Latest news with #TotalEnergiesAfricaCupofNations
CAF
13-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Aliou Cissé names first Libya squad - Al-Musrati absent, local talent leads charge
Aliou Cissé has wasted no time in getting to work as the new head coach of Libya's national team, unveiling his first squad just 24 hours after his official appointment. The Senegalese coach, who led his home nation to a TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022, has opted for a squad largely composed of locally based players as Libya prepares for crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Angola and Cameroon. One of the biggest talking points from his selection is the absence of Moatasem Al-Musrati, the AS Monaco midfielder who declined a call-up, maintaining his decision to step away from the national team. Defender Daniel Elfadli is also missing from the list. Despite these omissions, Cissé has assembled a strong squad featuring several key figures from Libya's domestic league, with a mix of experienced internationals and fresh faces. Libya currently sits second in Group D with four points from two matches, trailing Cameroon by just one point. With a home fixture against Angola on March 20 in Benghazi, followed by a trip to Yaoundé to face Cameroon on March 25, Cissé's men have a golden opportunity to position themselves as serious contenders for a historic World Cup qualification. The new Libya boss, known for his tactical discipline and ability to instill a winning mentality, will be expected to solidify the team's defence and improve its attacking efficiency in these key fixtures. Cissé's squad is dominated by locally based players, with only a few playing abroad. The midfield will be led by the experienced Faisal Al-Badri (Al-Hilal), Badr Hassan (Al-Nasr), and Abdullah Daqo (Al-Ahly Benghazi), while up front, the strike force will rely on the likes of Moayad Al-Lafi (Al-Ahly Tripoli) and Mohamed Soula (Al-Qadisiyah, Kuwait) to deliver goals. The defensive setup includes Majdi Artiba (Al-Akhdar), Sobhi Al-Mabrouk (Al-Ittihad), and Al-Bahlol Abu Sahmain (Al-Ahly Benghazi), players who have been instrumental in Libya's recent performances. Cissé's ability to adapt quickly to the Libyan football environment and implement his tactical approach in such a short time will be key as the Knights of the Mediterranean aim for a strong showing in these qualifiers. Squad Goalkeepers: Murad Al-Wahishi (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Mohamed Ayad (Abu Salim), and Ahmed Ayad (Al-Tahadi). Defenders Majdi Artiba (Al-Akhdar), Sobhi Al-Mabrouk (Al-Ittihad), Al-Mahdi Al-Kout (Al-Suwaihli), Mohamed Al-Shtiwi (Al-Hilal), Sand Bin Ali (Al-Ittihad), Al-Bahlol Abu Sahmain (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Taher Bin Amer (Al-Ittihad), and Mutassim Sabbou (Olympic Azzawiya SC). Midfielders: Faisal Al-Badri (Al-Hilal), Badr Hassan (Al-Nasr), Hamza Al-Maqsi (Olympic Azzawiya SC), Abdullah Daqo (Al-Ahly Benghazi), Muhannad Eto'o (Al-Madina), Osama Al-Sharimi (Al-Suwaihli), Omar Al-Khoja (Al-Suwaihli), Ahmed Saad (Al-Hilal), Al-Abbasi (Al-Suwaihli), Fadel Salama (Al-Ahly Benghazi), and Taha Al-Shalawi (Al-Hilal). Attackers: Moayad Al-Lafi (Al-Ahly Tripoli), Mohamed Soula (Al-Qadisiyah, Kuwait), Fahad Al-Masmari (Club Africain, Tunisia), Azou Al-Mariami (Al-Hilal), Ahmed Karwa (Al-Ahly Tripoli), and Anas Al-Masrati (Al-Taawoun).
CAF
12-03-2025
- Business
- CAF
Dr Patrice Motsepe re-elected unopposed as CAF President for second term
Dr Patrice Motsepe has been re-elected unopposed as President of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) for a second four-year term. The decision was confirmed at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday, extending his leadership of the organisation until 2029. Motsepe's re-election comes after a first term widely praised for stabilizing CAF's finances and boosting its global profile. Under his leadership, the organization set several new records at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Cote d'Ivoire 2023, attracting a record 1.4 billion viewers worldwide. Prizemoney for major tournaments, including the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, has also increased significantly, alongside enhanced financial support for Member Associations. The 63-year-old faced no opposition after the nomination deadline passed in November 2024. His decision to run again followed requests from Member Association Presidents and key stakeholders. 'The goal remains making African football globally competitive, stabilizing finances, and investing in infrastructure,' he said. Dr Motsepe's unopposed re-election reflects both confidence in his leadership and the desire to see him elevate African football to new heights.
CAF
10-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Benin call on Italian based teenage striker Candas Fiogbé
Benin coach Gernot Rohr handed a first call up to Italian based teenage striker Candas Fiogbé as he named a 25-man squad to take on Zimbabwe and South Africa in the 2-26 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month. The 19-year-old Fiogbe has yet to play a senior match but been competing for Atalanta's under-20 team in Italy's Primavera 1 league and for their under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League, where he has netted six goals. There is also a recall for defender Brandon Agounon, who was in the squad one year ago but has yet to win a cap. But Benin must do without the injured French-based pair of Aiyegun Tosin and Cédric Hountondji while Olivier Verdon has been left out for disciplinary reasons, Rohr told a press conference on Monday. Verdon, 29, competed for Benin at the 2019 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt. There are only two home-based players in the squad with the rest drawn from clubs in 17 different countries. Benin play away against Zimbabwe in Durban, South Africa on March 20 and then travel to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast where they are hosting their game against Bafana Bafana on March 25. Squad: Goalkeepers: Saturnin Allagbé (Botev Vratsa, Bulgaria), Marcel Dandjinou (JDR Stars, South Africa), Serges Obassa (Remo Stars, Nigeria) Defenders: Moise Adilehou (Laval, France), Brandon Agounon (Châteauroux, France), Rodrigue Fassinou (Coton Sport Benin), David Kiki (Steaua Bucharest, Romania), Rachid Moumini (Ayéma), Tamimou Ouorou (Hatta, United Arab Emirates), Yohan Roche (Petrolul 52, Romania), Rabiou Sankamao (Wydad Fès, Morocco), Mohamed Tijani (Yverdon Sport, Switzerland) Midfielders: Mattéo Ahlinvi (Arsenal Tula, Russia), Mariano Ahouangbo (Soliman, Tunisia), Gislain Ahoudo (Gabès, Tunisia), Samadou Attidjikou (Al Masry, Egypt), Sessi d'Almeida (Apollon Limassol. Cyprus), Dodo Dokou (Smouha, Egypt), Imourane Hassane (Grasshoppers Zurich, Switzerland) Forwards: Jodel Dossou (Victoria Rosport, Luxembourg), Candas Fiogbé (Atalanta, Italy), Andréas Hountondji (Standard Liège, Belgium), Steve Mounié (FC Augsburg, Germany), Junior Olaitan (Grenoble, France), Steve-Waren Traoré (Haka, Finland)
CAF
08-02-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Every TotalEnergies CAF AFCON stadium used
Morocco's announcement of nine venues for the hosting of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations final in December will add significantly to the number of stadia used in the history of the finals. There have been 18 countries who have hosted a Cup of Nations from the first tournament in Sudan in 1957 to the last edition in Cote d'Ivoire, with a total of 83 different stadiums used for Cup of Nations finals matches. That will be increased to 89 once the tournament in Morocco kicks off. The Complexe Sportive Prince Moulay Abdellah hosts the opening match and final and another five games. The Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca was the venue for the final in 1988 when Morocco previously hosted the tournament and it will be the venue for eight matches in the 2025 edition. There will also be eight games at the Grande Stade d'Agadir and the Grande Stade d'Marrakech. The Cairo International Stadium has hosted a total of 35 matches over four editions, including four finals, and holds the record for the most number of games in the history of the tournament. It is followed by the Accra Sports Stadium with 32 games, the Baba Yaro Stadium in Kumasi with 26, the Addis Ababa Stadium with 25 and the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo with 21. Dakar's Stade de l'Amitie hosted 14 matches during the 1992 finals in Senegal, which is the most number of matches at a single stadium in one tournament. The Khartoum Municipal Stadium hosted the first ever Cup of Nations finals matches. Nine stadiums for a single edition of the Cup of Nations finals is a new record, surpassing the six that Mali used for their hosting of the 2002 finals when there were 16 teams and 32 matches. TOTALENERGIES CAF AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS FINALS STADIUMS Algeria Algiers Stade du 5 Julliet (9): 1990 x 9 Annaba Stade du 19 Mai (7): 1990 x 7 Angola Benguela Estadio Nacional de Ombaka (9): 2010 x 9Cabinda Estadio Nacional do Chiazi (4): 2010 x 4Luanda Estadio 11 de Novembre (9): 2010 x 9 Lubango Estadio Nacional da Tundavala (7): 2010 x 7 Burkina Faso Bobo Dioulasso Stade Municipal (10): 1998 x 10Ouagadougou Stade du 4 Aout (9): 1998 x 9 Ouagadougou Stade Municipal (13): 1998 x 13 Cameroon Bafoussam Stade Kouekong (8): 2021 x 8Douala Stade de la Reunification (7): 1972 x 7Douala Stade Japoma (8): 2021 x 8Garoua Stade Roumde Adjia (8): 2021 x 8Limbe Omnisport Stadium (8): 2021 x 8Yaounde Stade Olembe (8): 2021 x 8 Yaounde Stade Omnisport (21): 1972 x 9; 2021 x 12 (name changed to Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo) Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan Stade Alassane Ouattara (10): 2023 x 10Abidjan Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny (19): 1984 x 9; 2023 x 10Bouake Stade Bouake (16): 1984 x 7; 2023 x 9 (name changed to Stade de la Paix)Korhogo Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly (7): 2023 x 7San Pedro Stade Laurent Pokou (8): 2023 x 8 Yamoussoukro Stade Charles Konan Banny (8): 2023 x 8 Egypt Alexandria Stadium (19): 1974 x 4; 1986 x 7; 2006 x 1; 2019 x 7Alexandra Haras Al Hodoud Stadium (7): 2006 x 7Cairo Al Salam Stadium (10): 2019 x 10Cairo International Stadium (35): 1974 x 7; 1986 x 9; 2006 x 9; 2019 x 10Cairo 30 June Stadium (10): 2019 x 10Cairo Military Academy Stadium (8): 2006 x 8Cairo Prince Farouk Stadium (3): 1959 x 3Damanhur Ala'ab Damanhour Stadium (3): 1974 x 3El Mahalla Stadium (3): 1974 x 3Ismailia Stadium (8): 2006 x 1; 2019 x 7Port Said Stadium (6): 2006 x 6 Suez Stadium (8): 2019 x 8 Equatorial Guinea Bata Estadio de Bata (18): 2012 x 8: 2015 x 10Ebibeyin Estadio de Ebibeyin (6): 2015 x 6Malabo Estadio de Malabo (18): 2012 x 8: 2015 x 10 Mongomo Estadio de Mongomo (6): 2015 x 6 Ethiopia Addis Ababa Haile Selaisse Stadium (25): 1962 x 4; 1968 x 9; 1976 x 12 (name changed to Addis Ababa Stadium)Asmara Cicero Stadium (7): 1968 x 7 Dire Dawa Stadium (6): 1976 x 6 Gabon Franceville Stade de Franceville (15): 2012 x 7; 2017 x 8Libreville Stade d'Angondje (18): 2012 x 9; 2017 x 9 (name changed to Stade de l'Amitie)Oyen Stade de Oyem (7): 2017 x 7 Port Gentil Stade de Port Gentil (8): 2017 x 8 Ghana Accra Sports Stadium (32): 1963 x 5; 1978 x 9; 2000 x 9; 2008 x 9 (name changed to Ohene Djan Stadium)Kumasi Sports Stadium (26): 1963 x 3; 1978 x 7; 2000 x 7 (name changed to Baba Yaro Stadium); 2008 x 9Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium (7): 2008 x 7 Tamale Stadium (7): 2008 x 7 Libya Benghazi 28 March Stadium (7): 1982 x 7 Tripoli 11 June Stadium (9): 1982 x 9 Mali Bamako Stade du 26 Mars (8): 2002 x 8Bamako Stade Modibo Keita (7): 2002 x 7Kayes Stade Abdoulaye Makoro Cissoko (3): 2002 x 3Mopti Stade Barema Bocoum (3): 2002 x 3Segou Stade Amary Daou (5): 2002 x 5 Sikasso Stade Babemba Traore (6): 2002 x 6 Morocco Casablanca Stade Mohamed V (9): 1988 x 9 Rabat Stade Moulay Abdellah (7): 1988 x 7 Nigeria Ibadan Liberty Stadium (7): 1980 x 7Kano Sani Abacha Stadium (7): 2000 x 7 Lagos Surelere Stadium (18): 1980 x 9; 2000 x 9 (name changed to National Stadium) Senegal Dakar Stade de l'Amitie (14): 1992 x 14 Ziguinchor Stade Aline Sitoe Diatta (6): 1992 x 6 Sudan Khartoum Municipal Stadium (12): 1957 x 2; 1970 x 10 Wadi Madani Stadium (6): 1970 x 6 South Africa Johannesburg Soccer City (13): 1996 x 10; 2013 x 3Bloemfontein Free State Stadium (7): 1996 x 7Durban King's Park Rugby Stadium (5): 1996 x 5Durban Moses Mabhida Stadium (6): 2013 x 6Nelspruit Mbombela Stadium (8): 2013 x 8Phokeng Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace (7): 2013 x 7Port Elizabeth Boet Erasmus Stadium (7): 1996 x 7 Port Elizabeth Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (8): 2013 x 8 Tunisia Bizerte Stade Ahmed Bsiri (1): 1965 x 1Bizerte Stade du Octobre 15 (5): 2004 x 5Monastir Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet (5): 2004 x 5Sfax Stade Taieb Mhiri (7): 1965 x 1; 2004 x 6Sousse Stade Bou Ali Lahoaur (1): 1965 x 1Sousse Stade Olympique (13): 1994 x 8; 2004 x 5Tunis Stade El Menzah (16): 1994 x 11; 2004 x 5Tunis Stade Chedly Zouiten (6): 1965 x 5; 1994 x 1 Tunis Stade du Novembre 7 (6): 2004 x 6
CAF
26-01-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Jean-Philippe Krasso (Cote d'Ivoire): "There is no ideal draw"
Jean-Philippe Krasso emphasizes that no draw can be considered favourable in a competition like the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON. The Ivorian speaks of the "motivating pressure" of defending the title. The forward aims to be in top form for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 to help his team. Jean-Philippe Krasso, forward for Cote d'Ivoire and 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations champion, has become one of the key faces of current Ivorian football. On the eve of the draw for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the Paris FC forward reflects on the Elephants' journey, the team's mindset, and his personal ambitions for AFCON 2025. Balancing pride in representing his country and determination to continue building on their historic triumph, Krasso shares his thoughts in an exclusive interview with We are just a few days away from the draw for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Rabat on Monday. What would be the ideal draw for the Elephants? Jean-Philippe Krasso: There is no such thing as an ideal draw. In the last AFCON, we thought we had a group where we could progress—not easily, but manageably. And yet, we struggled. Today, all the qualified teams are good, so nothing will be easy. It's up to us to prepare well. Since that triumph in 2023, Ivory Coast has been on a good trajectory. How would you describe the team's mindset? Jean-Philippe Krasso:The mindset is very good. The group is thriving, both on and off the pitch. We rely on the things we've done well since the AFCON. Every match is taken seriously: we prepare well, give our all on the pitch, and stick together, even in defeat. You played a key role in the qualifiers, with that brace against Zambia (2-0). How are you personally approaching AFCON 2025? Jean-Philippe Krasso: My first goal is to make the squad for the AFCON. Until then, I'm focusing on my work with Paris FC and the World Cup qualifiers. I want to arrive at the AFCON in peak physical and mental condition, ready to give everything. We know we'll face strong teams, and that makes the challenge even more exciting. Do you think winning the 2023 AFCON at home adds more pressure on Ivory Coast for this edition? Jean-Philippe Krasso: Perhaps more pressure, yes, especially when playing away. But it's positive pressure. We know what we've accomplished and the joy it brought to our families and the entire nation. We ask ourselves: why not experience that joy again? This pressure is motivating because we know what reward awaits at the end. Jean-Philippe Krasso: If you had to describe your experience at the 2023 AFCON at home, what words would you choose? Immense pride. Experiencing an AFCON at home is incredible. You feel everything—the highs and lows—in real time. But in the end, it was magical, a mix of emotions. Sharing that victory with the Ivorian people made it even more special. Emerse Faé, your coach, said of you: "Jean-Philippe feels the game, he feels the goal." What do you think about that? Jean-Philippe Krasso: It's flattering. I'm not a classic striker who stays up front waiting for the ball. I like to be involved in the game, play in support of another forward, or set up my teammates. But when I'm in a position to shoot, I try to use my qualities as a finisher.
