the value that football adds to the avid soccer fan? Well, at FirstTouch Football, we like looking into such things and think about the impact. Does football bring joy, despair or any other emotion? Here’s our thought process.

In a tournament like the UEFA Champions League, there are two different types of teams that are often seeded against each other in the knockout rounds. The first being the typical giants like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, most recently Paris St Germain among others. These are very big teams with great ambitions. They are often expected to win every match that they play during the season. This is different to the kind of teams like Liverpool, Basel, FC Porto and the like who are usually in this tournament just to try their luck and see where it takes them. It is not like they really look forward to lifting the trophy at the end of the tournament. This is just how it is. Having said that, this mentality within the team spreads out to a fan of the teams in question such that, whenever a soccer season starts, they know the limit to their expectations on their favorite teams.

When the tournament commences, nerves are prone to attacks. Fans have a scare when their teams fail to score, concede penalties, and receive red cards among other things. It doesn’t end there, some go home disappointed in the results. This has an impact on a person’s mood for the rest of the day and even sometimes the following days as you’ll be having some fans of other clubs sometimes rubbing the defeat in your face.

Enough said about the negative energy. What about winning? How’s that? ArsenalFan TV (on YouTube) has been a great platform that shows the emotions of fans post matches. The excitement, joy or happiness you see on the faces as their teams triumph in derbies or big matches is priceless. Soccer fans literally cannot stop smiling when they reflect on their teams performances after big wins. However, this is only beaten by claiming the title in any competition. Being the team to defeat everyone in the competition brings pride to the club and the fans. I mean, this is why people support football. To hopefully see their team lift a trophy at the end of the competition. Unfortunately, the trophy is only lifted by one team in any competition which sometimes mean that one team in a league of twenty is celebrating. What then would be a fair evaluation of the impact of soccer at such a moment? Does it bring happiness to the fans more than disappointment? What do you think?