NEWS
A selection of FirstTouch's best football writing, brought to you by emerging journalists, collaborators, and fans.
Winners and Losers from AFCON 19
As planned from the get go, there was only going to be one winner amongst the 24 AFCON 2019 finalists. Champions Algeria are the most obvious one, but who else achieved smaller wins that could set them up for a more successful future and who had a tournament they need to quickly forget.
Is VAR a superhero or a villain in the future of global football?
Even after having a major run out in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, VAR looked all new during the women’s world cup and particularly the Copa America, dishing out some fresh controversies. Even Messi came out a supposed victim of the technology more than once. But what is it really to global football, a friend or a foe?
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?
The progress is evident, but we need more. We look back at Africa’s overall performance at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, seek to understand why, explore some of the challenges plaguing women’s football on the continent and suggest a few solutions.
Who are the favorites: Senegal, Nigeria, and Egypt?
Well, the writing is on the wall; Nigeria, Egypt and Senegal are undoubtedly top favorites to claim the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title. But what makes them the teams to beat, what do they have up their sleeves?
Women’s FIFA World Cup: Group A, “The Group of Death”
The hosts are No. 4 in on world the rankings and will have the home crowd behind them, as they try to duplicate their fellow men’s side, Les Bleus’ title triumph in Russia last year and live up to high expectations in the pool that pundits, arguably, called as “Group of Death”, comprising of the hosts France, Norway, Korea Republic and Nigeria. Below we zoom into Group A of the women’s world cup and analyze each team’s chances of progressing to the next stage of the tournament.
Could any of the African teams shock the world?
In this 2019 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup; Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon will be there to show the world what Africa has to offer. In our previous article, we gave an analysis of how each of these teams have been preparing for this grand challenge.
The recurring and disturbing horror of footballers’ relatives kidnapped for ransom
Joseph Yobo, John Obi Mikel and most recently, Samuel Kalu have had their parents abducted for ransom money. When and how will authorities put an end to this vicious cycle in Nigeria?
Why Obi Mikel & Chukwueze were left out of the Nigerian squad for the upcoming AFCON Qualifier
Nigeria have already qualified for the 2019 AFCON finals to be held in Egypt later this year. In this piece, we provide an analysis as to why the Super Eagles have more to gain by leaving out former Chelsea midfielder, Obi Mikel and the highly rated Spanish La Liga youngster, Samuel Chukwueze.
This may be Iwobi's best chance to build a legacy at Arsenal. Can he seize it?
The 22-year-old Nigerian international clearly has the manager’s backing, as well as age and talent on his side when faced with the task of becoming one of Arsenal’s key players. But the time may be now or never for him to take the next step and secure his place at the club.
Africans on the move and what they bring to their respective clubs
The 2019 January transfer window is now history. African players were once again on the move, from the Premier League, Turkish Super League, La Liga only to mention a few. In this piece you will find three of them as well as what their impact could be at their new clubs.
Nigeria's Ngozi Ebere signs a one-year contract with top Norwegian Club
Another day, another Nigerian international on the move in European football. The 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champs will stop at nothing in dominating the global football arena.
Vitesse, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord opening academies in Zimbabwe?
Westerhof plans to usher in a new methodology to accelerate African players’ growth to global stardom. Dutch Eredivisie’s Ajax has done it successfully with South Africa’s Ajax Cape Town club. Could Zimbabwe follow the same path?
Remember the name Samuel Chukwueze
Nigeria’s talent pool is growing to be the stuff of legend, evidence seen in young players like Samuel Chukwueze. The forward has been making a name for himself with Villareal in La Liga this season, leaving defenders for dead, and developing a taste for the goals as he has scored in all 3 of the competitions his side are participating in.
AWCON 2018 Review: The evolvement of Asisat Oshoala and Nigeria
Nigeria bagged their historic 9th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations title early this month in Cameroon. After decades of dominance, we however noticed a change in the state of affairs in the women’s game on the continent, even in the once leading woman.
10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #9 Isaac Success
The January transfer window is a few weekends away. In our anticipation and excitement of possible moves, we have taken to lay down 10 “unsettled” African stars in the English top flight, the Premier League. The blooming Nigeria who plays for Watford could be a surprise inclusion on this list.
10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #8 Victor Moses
The January transfer window is a few weekends away. In our anticipation and excitement of possible moves, we have taken to lay down 10 “unsettled” African stars in the English top flight, the Premier League. The Nigerian who hung up his international boots earlier this year also finds himself on the list.
2019 AWCON: One last dance for SA & Nigeria as the women cap off a superb tourney
This is it ladies and gentlemen. The final tango of the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is here. The most successful team on the continent facing the challenge of the most promising. Time to pick favorites.
2019 AFCON Qualifiers: Full Preview of Bafana - Super Eagles tie
We couldn’t resist previewing the South Africa-Nigeria clash where winner takes all and a loser endangers their qualification hopes. Who will draw closest to the 2019 AFCON finals? Are you also aware of the highly rated and performing attacking talent on show in this one?