African Five-a-side
Episodes
REACTION: Al Ahly win their 12th CAF Champions League title, beating Esperance 1-0
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the second leg of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League, Al Ahly beat Esperance de Tunis 1-0. Ramy Rabia forced an own goal in the opening five minute...
CAF Champions League final preview: Who will be crowned African champions? Esperance or Al Ahly?
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
*WE APOLOGISE ABOUT THE AUDIO QUALITY OF THIS EPISODE, WE MADE A ONE-TIME MISTAKE THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN*Please check out www.africasacountry.comEspe...
CAF Champions League final: Can Al Ahly win their 12th title?
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Prior to the CAF Champions League final, we speak to Al Ahly fan Ahmed Assem about the prospects of the Red Devils securing their record-extending 12t...
CAF Champions League semi-final: Sundowns, Mazembe crash out to more mature Esperance, Al Ahly
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the second leg of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League, Esperance de Tunis and Al Ahly put in mature performances and managed to qualify past TP Maze...
CAF Confederation Cup semi-final: What happened between USM of Algiers and RS Berkane?
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we look back on what exactly happened between USM of Algiers and RS Berkane in the semi-final of the CAF Confederation Cup. Their scheduled ...
CAF CL semi-final: Esperance hit Sundowns with body blow, Al Ahly take advantage back to Cairo
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
During the first leg of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League semi-finals, Esperance de Tunis nullified Mamelodi Sundowns' attacking threat and managed t...
CAF Champions League semi-final preview: Esperance vs Sundowns, TP Mazembe vs Al Ahly
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're into the final four of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League and so this episode of the African Five-a-side podcast delves into a preview of Saturd...
CAF CL quarterfinals: Mazembe STUN Petro in Angola, Esperance survive penalties vs ASEC
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The second leg of the quarterfinals of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League took place on Saturday evening as TP Mazembe travelled to Luanda to take on ...
CAF CL quarterfinals: Young Africans (Yanga) ALMOST upset Sundowns, Ahly cruise through to semis
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Friday night's two matches had very different tones. While Tanzania's Yanga pushed AFL champions, Mamelodi Sundowns to the brink, their compatriots, S...
Simba SC 0-1 Al Ahly SC - Al Ahly and Ahmed Nabil Koka steal a victory in Dar El Salam
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The first quarterfinal of the 2024 CAF Champions League took place on Friday evening between Simba and reigning champions, Al Ahly. It was a frustrati...
Nigeria Super Eagles, Bafana, Cameroon: Which African teams properly managed the post-Afcon period?
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Two months on from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations we have our first international window since the big tournament. We take a look at the state of 9 na...
Faith and football: How to reconcile Ramadan and professional football?
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the holy month of Ramadan begins, we ask a few questions about its place in professional football. Does fasting impede optimal athletic performance...
CAF Champions League quarterfinal preview: Sundowns - Yanga, Ahly - Simba, Esperance - ASEC and more
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The draw for the 2024 CAF Champions League took place a couple days ago, and so we finally have our quarterfinal matchups. We take a preliminary look ...
5 African football talents to watch in the 2024 CAF Champions League
10 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we prepare for the draw of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League knockout stages, we decided to take a look at five up-and-coming youngsters that will...
Disappointment at 2023 Afcon and 2024 Champions League...Is North African football on the decline?
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With no quarterfinalists at the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire and only 2 club sides in the quarterfinals of the 2024 CAF Champions Leag...
Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly, TP Mazembe or Yanga? Who has impressed most in the CAF CL group stages?
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the African Five-a-side podcast, we look back on what has been an enthralling six matchdays of the 2024 CAF Champions League. In th...
Super Falcons, Banyana, Atlas Lionesses, Copper Queens... Who is going to Paris 2024?
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're back after an Afcon hangover and for our first episode back, we talk about the 2024 Summer Olympic Games qualifiers in African women's football....
2023 Afcon autopsy: Where do all 24 teams go from here?
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the weekend after the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, we delve into where all 24 teams go from here. For some, like Senegal, little change...
Nigeria 1-2 Cote d'Ivoire: Adingra and Haller propel The Elephants to their third Afcon title
11 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After several peaks and valleys, Cote d'Ivoire sealed their tournament by beating Nigeria in the Afcon final, 2-1. Nigeria took a first-half lead into...
2023 Africa Cup of Nations third-place match preview: South Africa vs DR Congo
10 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Palestine at Afcon article: https://africasacountry.com/2024/02/palestine-at-afconLet's have a relaxing chat about third-place matches and how and why...
Nigeria 1-1 South Africa: Bafana fall just short ⎸ Cote d'Ivoire 1-0 DR Congo: Haller leads charge
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations were just as entertaining as the rest of the tournament. Nigeria eeked past South Africa in the firs...
A tactical preview of the 2023 Afcon semi-finals: Nigeria vs South Africa, Cote d'Ivoire vs DR Congo
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is over, but the tournament rolls on. Today we're back with a semi-final preview of Wednesday's matches. We delve into t...
Nigeria 1-0 Angola: Lookman propels Naija to victory ⎸ DR Congo 3-1 Guinea: Leopards in semis
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals Victor Osimhen and Nigeria got a goal past Angola and qualified to the semi-finals. And DR Congo comfo...
A statistical preview of the 2023 Afcon quarterfinals: Cote d'Ivoire vs Mali, Nigeria vs Angola, South Africa vs Cape Verde, DR Congo vs Guinea
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The 2023 Afcon quarterfinals are set to kick off tomorrow and so we break down the four matches including Cote d'Ivoire vs Mali, Nigeria vs Angola, DR...
Morocco 0-2 South Africa: BAFANA ARE BACK, Morocco are home ⎸ Mali 2-1 Burkina: Eagles find identity
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It was a fascinating tactical battle between the Moroccan Atlas Lions and the South African Bafana boys. Both sides played cautiously, but it would be...
Cote d'Ivoire 1-1 Senegal: Kessié penalties send The Elephants through ⎸ Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Last night, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations served us an instant classic when hosts Cote d'Ivoire took on Senegal in the round of 16. Despite a terribl...
2023 Afcon preview: Cote d'Ivoire vs Senegal and Cape Verde vs Mauritania
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The third day of the round of 16 will feature the biggest match of this Africa Cup of Nations so far when Cote d'Ivoire host Senegal in Yamoussoukro. ...
DR Congo 1-1 Egypt: Leopards slay Egypt ⎸ Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Guinea: Bayo-bye Nzalang Nacional
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the second day of Round of 16 play, Equatorial Guinea made a couple critical errors and lost to Guinea-Conakry. Egypt and DR Congo duked it out, bu...
2023 Afcon preview: Egypt vs DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea
28 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's matches in the round of 16 feature a Salah-less Egypt taking on a red-hot DR Congo national team. The early match will feature the tournament'...
Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon: Osimhen and Super Eagles beat Cameroon ⎸ Angola 3-0 Namibia: Dala is king!
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the first matchday of the round of 16, Nigeria put Cameroon to the sword as Ademola Lookman scored a brace and the hapless Indomitable Lions couldn...
2023 Afcon preview: Cameroon vs Nigeria and Angola vs Namibia
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We start the round of 16 today as the Nigerian Super Eagles take on the Cameroonian Indomitable Lions in Abidjan, but before that heavyweight bout Ang...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 13: My Afcon team of the round, and my day at the FIFA workshop
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On Day 13, we had our first day off of the Afcon. We spent the day at a FIFA workshop learning about the FIFA Forward program and the Talent Developme...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 12: Morocco save Cote d'Ivoire, Tunisia exit pitifully, Zambia fall short
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the final day of matchday 3 and the group stages we saw a real lack of goals. South Africa and Tunisia went scoreless, Namibia and Mali also played...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 11: ALGERIA OUT and Cameroon find a way
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On Day 11 of the Africa Cup of Nations, we went to Bouaké to watch Algeria vs Mauritania and Cameroon vs The Gambia. Algeria crashed out in the group...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 10: Côte d'Ivoire calamity, Egypt squeak through as Ghana crash out
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Day 10 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was the craziest in a very long time. It started off with Côte d'Ivoire losing at home 4-0 as Nigeria beat G...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 9: Congo tie up Morocco, Tanzania stay alive vs Zambia and BAFANA ARE BACK
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the final day of matchday 2, Morocco were tied up by DR Congo and it finished with a dust-up between Walid Regragui and Chancel Mbemba. Tanzania ma...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 8: Bounedjah saves Algeria for now, Angola beat Mauritania, Mali and Tunisia tie
21 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the penultimate day of matchday 2 Algeria nicked a draw against Burkina Faso, but we discuss how it is that Algeria have become so stale. We also d...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 7: Senegal humiliate Song and Eto'o, Cape Verde score screamers, Guinea through
20 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's matches in Abidjan and Yamoussoukro were crackers! Cape Verde scored two great goals against Mozambique en route to a 3-0 rout. In the marquee...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 6: Nsue is a hat-trick hero, Kudus is a starboy and Salah is injured
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The sixth day of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations saw Equatorial Guinea take the battle of the Guineas in Group A. Nigeria got a much-needed three po...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 5: Morocco smash Tanzania, DR Congo frustrated by Zambia
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Day 5 of the Africa Cup of Nations saw Morocco take on Tanzania and DR Congo play Zambia. Morocco confirmed what they showed a year and a half ago in ...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 2: Down go Nigeria, Egypt and Ghana
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Day two of the Africa Cup of Nations was full of surprises, as Nigeria started the day by drawing with Equatorial Guinea, Egypt followed that up by dr...
2023 Afcon Diary Day 1: Cote d'Ivoire take care of business versus Guinea-Bissau
14 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the opening day of the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the host nation Cote d'Ivoire took care of business in beating Guinea-Bissau, 2-0...
Zambia 2023 Afcon preview: The Copper Bullets resurge with arrival of Grant
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Zambia were surprisingly good in Afcon qualifiers going head-to-head with Côte d'Ivoire. Their resurgence has been credited with the arrival of coach...
Cameroon 2023 preview: An experienced and talented squad looking for direction?
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As hosts of the 2021 Afcon, Cameroon were one of the strongest sides in the tournament. Despite their brilliant showing, FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto...
Angola 2023 preview: A mix of youth and experience for the Palancas Negras
07 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Angola make their return to the Africa Cup of Nations with coach Pedro Goncalves at their helm. Goncalves led the Angola U17 team to a Round of 16 ber...
Ghana 2023 Afcon preview: Can Mohamed Kudus spark a lacklustre Ghanaian attack?
07 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a disastrous 2021 Afcon, and an improved 2022 FIFA World Cup performance, Ghanaian fans head into the 2023 Afcon with a healthy dose of skeptici...
South Africa 2023 Afcon preview: Bafana quietly confident due to strength of domestic clubs
06 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After missing out on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa are returning to Africa's biggest party with some renewed confidence. Part of that i...
Morocco 2023 Afcon preview: After a record-breaking World Cup, Morocco hungry for Afcon success
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Morocco shocked the world when they became the first African nation to qualify for the semi-finals. Walid Regragui and...
Tunisia 2023 Afcon preview: Africa's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How will the Carthage Eagles fare in Côte d'Ivoire? The North Africans have perfected the art of qualifying for the Afcon - they haven't missed a tou...
Nigeria 2023 Afcon preview: Much expected from Victor Osimhen
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Nigerian Super Eagles come to Côte d'Ivoire with one of the most stacked squads in the tournament, especially in attack. Yet, results in recent t...
Egypt 2023 Afcon preview: Can Mohamed Salah finally win the elusive Afcon trophy?
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Egypt were Afcon finalists in 2017 and 2021. They missed out on the last Afcon title and the 2022 World Cup after losing to Senegal in penalty shoot-o...
Algeria Afcon preview: Can Coach Belmadi recover from a tough two years and recapture the Afcon?
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we close in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the African Five-a-side podcast has decided to put aside matchdays for now and, instead, focus on previ...
Kenneth Kaunda loved football more than any other African president - Matchday 1
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Kenneth Kaunda was a rarity: an African President who not only backed football, but [also] actually liked it" - David Goldblatt. In the final episode...
Early 2023 Afcon predictions - African Football Round-up
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The 2023 CAF Awards were largely uneventful, and so this week we're using the African Football Round-up for some tier talk. We take a brief look at th...
Ahmed Sekou Touré said "No" to France and "Yes" to football - Matchday 1
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
1958 Ahmed Sekou Touré campaigned so that Guineans would vote "No" in a referendum on whether to adopt the new French constitution or reject it ...
Why I voted Victor Osimhen for African player of the year - African Football Round-up
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With the 2023 CAF Awards just a week away, Maher Mezahi explains that he was selected as part of a media panel to vote on the awards and reveals how h...
John Obi Mikel's "Black Tax", the portrayal of Emmanuel Adebayor and a chat with Didier Drogba - African Football Round-up
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we'll revisit John Obi Mikel's appearance on Rio Ferdinand's podcast where he talks about family manipulation. From there we trace som...
Mobutu helps Zaire to two Afcon titles and a World Cup appearance
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 3 of Matchday 1 of the African-five-a side podcast continues to explore the stories of five African heads of state and their influence on foot...
Bafana are back! Will Nigeria sack Peseiro? Is Hughton the man for Ghana? - African Football Roundup
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the African Football Roundup we recap the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Africa and outline some of the good we saw as well as s...
African Football Roundup: Are the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers a new era for African Football?
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a special episode of the African football round-up as the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers kick off!Throughout the history of the FIFA World ...
African Football Roundup: Sundowns are African champions, and how I voted during the CAF Awards
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the second leg of the African Football League final between Wydad Casablanca and Mamelodi Sundowns. We reflect on how Rhulani Mok...
Matchday 1: How Kwame Nkrumah boycotted the 1966 FIFA World Cup and won two Afcons
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 2 of Matchday 1 of the African-five-a side podcast continues to explore the stories of five African heads of state and their influence on foot...
African Football Roundup: Can Sundowns and Mokwena navigate the intangibles of African football?
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week we discuss the first leg of the African Football League final between Wydad Casablanca and Mamelodi Sundowns. The match gives us a perfect o...
Matchday 1: Gamal Abdel Nasser and the establishment of CAF and Afcon
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 1 of Matchday 1 of the African-five-a side podcast continues to explore the stories of five African heads of state and their influence on foot...
African Football Roundup: African football league kicks off, and talking football in Palestine
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
All of the goings on in the world of African football, week of 10/16-10/23.Over the weekend, the African football league kicked off and we discuss if ...
Matchday 1: Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmed Ben Bella and Muammar Gaddafi named substitutes because of their football legacies
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matchday 1, our first set of episodes of the African Five-a-side podcast, takes a look at African football’s most influential politicians. Before we...