2019 AWCON: Falcons regain momentum as EG succumb to another humiliating defeat

Ever since the Falcons were defeated by South Africa in their opening match last Sunday, many began to scrutinize the team’s chances of retaining the AWCON title. After the upset, the 10-time champions  were on a mission to remove any doubt amongst fans of their championship form and ability. On Wednesday night they did just that as they subjected the She-polopolo of Zambia to a brutal 4-0 defeat. The win was a reminder to fans and spectators of the game why they deserve to be called the best team on the continent.

Emily Zurrer (R) of Canada and Desire Oparanozie (L) of Nigeria battle for the ball during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Group A match between Canada and Nigeria at Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion on July 5, 2011 in Dresden, Germany.

(July 4, 2011 - Source: Martin Rose/Getty Images Europe)

The Nigerians dominated the game scoring the first goal in the first half and packing the last three goals into the second half. Despite the dominance of the Nigerians, the She-polopolo defence proved difficult for the Falcons in the early stages of the game. Eventually, the Nigerians established their lead in the 42nd minute thanks to the precision of En Avant de Guingamp striker, Desire Oparanozie.

The Super Falcons built on the momentum of the 1-0 lead in the second half with Francisca Ordega, Rasheedat Ajibade and Amarachi Okoronkwo all scoring in the second half to secure the much needed win for the defending champions.

Zambia had started the tournament with a very convincing 5-0 win against Equatorial Guinea while Nigeria suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to their Southern African rivals, Banyana Banyana. Both teams need to secure a win in their final group stages match on Saturday to qualify for the semi-finals.

Meanwhile in the second match of the day, Group B counterparts South Africa put one foot in the semi finals as they pulled out a great performance against Equatorial Guinea to win the match 7-1.

Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa runs with the ball during the Women's Group E first round match between South Africa and China PR on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(Aug. 5, 2016 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images South America)

Banyana Banyana showed their skill and solid tactical advantage over the two-time AWCON champions throughout the match. The opener came in the form of a penalty which was awarded when defender Dorine Chuigoue was sanctioned for a handball inside her penalty area. Houston Dash forward, Linda Motlhalo was given the responsibility of taking the penalty and she did so with ease, giving South Africa 1-0 lead in the 20th minute of the game.

Thembi Kgatlana pulled out two assists and a brace against Nzalang Nacional. The goal scorer in opening match against Nigeria reinforced why she is a crucial part of the South African attack and for Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League. She is laying up quite a claim for being the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations if you ask me.

Amanda Mthandi and Jermaine Seoposenwe also added their names to the score board minutes before the final whistle to bring to a close the amazing collective performance from the South Africans. Desiree Ellis’ team will look to maintain the brilliant form through to the semi finals where they will have a real chance of being crowned the champions at the 11th edition of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, for what would be the first time-ever.

South Africa’s next match up will be against their Southern African comrades the She-polopolo while Nigeria are strong favorites heading into the Equatorial Guinea match.

Mali make crucial comeback as Ghana’s Black Queens suffer a shock defeat

AWCON is well underway and the tournament has so far lived up to the anticipation and hype. Here is a recap of Match Day 3: Group A fixtures

Mali vs Ghana

Patricia Mantey of Ghana lies injured on the pitch during the women's international friendly match between Germnay and Ghana at Benteler Arena on July 22, 2016 in Paderborn, Germany.

(July 21, 2016 - Source: Lars Baron/Bongarts)

The Mighty Black Queens suffered a shock defeat in their second group match at the hands of Mali on Tuesday Night. This after the Ghanaians had launched a solid AWCON campaign in the opening match by beating Algeria by 1-0. ‎Les Aiglonnes of Mali fell to Cameroon 2-1 in their first group stage encounter. Coming into the match with three points, Ghana were in a considerably more comfortable position and a win would have secured a place for the host nation in the semi finals.

Mali opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of the game after a penalty was awarded against Ghanaian goalie Patricia Mantey. Ghana struggled to come back from the one goal deficit  in the first half and for most of the second half until the 72nd minute when substitute Elizabeth Addo, affectionately called Ama Pele successfully converted the second penalty of the night. A defence mishap in the form of poor defending from goalie Patricia Mantey saw Mali back in front after Bassira Toure flipped the mistake in the favour of Mali. The final score was Ghana 1 -2 Mali. Bassira Toure was consquently awarded the player of the match award.

Mali head coach, Houssein Saloum made two changes to the starting XI that lost 2-1, bringing on Lala Dicko and Aissatou Diadhiou for Kani Konte and Bintou Koite. The tactical move paid off as ‎Les Aiglonnes were able to successfully hold back the Ghanaians.

Cameroon vs Algeria

Cameroon line up before the Women's Football first round Group E Match between Great Britain and Cameroon on Day 1 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Millennium Stadium on July 28, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales.

(July 27, 2012 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

Cameroon are on a winning streak as they beat Algeria on Tuesday night, a 3-0 showcase in which Les Lions Indomptables were unforgiving against the North Africans.The first goal came in the 13th minute from Gabrielle Aboudi Onguen after she mounted a solo effort that pitted her against Algerian keeper Kahina Takenint. Avaldsnes IL striker, Gaelle Enganamouit netted the second goal from an assist by Ajara Nchout who scored the third goal for Cameroon six minutes later.

Algeria have now lost back to back matches, rooted at the bottom of Group A standings while The Indomitable Lionesses who are still unbeaten after their two opening matches, lead the group with 6 points.

Group A matches will resume on Friday for the final match ups; Ghana vs Cameroon and Mali vs Algeria. After Tuesday’s loss, Ghana will have to mount a come back charge of their own to win their last group match on Friday against Cameroon in order to secure a semi final place. Cameroon will definitely pose a great challenge for the Black Queens with the match-up likely to be their toughest one yet.

Meanwhile, Zambia will take on Nigeria whereas South Africa go up against tournament late comers Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday night at 17:30 and 20:30 GMT respectively.

3 Africans lighting up the Chinese Super League

In recent years, players have been moving to the Chinese Super League mostly to wind down their careers. The Chinese have invested billions of dollars into their football project to make it attractive for players. At first, the older players from Europe, the likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka fit the profiles of the footballers who switched continents and understandably so. However, Oscar’s move from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG at the age of 24 sparked a movement that not many had predicted. Many younger players have since moved to Asia to play in front of the Chinese fans in exchange for a bigger cheque. In this piece, we focus our attentions to the three best African players who have been lighting up the Chinese Super League this year.

Odion Ighalo

Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina slides in to tackle Odion Ighalo of Nigeria during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

(June 25, 2018 - Source: Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images Europe)

Odion Ighalo is first up on the list of the on-form players. The Nigerian international has been potent in front of goal, scoring a total of 21 goals and providing a single assist in just 28 matches. These are Thierry Henry-like stats that the Nigerian is achieving in the Chinese Super League. It is delightful to see the Nigerian regain his confidence in front of goal after a dreadful World Cup outing where he was not his usual self as he fluffed a lot of chances. Ighalo was heavily criticised in the aftermath of the tourney and must have used this criticism to boost his adrenaline and push harder for his club. He has been nothing short of exciting as he has been firing on all cylinders for Changchun Yatai in the Chinese Super League. His goals however, do not reflect the performance of the rest of the team as the club currently ended the season in the 15th position on the table. The defence let in quite a number of goals in the 29 matches they have played this season which has resulted in their automatic relegation to the second division for next season. Rest assured, if they sort out the defence and Odion Ighalo keeps on scoring like he drinks water, his club will be back in the Chinese Super League calendar in no time.

Cedric Bakambu

Then there is Cedric Bakambu who plays for Beijing Guoan. Bakambu has also scored 21 goals and created 4 goals for his teammates in 23 Chinese Super League fixtures. The player switched leagues to the CSL from Spanish side, Villarreal in a then record transfer for an African player early this year. The Congolese forward is predominantly deployed in the attacking midfield roles for his club where he is causing a lot of damage from the middle. The 27 year old is influencing the games in the Chinese Super League like the way how Lionel Messi bosses the Spanish La Liga with his freedom to roam all over the pitch finding pockets of spaces to exploit. The Asians are fortunate to have the forward in his prime after a number of clubs in Europe sought after his talents in January 2018 before he made the decision to follow in the footsteps of an African legend in Didier Drogba who also moved to China after his time in Europe.

“The 27 year old is influencing the games in the Chinese Super League like the way how Lionel Messi bosses the Spanish La Liga with his freedom to roam all over the pitch finding pockets of spaces to exploit. ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Ayub Timbe

Cedric Bakambu of Villarreal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final first leg match between Villarreal CF and Sparta Prague at El Madrigal on April 7, 2016 in Villarreal, Spain.

(April 6, 2016 - Source: Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images Europe)

Kenyan forward, Ayub Timbe makes up the list of the three best African players who took the Chinese Super League by storm this season. The centre-forward was recalled from loan by his parent club Beijing Renhe to help them extend their unbeaten run between July and August. Ayub Timbe scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists for his teammates as he helped his team to an 8th place finish in the league. The 26-year old deserves some credit for his heroics in the CSL considering the returns he has given his club which surpasses that of other forwards who played more than double the matches he played in. In Timbe, Kenya have another soccer player who is raising the Kenyan colours high alongside Victor Wanyama at Tottenham and Michael Olunga in the Japanese League.  

That’s it for the top African players in the Chinese Super League. Follow them on their journey as they lift the African flag high in a league that is improving year on year.

2019 AFCON Qualifiers: Tau tops Arsenal's Iwobi in the SA-Nigeria clash

More than just an early ticket to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals, something else was at stake. As trivial as it may sound, there was a sizeable number of fans who were eager to see how their favorite stars compare with others. In particular, Bafana Bafana’s starboy who has appeared consistently in the news for more than 365 days, Percy Tau, entrusted to lead the South African line once more had to find ways to get past very experienced Nigerian defenders such as Leon Balogun and Troost-Ekong. On the other hand, Arsenal forward, Alex Iwobi who has seen his form reach unprecedented levels under Unai Emery represented a unique headache for the Bafana goal “watchmen.” But there was going to be only one winner. Someone had to come up on top.

“One memory from the match, impossible to forget, was that created by the former Mamelodi Sundowns forward. Tau received the ball at the edge of the penalty box, dumped three Nigerian markers with a simple back heel pass to himself, turned on the pace to grab the ball, cheated the goalkeeper with a fake shot before serving up an assist for Lebo Mothiba for his 4th international goal in 5 matches. On the most silver platter you can ever find. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Alex Iwobi of Nigeria during the International Friendly match between England and Nigeria at Wembley Stadium on June 2, 2018 in London, England.

(June 1, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

Literally, there wasn’t actually a winner as the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Effectively, Nigeria got the better of the result as the point gained was enough to secure an AFCON qualification after six years of absence. There was something else impossible to miss from the match that took place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Some may have confused South Africa’s rare 2-0 first leg victory as a fluke but Saturday really made a good case as to why the Southern African nation’s football is on the up. Despite the lack of cup successes, the investment in the ABSA Premiership (their local league) is slowly paying dividend at national level.

South Africa's Sundowns striker Percy Tau vies with Tunisia's Esperance of Tunis forward Foussiny Coulibaly (L) during the African Champions League (CAF) group stage football match on June 22, 2017 in olympic Rades Stadium near Tunis. / AFP PHOTO / SALAH HABIBI

(June 20, 2017 - Source: AFP)

In recent years, not many African teams could dominate possession in an encounter against the Super Eagles. Their expansive talent spread across the world and in the most competitive leagues around the world always ensure their setup would always befit the description, “star studded.” It wasn’t the case on matchday 5 of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers. Nigeria had to keep a defense of five for the better part of the match as Bafana seemed to always neatly combine in neat quick passing style otherwise known as the shoe-shine-piano in the South. The 22-year-old Alex Iwobi did remind the world on occasion, as to why he is considered a man in form. The boy couldn’t just stop slicing in those “Mesut Ozil” passes or ask opponents their shirt numbers in slick dribbling fashion. However, Percy Tau, the Brighton & Hove Albion forward who is on loan in Belgium was the bigger man. The 24-year-old was a constant menace to the Super Eagles eventually being rewarded with the Man of The Match Award. One memory from the match, impossible to forget, was that created by the former Mamelodi Sundowns forward. Tau received the ball at the edge of the penalty box, dumped three Nigerian markers with a simple back heel pass to himself, turned on the pace to grab the ball, cheated the goalkeeper with a fake shot before serving up an assist for Lebo Mothiba for his 4th international goal in 5 matches. On the most silver platter you can ever find.

Adding to the statement made by Bafana that they are ready to compete with the highly rated nations, Percy showed once again why everyone has been singing his praises. He looks ready to compete at any football level on the planet. South Africa and Libya will have to battle it out for the final qualification place in group E on matchday 6 to be played in March 2019. A point in Libya, will be enough to see Bafana through to the finals.

2019 AFCON Qualifiers: Zambia out, Mauritania in, Ghana revived & complete round-up

Perhaps the biggest piece of news coming out from the 2019 AFCON qualifiers matchday 5 is that the 2012 champions, Zambia, are out of contention. But there is more, a whole lot more.

Algeria's forward Riyad Mahrez (C) celebrates with Algeria's midfielder Yacine Brahimi (R) and Algeria's forward Islam Slimani after scoring a second goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group B football match between Algeria and Zimbabwe in Franceville on January 15, 2017. / AFP / KHALED DESOUKI

(Jan. 14, 2017 - Source: AFP)

Morocco 2 - 0 Cameroon

The Lions of the Atlas tamed the Indomitable Lions in Casablanca courtesy of two super goals by the inform, Hakim Ziyech. Firstly from the penalty spot and then a super sweeper shot from outside the box to once again beat his Ajax Amsterdam teammate, Andre Onana. Even before the victory, Morocco had joined Cameroon among the list of the qualified teams after Comoros beat Malawi 2-1.

Mauritania 2 - 1 Botswana

Madagascar will not be the only debutants at the June 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals scheduled to take place in Cameroon. The high flying Al-Murabitun secured their first ever qualification in AFCON history after dismissing the Zebras of Botswana. The 2013 finalists, Burkina Faso and Angola will have to battle it out for the next qualification place in the group, counting on favors from others.

Mozambique 1 - 0 Zambia

Chipolopolo’s worst nightmare invited itself into their home as the 2012 Champions bowed out of the tournament at the hands of Mozambique, who narrowly edged them 1-0 in Maputo. Namibia is powering up a rare AFCON appearance but will have to go past the dejected Copper Bullets to realise their dream.

Seychelles 1 - 8 Libya

The Mediterranean Knights made lightwork of the Islanders away from home to send a message to Bafana Bafana. Libya will have to beat South Africa in the final group game at home to qualify for the finals. It’s obviously easier said than done.

Liberia 1 - 0 Zimbabwe

Uganda supporters cheer ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Egypt and Uganda in Port-Gentil on January 21, 2017. / AFP / Justin TALLIS

(Jan. 20, 2017 - Source: AFP)

The Warriors of Zimbabwe gave President Weah’s nation a lifeline after conceding a late goal that suspended their qualification to matchday 6. The group is as close as they can be with all the four teams on 5, 6, 7 and 8 points. Only two of DR Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Liberia and Zimbabwe will qualify for the 24-team tournament.

Ethiopia 0 - 2 Ghana

Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew grabbed a brace as the Black Stars of Ghana returned to continental football as well as to winning ways. With Sierra Leone still suspended, its almost impossible for Ghana not to qualify right now. They will play first placed Kenya in March 2019.

Gabon 0 - 1 Mali

The Eagles of Mali left Gabon in a precarious position after the narrow defeat as they booked their spot at the finals. Burundi’s 5-2 win over South Sudan mean that they need only a point to qualify when they meet Gabon on matchday 6. Gabon were without Arsenal starman, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Togo 1 - 4 Algeria

Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez bagged a brace as the Desert Foxes booked their own spot after bullying Togo away from home.

Guinea 1 - 1 Ivory Coast

The battle of the West African heavy weights ended in a stalemate, with a point apiece enough to send both through to the finals.

Uganda 1 - 0 Cape Verde

Jordan Ayew of Ghana controls the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and the United States at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil.

(June 15, 2014 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images South America)

The Cranes of Uganda sealed qualification in the easiest of fashion after beating the Islanders 1-0 at home. The Cranes are still unbeaten and the only team yet to concede a goal so far in this tournament.

Egypt 3 - 2 Tunisia

In a “dead rubber” North African contest were both nations had already sealed qualification from matchday 4, the Pharaohs got their revenge. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scored the winner in the dying minutes of the match.

Here is a complete list of all the qualified teams

1. Cameroon

2. Mali

3. Guinea

4. Ivory Coast

5. Algeria

6. Uganda

7. Mauritania

8. Senegal

9. Madagascar

10. Nigeria

11. Egypt

12. Tunisia

13. Ivory Coast

How are your heroes faring?

Could Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi become one of the best full backs in the world?

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal consoles Achraf Hakimi of Morocco following Morocco's elimination from the World Cup after their defeat in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Portugal and Morocco at Luzhniki Stadium on June 20, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.

(June 19, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

We only loan our valuables because both the lender and borrower cannot do without them. When they are not as valuable, we give them away forever. That is the same principle that has applied on the 20-year-old Achraf Hakimi who is currently on loan at the German Club, Borussia Dortmund from Real Madrid. Apparently Real Madrid already regret that. But why? Is it because he could most likely become one of the best full backs in the world?

The player caught the eyes of many when Spain faced Morocco in the World Cup. Interestingly, he was playing for his native homeland against the country that had given him a place to be born and grow up. Even though he pulled impressive stunts at left back position, he prefers to play on the right where he likes running up and down the flank with the opportunity to use his favorite right foot to swing in crosses or weed out the ball from the feet of the opponents. Such versatility is what distinguishes a player from others. His coach at Dortmund, Lucien Favre also alluded to the fact that he does a great job when playing forward too. He was quoted saying:

“He’s playing so well. He’s great going forward and he does a good job at the back. He played at left-back for Morocco, but prefers to play at right-back. He has so much potential.”

— Lucien Favre, Borrusia Dortmund Coach

In his first three games with Borussia Dortmund, he rocked up two assists and one goal. He also won the Bundesliga Rookie of the month of September which places him right on track for winning the Bundesliga’s Rookie of the season. Even though he has not scored in the UEFA Champions League, his unquestionable dribbling and crossing abilities have graced him with three assists.

The young star also has quite a teachable spirit. He says he is ready to play as an attacker, but since he is with a coach who prefers a team with a strong defense, he will do just that. In an interview, he was quoted saying, “He's a coach who likes his teams to defend well and that's what he's asking me to do. In attack I'm ready, but the coach wants me to improve tactically and defensively and I think I'm getting it.”

“.he prefers to play on the right where he likes running up and down the flank with the opportunity to use his favorite right foot to swing in crosses or weed out the ball from the feet of the opponents. Such versatility is what distinguishes a player from others”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

This is a multi-faceted player who is not, however, willing to use the field to flex talent but to ensure that he grows. It is these tiny things that ensure that a player is not just good, but continuously becomes greater.  He also stated that the reason why he agreed to the loan was because of their willingness to help young players grow and help them become better. A great full-back who is persistently after growth!

2019 AFCON Qualifiers: Full Preview of Bafana - Super Eagles tie

“We’ve seen in recent times that fixtures pitting these two teams are never goal-shy and this one appears to be no exception.
This game certainly has all the ingredients to become a thriller and I believe quality football will be the main course of the day”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

We are getting to the pinnacle of the AFCON qualifiers and there is still a possibility of seeing your national team being knocked out. Down south, it's a big one: South Africa’s Bafana Bafana take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The two sides are battling it out for the top spot and this game might well be considered a six-pointer as a win for either side will clinch their qualification for Cameroon 2019. Last November, Bafana Bafana broke their duck against Nigeria when they beat the Super Eagles 2-0 courtesy of strikes from Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau during the team’s first match of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers. It is therefore a game of nothing but revenge from the Super Eagles’ point of view.

The South Africa team form a huddle prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between France and South Africa at the Free State Stadium on June 22, 2010 in Mangaung/Bloemfontein, South Africa.

(June 21, 2010 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

That said, both sides have massive talent that can take the game by its horn. On one end Bafana Bafana boast an enterprising attacking talent from the likes of the evergreen Percy Tau, the magnificent Lebo Mothiba who’s been grabbing headlines in France, and also the ever-reliable Itumeleng Khune manning the poles at the back. However, the Nigerian are not to be outdone as they boast amazing talent as well, with the likes of Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho, although they might feel the setback of the absence of one of their reliable servants, Odion Ighalo who is ruled out with injury.

Most fans will be on the lookout for the crispy partnership between Tau and Mothiba of which many South African supporters will be hoping is on fire on the day in order to cause havoc for the Nigerian defense. Additionally, the return of South Africa’s prodigal son Thulani Serero, who's been given a lifeline by coach Stuart Baxter, might also be a talking point in this game. The danger of Mothiba cannot be easily ignored as the 22-year-old Strasbourg centre-forward has already bagged three goals in his first four caps for Bafana Bafana, quite a start.

Nigeria players warm up prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Argentina at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 26, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

(June 25, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

From a defensive standpoint, it might be a busy day for Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune especially considering the incentive that have been put on the table for the Super Eagles. To give you context, the Nigerian players have been given a R360,000 incentive for every goal they score against Bafana Bafana. Such an incentive might well set the tone and fire up the Super Eagles to attack Bafana with all they have. If you ask me, this might turn out to be a cracker of a game. We’ve seen in recent times that fixtures pitting these two teams are never goal-shy and this one appears to be no exception.

This game certainly has all the ingredients to become a thriller and I believe quality football will be the main course of the day. Be sure not to miss out on this one. Will Gernot Rohr’s men emerge victorious? Or will Bafana pull a double over the Nigerians? Who’s your pick for this one?

2019 AFCON Qualifiers: Ghana resume campaign, North African derby, Zambia must win & more

Okay fine, the 2019 AFCON qualifiers have been fun but almost dragging at the same time. From the get go, we all have been eager to find out who the 24 finalists will be for the June 2019 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to be held in Cameroon. As matchday 5 of 6 comes to our screens from Friday the 16th November all through the entire weekend, it’s inevitable that a couple more nations could be confirm their booking for the finals. It obviously goes both ways, many will have their hopes and dreams crushed as well. Here is a pick of the weekend matchups you don’t want to miss.

Itumeleng Khune, goal keeper of South Africa, makes a save during the 2013 African Cup of Nations Quarter-Final match between South Africa and Mali at Moses Mahbida Stadium on February 02, 2013 in Durban, South Africa.

(Feb. 1, 2013 - Source: Steve Haag/Getty Images Europe)

Egypt vs Tunisia (Friday, 16 November 2018)

Both the Pharaohs and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia already booked early tickets to the 2019 Cameroon finals after seeing off the kingdom of eSwatini and Niger in group J. Typically, this match would be what they call a dead rubber, but not this time, especially not for the North Africans. Tunisia won the bragging rights in the first leg and Mo Salah together with his teammates will surely turn up to restore pride and fight for the elusive top spot in the group.

South Africa vs Nigeria (Saturday, 17 November 2018)

You guessed right, we couldn’t miss mentioning this one. Arguably the most anticipated match of the weekend where everything is at stake in group E. All of Nigeria, South Africa and Libya are still pretty much in the running for only two spots to qualify for the finals. Bafana are yet to concede a goal so far in this tournament and welcome the free-scoring Super Eagles who missed out on the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon. With a point separating the two and a defeat giving more hope to third placed Libya, no one will be planning to lose this one. Boosted by the return of controversial Thulani Serero, Bafana are clearly not entertaining the idea of losing at home and with the qualifiers’ top scorer, Odion Ighalo, among the visitors - they will have to do what it takes to avoid home and away defeats at the hands the Southern African boys.

Ghana's forward Andre Ayew (L) celebrates with Ghana's midfielder Mubarak Wakaso and Ghana's forward Asamoah Gyan (R) after scoring a goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Ghana and Uganda in Port-Gentil on January 17, 2017. / AFP / Justin TALLIS

(Jan. 16, 2017 - Source: AFP)

Morocco vs Cameroon (Saturday, 17 November 2018)

There are matches you just cannot afford to ignore and the above encounter is such a one. Cameroon have already qualified by virtue of being hosts and visit second-placed Lions of the Atlas who still have to ward off convincing interest from third placed Malawi who visit Comoros. When two such highly rated nations meet; blood, sweat and tears are obviously shed. The Dutch Eredivisie’s best player, Hakim Ziyech will be on show in his Moroccan colors to welcome Clarence Seedorf’s Indomitable Lions.

Ethiopia vs Ghana (Sunday, 18 November 2018)

The AFCON 2017 semi-finalists find themselves on the back foot, off the qualifying places with only two matches remaining. The Blacks Stars are in this position as a result of suffering a shock defeat in Kenya and having their third and fourth matches postponed by reason of their opponent, Sierra Leone’s ban by CAF. Their fixtures against Sierra Leone could be reinstated but in the short-term, they will have to beat second placed Ethiopia in Addis Ababa to avoid missing out on the tournament finals for what would be the second time since 1992.

The Morocco players pose for a team photo prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia.

(June 24, 2018 - Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images Europe)

Mozambique vs Zambia (Sunday, 18 November 2018)

Now, the permutations of group K are super interesting. The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions, Zambia, are sitting not so pretty on the foot of the table, three points behind first and second placed, Guinea-Bissau and Namibia respectively. The Brave Warriors of Namibia who have appeared only twice in the history of the tournament are so close to a rare third appearance and will obviously mount a stronghold when they welcome first placed Guinea-Bissau on Saturday. Justin Shonga’s Zambia will have just to win all their remaining matches beginning with a tricky tie away at third placed Os Mambas of Mozambique. Of all teams in this group, I kid you not, the Zambian fans are not prepared to sit out an AFCON - the fight is obviously on.

Which match will you be watching and how are the chances looking like for your favorite team? Here is the full list of the fixtures.

Will Ivory Coast’s Jean Seri be enough for Fulham?

“With his midfield boxing ability and agility, he looks exactly like what Fulham needs but has had since the beginning of the season.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Sometimes when a ship sinks, it’s not all the mighty men that are called out for help, but rather many call upon the name of the captain. Fulham is finding itself in a similar position where relegation is looming closer than any possible win. With that threat slowly becoming a reality, players and fans have looked around and cast their eyes on Jean Michel Seri. Will the Ivorian be enough to stop what might befall the Cottagers or will he possibly go down together with the London ‘ship’.

Looming Danger

Jean Michael Seri poses with the Carling Goal of the Month Award for August 2018 at Fulham FC Training Ground on September 12, 2018 in New Malden, England.

(Sept. 11, 2018 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Fulham were recently promoted to the English Premier League after waiting for a while. In the 2015/2016 season, they finished 20th in the EFL Championship and were saved from relegation by 11 points. In typical water into wine staff, they got the “We are finally Premier League” card in June of this year. Even though they are stars in the current LilyWhites setup acquired for over £120 million in the summer, things are not looking good for the West Londoners as they are rock-bottom on the Premier League standings with a single win in 12 matches.

Technical Ability

With his midfield boxing ability and agility, he looks exactly like what Fulham needs but has had since the beginning of the season. His former coach, Slavisa Jokanovic, who just got axed was quoted saying, “Fulham does not have players like that, so he has come as the right answer.” The talented midfielder is physically fit in a way that is worthy of the Premier League which is arguably the most demanding league in Europe. He knows how to snatch the ball from the opponent while possessing the ability to shoot  from distance. Above that, he is quite acquainted with the 3-5-2 or 4-2-3 formations that demand very gifted midfielders like himself. With what he has to offer, is it enough for him to help his team survive the chop? It is argued that if a player has the ability to play in the formation that most teams in the league play, then victory is not something that is far off. It is also a bit too early in the league to draw conclusions about relegation in the league as we are only 12 games into it. A lot can still change and Seri can still show up more for the Cottagers.

Bigger Challenge

Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City shakes hands with manager Claudio Ranieri as he is replaced during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Leicester City at Selhurst Park on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom.

(March 18, 2016 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

The challenge is that the issue of relegation does not come as a result of one player and cannot be solved by individuals. Tim Sherwood, the former Tottenham manager cited the lack of quality of players in the squad as a reason for the relegation fears. He said the problem even goes beyond the way they play but it lies deeply with the caliber of players that they have bought. What that then means is that in spite of how good the 27-year-old Jean Serri can be, he cannot save his team from relegation. After all, he is just a midfielder, who takes up so much space of the field and cannot be a complete squad on his own. Furthermore, Fulham also spent over £120 million purchasing new players into the team. Having a lot of new players is coin toss as you have may people who are not accustomed to the style of play of the team. Being a great player is one thing, but being merged into the culture of a team is a game changer. With all the challenges that the team is facing, it becomes even more evident that the talent and dedication of the Ivorian midfielder may not enough to save the day.

The final word, though, is that the talks about relegation might be a bit premature at this point. A single game can change a team’s course. We will sit back and see if the highly rated Jean Michel Seri who previously attracted the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona before eventually switching to West London, will be enough to avert Fulham’s relegation. Additionally, the sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic and appointment of Claudio Ranieri who led Leicester City to a fairytale premier league title in the 2015/16 season could be an interesting plot twist for Fulham and Seri. Other African players such as Riyad Mahrez and Jeffrey Schlupp shined under Ranieri’s tenure at the Foxes. Seri and Fulham may be the latest beneficiaries of his abilities and experience, or not.

We will be watching.

Thulani Serero’s Return to the Bafana Squad. Hit or Miss?

Context

Call it confidence or knowing your worth. Thulani Serero was quoted saying, “The sofa in Arnhem[city in Netherlands] is more comfortable than the South African bench”. This was when the player was making it quite clear that he would not avail himself for training unless he is guaranteed game time. Because of that stance, the South African Football Association (SAFA) then posed a ban on the player. However, Serero has had the ban lifted and is being recalled to the South African national team set up. Does this set good precedence for other players? Even before we decide on that, let us look on who exactly Thulani Serero is.

“For them to be told that they could only interact with the player at training, if they would only step aside and let him shine on the field of play suggests that he considered himself far more important than they are.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Player

Thulani Serero (#25) of Ajax in action during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between Ajax Amsterdam and FC Barcelona at Amsterdam Arena on November 26, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Nov. 25, 2013 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

Thulani Serero is a midfielder who plays for Vitesse (a Dutch professional football team) and of course the same position for the South African national team. Prior to this, he was gracing the pitch with an Ajax Cape Town jersey in the South African Premier Soccer League. During the 2010-2011 season, he carried his team to the the finals of the Telkom Knockout tournament. In the same year, he was awarded PSL Footballer of the Year, PSL Player of the Season, PSL Players' Player of the Season and the ABSA Premiership Red Hot Young Player award. Sounds familiar right? Yes, Tau recently had some sort of similar accolades before moving to Brighton in the English Premier League.

Apology

Some South Africans believe that what the player did was disrespectful and he owes the nation an apology. They believe that the comments undermined the authority of the coach also proving Serero’s arrogance towards his teammates and the nation. Most importantly, further comments about his Bafana teammates aggravated the situation. For them to be told that they could only interact with the player at training, if they would only step aside and let him shine on the field of play suggests that he considered himself far more important than they are. How easy is it going to be for the Dutch based player to integrate into the team after he previously exalted himself to that extent? The move to have Thulani player back on the field in South African colors in the absence of a formal apology could be a definite miss.

Desperate times

Thulani Serero of South Africa controls the ball during the International Friendly match between South Africa and Brazil at FNB Stadium on March 05, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(March 4, 2014 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Looking at the time at which the 28-year-old is being called up makes one realize that having him back might be the best move because a lot is at stake. The country is going into matchday 5 of the 6 qualifiers that determine who lands a finals spot at the 2019 AFCON in Cameroon. They are set to face the Super Eagles (Nigerian national team) in a top of the table group E clash. Looking at the track record of the Super Eagles who have have 9 points (1 point ahead of South Africa), Bafana Bafana cannot afford to hold back from having some of its superstars on the pitch due to a misunderstanding. For the sake of having the country participate in the AFCON, it is quite important for this move to be considered not as the best hit, but as a necessary hit. Talk about the end justifying the means.

Conclusion

We can never fully emphasise that soccer is really beyond the game itself, but about how it influences other aspects of life like our personality. One thing for sure that Thulani could have done was to demonstrate a bit of respect for his teammates and country, even when he was not afforded any game time. Being on the bench does not make anyone less of a player, but it can be considered as a time to learn. However, past mistakes should not deter us from seeing the good in our teammates so perhaps its in order for Bafana to shout Siyakwamukela (welcome) Thulani!

Unbeaten Masandawana's "introverted" title charge, Soweto Derby and more

Below is a pick of the latest action from the South African Absa Premiership played over the weekend.

Zambian pair carve out Chiefs defence to decide derby

“Everything is mental, listen, you five senses and of the five senses, they all register in your mind. So if you are not in control of your thoughts, whatever registry from your senses, means nothing.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

The most important match in South African football, the Soweto derby, returned on Saturday and like all times - failed to disappoint. The story of two colors, gold and black was re-written for the 164th time with the Sea Robbers also known as the Happy People picking up a narrow 2-1 win. Kaizer Chiefs started off brightly with veteran, Bernard Parker slicing a notable pass that opened the Pirates defence to allow Billiat to score the first goal of the match from a delightful cross. A goal that moved the Zimbabwean forward to the top of the scoring charts in the 2018/19 Absa Premiership season. It all seemed to have been going the way of Amakhosi as goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune denied Justin Shonga from the penalty spot to preserve the lead. However, moments later, Innocent Maela restored parity when he rose the highest from a set-piece corner kick to give back joy to the Happy People. The day increasingly grew darker for the Lords as the Ghost haunted them again, three minutes later. Zambia’s Augustine Mulenga and Justin “The Sheriff” Shonga combined beautifully on the left wing to set up Maliele Vincent Pule for Pirates’ second and his fourth goal of the season, tied on top of the scorers’ chart with Kaizer Chiefs’ Billiat. The Zambian pair would eventually cause all sorts of problems for the Glamour Boys, with 21-year-old Shonga even hitting the crossbar at some point. The day ended with Coach Micho’s men grabbing a priceless victory and also three precious Absa premiership points, moving up to second on the league standings, a point off Bidvest Wits.

Masandawana narrowly edge Chippa to stay unbeaten

Khethowakhe Masuku celebrating his goal with team mates during the CAF Confedaration Cup match between Orlando Pirates and Zanaco at FNB Stadium on April 06, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(April 5, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Pitso Mosimane’s men have had a slowish start to the 2018/19 PSL season, playing less league matches than the rest due to champions league commitments and also adjusting to life without the heralded pair in Percy Tau and Khama Billiat who switched to new colors. As a result, Mamelodi Sundowns have drawn five of their eight league matches but lost none. The hard fought 1-0  away win against Eric Tinkler’s Chippa United saw them climb to sixth position, six points off leaders, the Clever Boys (Bidvest Wits) but with two fewer games played. Tau and Billiat were obviously an integral part of the quick pass attacking frontline that never failed to exhibit why the Brazilians had their football style nicknamed, “shoe-shine-piano.” However, the good news for all the Bafana BaStyle fans out there is that the football philosophy doesn’t look like its changing at all. Celebrated South African footballer, Andile Jali, who recently joined the side from Belgian Pro League side K.V. Oostende has complimented Captain Hlompho Kekana’s style of play in the middle of the park giving Sundowns a new dimension. The solitary goal scorer against Chippa, Uruguayan Gaston Sirino looks capable of filling the shoes of the departed. With all this armor and the committed brains of Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane, Sundowns may defend their psl title, even when everyone else least expects them to.

Encouraging early signs for Komphela’s Celtic

Thabo Nthethe during the Absa Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town at Loftus Stadium on February 15, 2014 in Pretoria, South Africa.

(Feb. 14, 2014 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

The celebrated, yet trophyless Steve Komphela seems to be oiling the Bloemfontein Celtic machine for not so anticipated things. Of course, it’s still a bit early in the season with only eleven matches played out of 30, but Phunya Sele Sele are looking a better side under “Shakespeare.” After dominating the weekend’s encounter against Baroka FC, missing a lot of chances, they kept their nerve to eventually score in the 92nd minute to get all three points. They are now third on the table, an encouraging sign that they may better last season’s 11th position finish. Perhaps even hand Steve Komphela his first trophy in his illustrious managerial career of always being near yet so far. Here is sound bite from Bra Steve from the weekend, perhaps one that has kept Celtic going so far:

Are Zimbabwean imports to SA football just as important as Spaniards are to the EPL?

In every continent, there are a number of competitive soccer leagues that every player from within that continent aspires to play in. For instance, in Africa, the South African ABSA Premiership is by far the biggest competition and most of the continental players dream of playing in that league if not in Europe. The same applies to the English Premier League in Europe where we find many Spaniards pushing for moves to play in a country popularly known for the unfavourable winter weather. This piece is a brief comparison between Zimbabwean imports to South African soccer and the Spanish players to the EPL.

Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez chats with Fernando Torres of Liverpool prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on January 19, 2009 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) * Local Caption * Fernando Torres;Rafael Benitez

(Jan. 19, 2009 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

With recent trends of quite a number of Zimbabweans moving to South Africa to pursue their career in football, one would wonder if these imports are just as important as the Spaniards are to the English Premier League. The answer is yes. And here’s why.

Although these players are from different parts of the world and from different cultures, they somewhat contribute to the game in the same way. The Spaniards for example are very technically gifted players whose presence completes their teams. David Silva, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla are just but a few Spanish players who are/were indispensable in their respective teams. This is because they brought that technical ability, vision, and killer passes that cannot be found in most of the players from the rest of the European continent.

The same can be said about Zimbabwean players. Not in the sense of their technical abilities nor their popularity in making deadly passes, instead, they bring their unique attributes to the South African teams. Zimbabwean players are known for their tireless efforts throughout the 90 minutes. Be it legends like Tinashe Nengomasha who appeared for Kaizer Chiefs and Esrom Nyandoro in Mamelodi Sundowns colors and even Willard Katsande of this generation, they all have that grit. Coincidentally, these above mentioned players all played in the defensive midfield role and some might argue that they ought to have that hard working mentality which is demanded of the position. However, even attackers like Khama Billiat still work their socks off from the top end of the pitch.

Furthermore, the Spaniards are quite more affordable than investing in a local English soccer player. The amazing talents of David Silva were acquired by Manchester City for a cut-price of £35 million in 2013 from Valencia. This is relatively affordable compared to the amount of money invested in buying raw talent from Liverpool by Manchester City. They paid £50 million for the 23-year old winger who was far from being a finished article. As a result, these Spanish players become more significant to the English teams because they are more affordable in the inflated market.

Wiyanda Zwane of Lamontville Golden Arrows is tackled by Willard Katsande (R) of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on December 19, 2013 in Durban, South Africa.

(Dec. 18, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Zimbabweans are undeniably more affordable options for South African teams as well. For example, Knowledge Musona moved to Kaizer Chiefs for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of US$10,000 and became the most important player in the league. This was around the time that South African strikers like Katlego Mphela were making a name for themselves. These players were valued almost five times more than the Zimbabwean. As a result, the top teams in the ABSA Premiership emphasised on recruiting Zimbabwean talent.

Furthermore, the recruitment team recommends players whom they think will improve their teams and eventually help to win the competitions they participate in. In England, most of the clubs who recruited Spanish international were made not to regret their investments as they have helped their teams to glory. Take Fernando Torres at Liverpool for instance and how he helped them win the UEFA Champions League under Rafa Benitez. Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta has won the English Premier League on a number of occasions.

The winning teams in the ABSA Premiership also had their players from the north of the boarder who had their fair share of contribution in their title winning campaigns. Khama Billiat, Tinashe Nengomasha, Willard Katsande etc. have all won trophies for their respective clubs.

Because of that, I think Zimbabwean imports to South African football are just as important as Spaniards are to the English Premier League.

It may not look like it, but there is more to come from Ghana's Christian Atsu

“Rafa Benitez has had to resort to “negative football”, more often than not. The likes of Christian Atsu have been defending in matches more than they have been attacking, whereas the latter actually happens to be his stronger attribute. As you can imagine, such tactics tend to rob players of confidence, to even attempt to take on players and go all out to attack the few times they get the ball and Christian Atsu has not been spared of such.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

It’s not exactly a normal thing, not to have a Ghanaian representing the West African nation at the top level of global football. Not just repping but also making the buzz. We have had several Ghanaians over the years who came, saw and conquered the revered top five European leagues. Asamoah Gyan is one such name, so is Kevin Prince Boateng and ofcourse the legend, Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew. The father to the two Ayew brothers who currently play for Crystal Palace and Fenerbahce. Abedi was actually nicknamed Pele because he was believed to be just as good as the Brazilian Pele. Currently there are still quite a number of Ghanaians doing great exploits in the European Leagues such as Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey, the ever-so reliable central defensive midfielder if I may add. However, we are used to Ghanaians leading the frontlines, scoring goals and taking on defenders which we have not really seen for a while now. Newcastle’s Christian Atsu has the abilities but we have not been seeing it from him as of late. Here is what’s up.

Christian Atsu of Newcastle United is challenged by Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City and Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 31, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

In my humble opinion, Atsu is simply a player lacking the confidence to make an impact at a level such as the English Premier League.

After delivering the Best Player of the tournament performance at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, even winning the goal of the tournament in the same campaign for his cracker against Guinea, Atsu looked like the real deal. His pace, high technical ability, trickery and eye for goal had resemblance of the infant careers of greats such as Eto’o and Seydou Keita. This was the period when he was still in Chelsea’s books after they had hijacked him from Porto for a reported £3.5 million in a five-year contract. His fate quickly became like that of fellow Ghanaian Baba Rahman, a Chelsea player still yet to really feature for the Blues but shipped on loans from time to time. For close to five years after signing for the London Club in 2013, Atsu was loaned to several clubs including Eredivisie outfit, Vitesse where he instantly became a hit winning the 2013/14 Vitesse Player of The Season. He then appeared for Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle on loan before permanently signing for Newcastle in May 2017. This was just after Atsu’s stellar campaign with Rafa Benitez’s men, winning the 2016/17 EFL Championship thus leading the Magpies back into the Premier League. Since then, Atsu’s form has been far from impressive.

Christian Atsu Twasam of Ghana and Modibo Maiga of Mali during the 2013 African Cup of Nations match between Mali and Ghana at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on January 24, 2013 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

(Jan. 23, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Because of the position and current status of the Magpies as a not-so stable club fighting to just stay in the English top flight, Rafa Benitez has had to resort to “negative football”, more often than not. The likes of Christian Atsu have been defending in matches more than they have been attacking, whereas the latter actually happens to be his stronger attribute. As you can imagine, such tactics tend to rob players of confidence, to even attempt to take on players and go all out in attack the few times they get the ball and Christian Atsu has not been spared of such. In addition, there is a direct correlation between a developing player and the influences around that player to give support and set an example. For instance, Alex Iwobi has earned a reputation of nutmegging opponents and the nickname, “Nigerian Messi” in the process because of his red hot form this season. He was a player low on confidence in the 2017/18 campaign, operating at the least favored end of the spectrum but now, with his confidence back and the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan around him, there is no telling how far he can go. On the other hand, Atsu never had any of such opportunities in the Championship and neither did Chelsea grant him such an opportunity and that’s how he started losing his confidence and needing even more mentoring from the greats.

With Newcastle struggling and in threat of relegation, you can only hope that something changes for the 26-year-old who still has got time in his career to turn his fortunes around and unleash the lethal Ghanaian in him. I am starting to think the Ivorian Jean Michel Seri who was once linked to the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea but instead opted for struggling Fulham might be at risk of a facing a similar fate but that’s a story for another day.

Is the English Premier League similar to the ABSA Premiership?

“However, even so, some players are seen being transferred to South Africa for special treatment. Adam Lallana of Liverpool came to Africa for his rehabilitation after his latest lengthy injury. This shows that South Africa provides the ABSA Premiership with the infrastructure that a player needs when they are on the treatment table.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Being an avid soccer fan brings some exposure that another can only imagine. Following your favourite club in the English Premier League brings knowledge about the league, that is the culture of football in England, media coverage, infrastructure only to mention but just a few. However, being from Africa, I am also exposed to the South African ABSA Premiership which is quite entertaining. Passionately following local football has helped me in realizing the similarities between the English Premier League and the South African ABSA Premiership. The most notable one being the fact that both the ABSA Premiership and the EPL are widely regarded as the best domestic leagues on their respective continents. Allow me to compare the two.

Collectively, the English Premier League teams have the biggest financial backing in the world let alone the European continent. The English clubs have enough funding to compete with European clubs 2x bigger and with a richer history than them. For example, Chelsea managed to steal Eden Hazard from Lille under the noses of Real Madrid who were also interested in the player back in 2012. Today, only Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid can compete with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United on the transfer market. This dominance sees the best players joining the English League and improving the level of competition. The South African ABSA Premiership is also the dominant league in Africa with the largest financial backing. To put things into perspective, the local cup competition in South Africa has bigger prize money than the CAF tournament - which happens to be the “UEFA Champions League” for African teams.

Secondly, fan support in England has some striking resemblances with that down south. Many soccer fans support their local teams before other global teams. The population of Luton is about 211,000 and most of the locals support Luton Town despite the club being in the 2nd division. They attend the matches whenever and wherever they are played. This however does not mean that they cannot have other teams they support in the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1, German Bundesliga among others. Same applies to fan support in South Africa. The locals support their teams just as much as they support the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid. There are intense derby matches respected in South Africa just as much as the El Classico in Spain. The South Africans sing at the top of their lungs and blow the vuvuzela creating an amazing atmosphere for the home teams.

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Tinashe Nengomasha of Chiefs during the 2011 Vodacom Challenge match between Kaizer Chiefs and Tottenham Hotspur at Peter Mokaba Stadium on July 16, 2011 in Polokwane, South Africa.

(July 15, 2011 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

England has some of the best soccer stadiums in the present day. Walking into Anfield, Emirates Stadium, Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and Etihad as a visitor is a frightening experience if you’re supporting the away team on the night. However, it is a lovely experience for the tourists who tour the stadiums in admiration of the work put into building these artefacts built decades ago. Africa has made efforts to follow in these footsteps if not bettering them. The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa saw many state of the art stadiums built across the African nation. To date, we take pride in the turfs at Moses Mabhida, FNB Stadium among others. These stadiums were beautifully made and can easily be used to host some of the biggest matches in world football.

Some players prefer to play in the English Premier League because of the quality of treatment given to injured players. The infrastructure in the country is up there with the best which makes it conducive for players to give their all on the pitch knowing they will be taken care of in case of accidents. However, even so, some players are seen being transferred to South Africa for special treatment. Adam Lallana of Liverpool came to Africa for his rehabilitation after his latest lengthy injury. This shows that South Africa provides the ABSA Premiership with the infrastructure that a player needs when they are on the treatment table.

However, based on their geographical locations, there are bound to be differences between the two soccer leagues. I think what separates the South African ABSA Premiership from any other league is the style of play. I find this more entertaining because of the number of long shots taken in this competition which keeps the average fan on the edge of their seats. Hlompho Kekana is the common culprit causing this discomfort. Watch the ABSA Premiership, and you’ll know what I am talking about.

Moussa "The Beast" Marega, Africa's biggest winner in the UCL so far?

“His slick combination up top with Algerian, Yacine Brahimi has seen him bag three Champions League goals and an assist in just four matches. As a result, Porto are unbeaten in group D, occupying first position and needing at most a point to qualify for the knockout stages.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

One of the most watched football tournaments in the world, Europe’s UEFA Champions League is currently underway and even yet to reach the climax. Like in times past, where names such as Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and George Weah stole the show, many African footballers continue to headline this tourney. After matchday 4/6 of the 2018/19 group stage, Malian Moussa Marega is arguably the biggest winner as far as impact and continuity is concerned.

Hakim Ziyech of Ajax is challenged by Ljubomir Fejsa of Benfica (L) and Gedson of Benfica during the Group E match of the UEFA Champions League between Ajax and SL Benfica at Johan Cruyff Arena on October 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Oct. 22, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

The most celebrated Africans participating in Europe’s elite club competition in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have started slower than expected and are very much at risk of bowing out early in their Liverpool colors, even though they were finalists in the 2017/18 UCL season. An impressive 3-2 win against PSG at home blindsided everyone to think it was all going to be a walk in the park for Jurgen Klopp and his Redmen. We know how Senegalese international, Kalidou Koulibaly and Napoli stopped them in their tracks in Naples, though eventually responding in the ensuing match by thrashing Red Star Belgrade, 4-0 at Anfield. Now, on Tuesday, the pendulum swung once more and Liverpool’s inconsistency manifested again in  a shock 2-0 loss away at Red Star in Serbia. Both Sadio Mane and Mo Salah have been deserving of the praise and stick for the two sides of Liverpool we have seen so far in the Champions League. None of them qualifies to be the main man, they are still yet to hit that 2017/18 record-breaking form.

We have also seen some African talents, relatively new to the UEFA Champions League, showing up big time for their sides. Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech and Cameroonian goalkeeper, Andre Onana who represent the Eredivisie’s Ajax look like they are on a brink to reach the knockout stages after some disciplined performances in the first four games. Ajax is still yet to lose a champions league game this campaign and one more win will most certainly guarantee them a spot in the last 16. The Dutch League’s 2017 Player of The Year has been doing his playmaker job very well for Ajax while 22-year-old Andre Onana has been commanding from between the sticks as they rubbed shoulders with the likes of Bayern Munich and highly rated Portuguese side in Benfica. Koulibaly, arguably the world’s best center back, has been equally instrumental for Napoli who unfashionably top group C, above both Liverpool and PSG. All he is been up to requires a separate piece and even though some we have written on the Senegalese “man mountain” go a long way in describing him and his many talents.

Moussa Marega of Porto runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League group G match between RB Leipzig and FC Porto at Red Bull Arena on October 17, 2017 in Leipzig, Germany.

(Oct. 16, 2017 - Source: Martin Rose/Bongarts)

Ultimately, my pick of the African who has had the most going his way is none other than the Malian Beast, Moussa Marega. I had always thought that Adama Traore, the fastest player on FIFA 19, is the only buff and lightning fast Malian, I was actually so wrong. Marega looks like he is the big brother of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Traore. In the absence of FC Porto’s main striker, Cameroonian Vincent Aboubakar due to injury, Marega has stepped up and done just as good a job. His slick combination up top with Algerian, Yacine Brahimi has seen him bag three Champions League goals and an assist in just four matches. As a result, Porto are unbeaten in group D, occupying first position and needing at most a point to qualify for the knockout stages. After having a slow start to his career that featured several loan spells and short stints at several French and Portuguese lower league and top flight clubs, Marega’s wait is now paying dividends. The ‘’Beast” is shining at the biggest stage of them all. Seeing that a last 16 place is most certain for Porto, it will be interesting to see how far Marega will lead the Portuguese side’s frontline.

Vincent Pule taking the Absa Premiership by storm

Orlando Pirates celebrate winning the Absa Premiership Final match against Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on May 21, 2011 in Soweto, South Africa.

(May 20, 2011 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Football is one profession that keeps new talent coming at a constant supply. In Europe, football fans are being amazed by the unreal displays of the wonderful Kylian Mbappe, and not forgetting the slow resurgence of the much loved Mo Salah. What’s poppin down south though? Well, South Africa might have found their own ‘young’ gem who is taking the ABSA premiership by storm. This is none other than the 26-year-old Orlando Pirates winger Vincent Pule, who has been a thorn in the flesh of many defenders this season, causing havoc with his immense pace and brilliant skills. Well, 26 is usually not considered young in comparison to the likes of Mbappe, but things have a different vibe in the South.

Vincent Pule has been the talk of the town at Orlando Pirates in the last few months, and it is not hard to see why.The ex Bidvest Wits winger has not only been at the forefront of Pirates’ recent impressive displays, but has also worked his way into the national setup courtesy of his outstanding displays at club level.

In the recent Soweto derby pitting Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, Pule put in a man of the match display, helping the Bucs to emerge victorious. He was a nightmare to Amakhosi defenders and had his moment of brilliance when he scored the winning goal to help Pirates claim all bragging rights and crucial three points at the expense of Chiefs.

Orlando Pirates fans run onto the field after the Absa Premiership Final match between Orlando Pirates and the Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on May 21, 2011 in Soweto, South Africa.

(May 20, 2011 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

But this is not the only game where Pule’s showing has been worth noting, he has been in sizzling form since the season started and midway through, he seems to possess all the attributes that may well earn him recognition of rookie of the season award come end of the season. Since arriving from Bidvest Wits in July, Pule has been an influential figure for the club, helping them to obtain positive results with crucial goals and assists. The left-footed former Bidvest Wits attacker who joined Pirates at the start of the season has netted four goals in 11 matches in all competitions this season and judging by current form, he doesn’t look like he’s gonna stop anytime soon.

With Pirates amongst the Premiership contenders, Pule’s role in that quest is central, and if his form is anything to go by, he might be the key man to lead Pirates to the title. It is no surprise that the fans seem to be loving him as they are enjoying his displays. The only question perhaps one can ask is can he be able to sustain his form throughout the season? If he can, then we might be looking at the next best talent to come out of Mzansi.

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.