NEWS
A selection of FirstTouch's best football writing, brought to you by emerging journalists, collaborators, and fans.
At this point of the ABSA Premiership Season, who are the favorites?
Kaizer Chiefs haven’t really run away with it. There are at least 3 other sides breathing down their necks.
How is soccer keeping Niger girls in school?
In a nation where 3 out of every 4 adolescent girls dropped out of school and got married before the age of 18, football has emerged as a powerful tool to keep a substantial number in school.
FirstTouch’s Top 5 African Male Ballers of 2019
Worry not about the so-called snoozing and losing, we got Africa’s top male players for 2019 right here.
PSL: Can the tides turn for AmaZulu or are they destined for relegation?
One of the oldest and culturally connected clubs in South Africa, founded over 80 years ago, AmaZulu still find themselves feasting on the fruits of mediocrity and unimpressive institution building.
Are Masandawana and Orlando Pirates a class above the rest?
Who’s your money on to walk away with the title this season? Masandawana, Bucanners, Clever Boys, City, Amakhosi, Matsatsantsa or someone else? The ABSA Premiership is back!
To what extent are local football associations determining results by successive pay-dispute rows?
Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon, only to mention but a few, are some of the sides that have had their overall performances negatively impacted by off the pitch scandals of late or non-payment resulting from maladministration and corruption. What’s local football associations’ role in this? How far does the cancer go? Simiso answers it all.
FT's AFCON 2019 Ultimate XI
It’s sort of a tradition to sum up the biggest performers of a tournament at the end of it. Here’s the best eleven from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament who stood out for their nations and entertained neutrals. No one could have anticipated that the 21-year-old Algerian midfielder, Ismael Bennacer would headline it. Check out who else made the list.
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: Five Breakout Stars of the Tournament (Stars of the future)
A 23-year-old all-time top goal scorer for her nation, two young midfield maestros who seemingly drink ice for breakfast, an audacious forward who is in the top 0.01% when it comes to dribbles and tricks, and finally an explosive African queen, the face of the continent’s football both now and in the near future. They are all here. Our fast five of all the breakout stars at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Top Five U-23 Players at the 2019 AFCON
Here is a list of five of the many U-23 talents to look out for at this year’s AFCON tournament. If you know, you know!
Who are the underdogs who could shock the world?
Leave aside the obvious; who might the whole of Africa and the world not see coming? We believe they are four other nations who could have a say in determining the destination of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title.
FT’s 2019 AFCON Stadium Guide
The first cradle of all human civilization, Egypt, has opened its doors to the rest of the world for the 2019 AFCON tourney. Here is what you need to know about the host stadiums and places to visits.
Who are Burundi, Madagascar and Mauritania?
There are a couple of fairy-tales as well in the 32nd edition of the AFCON tournament. Nations who have written new histories for their peoples and glad are we, to ride into the three-way dreamland.
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?
The ABSA Prem currently has one of the world's best title races this season. Who has the best chance of winning?
Did you know who else besides Liverpool and Manchester City, are taking the league title race to the final match of the season? That’s right, Pirates and Downs, we took some time to reflect on the closing moments of perhaps the best ever Absa Premiership season.
Why Zinedine Zidane’s return to Real Madrid is a flex
He came, he saw, he conquered and came back for more. Real Madrid posed as the ‘prodigal club’ in calling back their three consecutive UEFA Champions League hero back to the Spanish capital after two unsuccessful attempts at replacing him. The Frenchman seemingly has all his demands met and keen to work the club back to La Liga and European dominance.
Senegal's Mane delivering the goods just when Liverpool needs him to
Are we witnessing Mane ascend to “World Class” before our very eye? With eleven goals in the last eleven matches, the Senegalese might just hand the Reds a Champions League and English Premier League title in a single season after many years of drought.