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CAF
14 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF CHAN 2024: Tanzania team profile
Published: Wednesday, 30 July 2025 As co-hosts of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, Tanzania is set to make their third appearance in the tournament. With the pride and passion of a nation behind them, the Taifa Stars will look to leverage home advantage to progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their history. Under the guidance of head coach Hemed Morocco, Tanzania will aim to capitalize on the rising profile of their domestic league and recent performances in CAF competitions. Factfile Nickname : Taifa Stars : Taifa Stars Number of Appearances : 3rd : 3rd Titles : None : None FIFA Ranking: 103 (July 2025) How They Qualified Tanzania secured their place in the tournament as one of the three co-hosts, alongside Kenya and Uganda. This presents a golden opportunity for the Taifa Stars to showcase their footballing development on home soil. Key Players to Watch Clement Mzize : The 21-year-old forward has been in scintillating form this season, scoring six goals in the Tanzanian Premier League. Mzize's pace and clinical finishing make him a key asset. : The 21-year-old forward has been in scintillating form this season, scoring six goals in the Tanzanian Premier League. Mzize's pace and clinical finishing make him a key asset. Feisal Salum: A creative midfielder with an eye for goal, Salum has already demonstrated his class by scoring twice during the AFCON qualifiers. His vision and composure will be vital in midfield. Coach: Hemed 'Morocco' Suleiman With a reputation for tactical discipline and an attacking approach, Hemed Morocco will lead Tanzania as they aim to make a historic impact in the CHAN tournament. Morocco's experience with both the senior and U20 teams brings stability and ambition to the Taifa Stars. Past CHAN Performances Tanzania previously participated in the 2009 and 2020 editions of the tournament but were eliminated at the group stage on both occasions. This year, they aim to rewrite history and achieve a deeper run. What to Expect Buoyed by the emergence of domestic giants Simba SC and Young Africans in CAF interclub competitions, Tanzania is expected to bring a competitive edge to CHAN 2024. With the support of passionate home fans, the Taifa Stars will be a team to watch. Fan Zone Did you know? Tanzania has never advanced past the group stage in their CHAN history. Could 2024 be the year they break the curse? Fans across the nation will hope for a memorable tournament on home soil.
Morocco World
a day ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
When Will CAF Injustices Towards Morocco Stop?
Antsino Twanyanyukwa made history the moment CAF selected her to officiate the WAFCON 2024 final. The Namibian referee, visibly overwhelmed, said: 'I didn't expect this at all. I'm still in shock. But with God, all things are possible.' It was a major personal achievement and no doubt a proud moment for Namibian football. 'Personally, I believe I have the talent and the potential. They've seen what I can do, and now it's my opportunity to prove it; to show it on the pitch,' she said. Namibia called her appointment historic. 'Her selection to referee such a high‑stakes match was a testament to her unwavering commitment and skill,' said Namibian Football Association (NFA) president Robert Shimooshili. 'Her journey is an encouragement to all young women referees in Namibia. With hard work and perseverance, they too can reach the pinnacle of the sport.' Who's at fault? And yet, in a match watched by millions across Africa, Twanyanyukwa delivered a performance that left Moroccan players stunned, fans enraged, and experts baffled. Her decisions – or rather blunders – turned what should've been a sporting fest into a refereeing farce. In the 63rd minute, VAR awarded Nigeria a soft penalty, claiming Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina had handled the ball. But footage suggested it had struck near her side. Esther Okoronkwo converted. The Atlas Lionesses protested, but the damage was done. Minutes later came the real scandal. Nigeria's Oluwatosin Demehin blatantly handled the ball inside the area. Twanyanyukwa correctly pointed to the spot – then inexplicably reversed her decision after a VAR review. The footage shown to her on the VAR monitor was poor, unclear, and limited – a disgrace, frankly. In Twanyanyukwa's defence, there have been suggestions that she may have been misled by the visual evidence presented during the review. Normally, the VAR team and replay operators review the incident first and select what they believe are the key angles. If they spot something unclear or potentially wrong, they ask the referee to check the footage on the pitchside monitor. The referee can then ask for other angles or slow motion if needed to make an informed decision. The system gives access to many camera views, including split screens. But some critics say the referee wasn't shown the clearest angles in this case, which may have led her to overturn the correct decision. Still, many have maintained that Twanyanyukwa should bear some of the blame because she had the right, when presented with inconclusive or poor footage, to stick to her initial call. Former referee Hicham Tiazi told Médias24: 'The referee should have stuck to her decision and awarded a penalty to Morocco.' After the game, Morocco's coach Jorge Vilda couldn't hide his disbelief. 'We can't understand the decision made by the referee,' he told ESPN. 'She gave a penalty, but then the images we saw were not the same as those presented to the referee. The images were clear, we were sure she had to give a penalty.' 'There was a penalty that should have been, the referee had blown for it, but then [went] to VAR. We saw there was a hand, but the referee took it off us. That's what determined that we weren't able to celebrate this match – the penalty that was taken away from us.' 'The fact it wasn't given as a penalty had an immediate impact on the players. It had a psychological impact that shocked us; it was a massive hit to the players. It made it hard for us to come back … football was hard towards our team.' Nothing has been done But it's hardly the first time Moroccan football has been stitched up under CAF's watch. In 2019, Wydad Casablanca walked off the pitch during the infamous CAF Champions League final against Espérance Tunis in Tunisia after VAR malfunctioned. Said Naciri, Wydad's former president, called it a disaster: 'We were the victim of a scandal which destroyed all that had been done to develop football in Africa.' He also called for a fair investigation to save the image of football in Africa. In 2022, Raja Casablanca slammed CAF officials during their Champions League quarter-final game with Al Ahly. The club accused referee Jean-Jacques Ndala and VAR official Mehdi Abdi Charef of 'a flagrant breach of the principles of equal opportunity and fair refereeing,' citing 'several unfair, ungrounded decisions… including awarding an imaginary penalty following deliberate tampering during VAR review and breaching the VAR rules.' Again in the AFCON 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire, Morocco's national team suffered another refereeing mess in their Round of 16 defeat to South Africa. Former Moroccan referee Mohamed Moujah told Africa Soccer: 'The referee, unfortunately, deprived the Atlas Lions of a goal which would have completely changed the situation. It's scandalous.' Captain Romain Saïss echoed that deep-seated frustration in a statement to Arryadia, a Moroccan sports TV channel: 'Even when we score goals, we have them unfairly refused by the refereeing body. Because this one needs to be explained to me.' Back in Rabat, the FRMF has lodged an official protest over the WAFCON final. At the heart of it, the question of VAR manipulation and Morocco's role in the broadcast of wrong, unclear footage on the referee's screen. Hassan Boutabssil, Executive Director at Arryadia TV, rejected rumours that Morocco's production team had manipulated footage to protect Nigeria. 'When the referee goes to VAR, the director has no power. The image goes directly to the VAR screen, and it's the VAR operator who selects the camera angles,' he told Radio Mars. 'At that moment, the TV director is a spectator like everyone else.' 'Those attacking the TV directors should learn how a broadcast works,' he added. 'The director doesn't choose which image appears in the VAR room. People need to stop speaking nonsense.' Then came the sharpest jab at CAF's credibility: 'The intention was clear. There was a deliberate delay, and in the end, they showed an angle that didn't reveal anything. That reeks of bad faith.' He added, 'The national broadcaster works at the highest standards, certified by CAF and FIFA. The final was directed by Khalid Jadid, one of the best in Africa. Had any of our TV directors influenced the result, there would be a statement from CAF and an investigation. But that's not what happened.' As Morocco prepares to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, confidence in CAF's refereeing and VAR oversight is rapidly eroding. Silence breeds suspicion CAF has faced considerable backlash over the years for omitting many Atlas Lions from individual awards, despite their outstanding performances throughout various tournaments and competitions with club and country. One glaring example came in December 2023 when Yassine Bounou – widely acclaimed for his brilliant performances at the 2022 Qatar World Cup – was left out of the Player of the Year shortlist. A year later, critics and analysts also expressed astonishment at the names featured in the CAF Award shorts for goalkeeper and player of the year categories. Many questioned the fairness and transparency of the selection process and how a football player of Bounou's class and calibre was repeatedly denied the recognition he deserved. Questions have been raised about potential biases with CAF being led by South African businessman Patrice Motsepe, with many suggesting that decisions are often influenced by regional favouritism. This latest post-Wafcon drama is in addition to CAF's issuing of unclear positions on many occasions, including major controversy when CAF allowed a promotional video showing a divided map of Morocco, excluding its southern provinces in Western Sahara. As discontent mounts, Moroccan fans and officials are calling on CAF to explain its decisions and restore credibility.
CAF
a day ago
- Sport
- CAF
CAF names WAFCON 2024 Best XI
Published: Tuesday, 29 July 2025 Nigeria's dominance at the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 has been further underlined after four of their players were named in the tournament's official Best XI, as selected by CAF's Technical Study Group (TSG). The 11-player team, arranged in a 4-3-3 formation, features standout performers from across the continent following a fiercely competitive edition of the tournament co-hosted by Morocco and Ghana. Nigeria, who defeated hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final on Saturday night to clinch their tenth WAFCON crown, contributed the highest number of players to the elite line-up. Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Ndozie earned her place between the sticks following a series of commanding displays, while dynamic full-back Michelle Alozie, influential forward Esther Okoronkwo, and tournament top scorer Rasheedat Ajibade also made the cut. Joining them is Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak, whose creative influence helped guide the hosts to a second consecutive final. Fellow Moroccan and top striker Ibtissam Jraidi also featured prominently in the line-up. Ghana's Portia Boakye and Grace Asantewaa were rewarded for their leadership and consistency despite the Black Queens falling just short of the final, while South Africa's Karabo Dlamini, Refiloe Jane and Bambanani Mbane were also included after leading Banyana Banyana to a semi-final finish. The CAF Technical Study Group named Nigeria's Justin Madugu as the tournament's Coach of the Tournament following his team's successful title run. A strong list of substitutes was also released, including Zambia's Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, Senegal's Nguenar Ndiaye, Algeria's Chloe Yamina N'Gazi, and Nigeria's Osinachi Ohale and Jennifer Echegini. The 2024 tournament saw a rise in attacking play, with 66 goals scored across 26 matches—an average of 2.54 goals per game, an improvement from the 2.25 average in 2022. The 4-3-3 formation emerged as the most used tactical shape throughout the tournament. CAF's WAFCON 2024 Best XI (4-3-3 formation): Goalkeeper : Chiamaka Ndozie (Nigeria) Defenders : Michelle Alozie (Nigeria), Bambanani Mbane (South Africa), Portia Boakye (Ghana), Karabo Dlamini (South Africa) Midfielders : Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco), Refiloe Jane (South Africa), Grace Asantewaa (Ghana) Forwards: Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria), Ibtissam Jraidi (Morocco), Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria) Coach of the Tournament: Justin Madugu (Nigeria) Substitutes: Chloe Yamina N'Gazi (Algeria) Osinachi Ohale (Nigeria) Hanane Ait El Haj (Morocco) Jennifer Echegini (Nigeria) Saana Mssoudy (Morocco) Barbra Banda (Zambia) Racheal Kundananji (Zambia) Nguenar Ndiaye (Senegal) Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Ghana)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
African competitions (2025/2026 season): draw scheduled for August 12!
African competitions: draw set for August 12 in Dar es Salaam! African competitions draw / @ The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is gearing up to hold the preliminary round draw for the Champions League and the Confederation Cup for the 2025-2026 season. The event will take place in Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam. African competitions draw scheduled for Dar es Salaam According to the Qatari website WinWin, the ceremony is provisionally set for August 12, just a few days after the club registration system closes via national federations, which is scheduled for this Thursday. These preparations follow a tour by CAF officials in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, aiming to assess the readiness for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which is set for August. CAF is also expected to release the list of clubs exempted from the first preliminary round, based on their ranking and continental performances over the past five years. Provisional schedule for African competitions (2025/2026 season) First preliminary round: September 19 to 28, 2025 (home and away legs) Second preliminary round: October 17 to 26, 2025 Group stage: November 2025 to February 2026 Quarter-finals: March 2026 Semi-finals: April 2026 Final: between May 8 and May 24, 2026
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Morocco File Formal Referee Complaint After WAFCON Final Loss to Nigeria
Morocco's football federation has lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over what it described as 'refereeing injustices' during the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final against Nigeria. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said the match official failed to award a clear penalty in the 82nd minute, with the score level at 2-2. Video footage showed a potential handball by a Nigerian defender, but after a VAR check, the referee waved play on. Morocco's coaching staff and players expressed frustration immediately after the incident. The federation claims the decision altered the course of the match, which Nigeria went on to win 3-2. Speaking after the match, Moroccan head coach Jorge Vilda said: 'It was a small detail that cost us the game,' referring to the penalty decision. Vilda, usually reserved on refereeing matters, added that fatigue played a key role in his side's second-half collapse. Nigeria's coach, Justine Madugu, credited Morocco for a dominant first half and said tactical adjustments at half-time proved decisive. 'The players who came off the bench made the difference,' he said. 'Morocco have a promising future.' The final, held at Rabat's Olympic Stadium, was a tightly contested match. Morocco led 2-1 at the break, but Nigeria rallied in the second half to claim their record-extending 10th title. The tournament marked Morocco's second-ever appearance in a WAFCON final. Ghana secured third place after beating South Africa on penalties in Casablanca. After the heartbreaking loss, King Mohammed VI congratulated the Moroccan team in a statement, praising their spirit and performance. He also commended the organisation of the tournament and the strong attendance across venues. Tags: MoroccoWAFCONWOmen's Africa Cup of Nations
