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CAF
an hour ago
- Sport
- CAF
Opa Clement: 'Tanzania will be back'
Tukumbuke. To remember in Kiswahili. Opa Clement Tukumbuke. Remember her name. The Tanzania captain, whose lone goal against the reigning African champions South Africa, ensured that the Twiga Stars registered their first ever point at the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations in two appearances – 2010 and 2025. Born in Mbeya, southwestern Tanzania, Opa as she is commonly known back home, is the current face of Women's Football in the East African nation. The 24-year-old is living her wildest dreams having worn the armband in the two games that she played – against South Africa and Ghana in Morocco. A childhood dream come true – playing at the biggest stage on the continent and representing over 67 million Tanzanians at home and across the world. She will remember the experience. 'For all of us that played at this WAFCON, this was our first time to feature at the tournament. We came here with the sole goal of going to the final, but we fell short. We did not fail because we leave here with so many lessons learnt. We feel that we represented our nation with honour. We gave everything that we could and at least out of the three games, we scored two goals and gained a point against the defending champions South Africa. That is something. Our plan is to come back to the WAFCON,' Opa says with hope for the future on her face. A WAFCON to remember From leaving Tanzania with the weight of a nation, to having their faces beamed to the world and the prestigious feeling of leading her teammates onto the fields in Berkane and Oujda in the Oriental Province of Morocco, Opa admits that this will always be an unforgettable feeling. The Twiga Stars like their nickname Twiga which means giraffe stood tall in their performances, displaying a never-give-up attitude and overall creating memories that they will hold onto as they return home after the group stages. 'We leave here with the understanding of tournament football. How you start sets the pace for the rest of the tournament. Against Mali, we felt that we did everything that was possible to win but conceded a late goal. Against South Africa, we scored first and against Ghana, we came from behind to equalize but then conceded three more goals. We shall take the lessons. We are going back home to assess our performance and to plan for the future. Future success 'guaranteed' Tanzania have been building their grassroots structures in recent years focusing on scouting talent across the country and opening clear pathways for the juniors to progress to the senior national team – the Twiga Stars. In the last five years, Tanzania have amassed regional titles while accumulating experience from across the continent. The Twiga Stars won the CECAFA Women's Championship last month at home in preparation for this WAFCON. They previously won the 2021 COSAFA Women's Championship after beating Malawi in the final in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape in South Africa. Their junior team won the 2020 COSAFA U17 Women's Championship in Port Elizabeth before they won the inaugural UNAF U17 Women's Championship last year held in Tunisia where they drew with the hosts and defeated both Egypt and Morocco. Jamila Mnunduka, who captained the U17s last year, has since been elevated to the U20s and remained in her captain's role while also featuring for the Twiga Stars at this WAFCON. 'Honestly, it has been a great pleasure for me to play for Tanzania at this WAFCON. I feel so honoured and grateful for this very special opportunity. I still cannot believe that I am playing alongside my role model Opa [Clement]. I used to see her on television and now I am sitting with her. It feels unreal but I am grateful and trying to take in every moment,' Mnunduka says with a big smile on her face. She continues, 'Every time that we play at the junior level, she texts and calls me to encourage me before and after the match. I know that I have a big sister who believes in me and that means a lot to me as a young player.' Mnunduka says that playing football has given her the opportunity to travel and see the world and that winning trophies is something that she wants to continue doing for Tanzania. 'We want to be consistent at this level. We want to come back to the WAFCON.' 'We leave Morocco having learnt so much. Seeing and being in games with all these great players in the opposing teams has taught me that I must continue working hard. The WAFCON is a whole different level. Against Ghana, when we conceded the four goals, it showed us that the weighing scale was not balanced. We must correct that.' Another teenager who impressed the head coach Bakari Shime despite losing to Zambia 0-4 over two legs in the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup 2025 Qualifiers is Lidya Maxmillian Kabambo. At 16, she started all three of Tanzania's Group C matches at this WAFCON. Kabambo came off the bench in Tanzania's opener against Mali before starting both games against South Africa and Ghana. According to Shime, Tanzania's plan is to further expose the teenagers to prepare for a future transition when veterans like Anastazia Katunzi eventually decide to call it a day. The assistant captain Katunzi was voted as one of the top three players within the squad by the head coach, coaching staff and players in three separate voting opportunities to showcase her versatility, leadership and overall excellence. Tanzania will face Ethiopia this October in the last round of qualification for the TotalEnergies WAFCON 2026 edition that will also be held in Morocco in March next year.


CAF
an hour ago
- Sport
- CAF
Chloe N'Gazi: Algeria's Iron Wall Harbouring Africa's No.1 Dream at Chiamaka Nnadozie's Expense
In the heart of Morocco 2024, as the group stage dust settled at the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, one name quietly but firmly echoed across the continent, Chloe N'Gazi. The 29-year-old Algeria shot-stopper not only posted three clean sheets in as many games and a tournament-high number of saves, she also emerged as the Best Goalkeeper of the Group Stage, edging out Nigeria's Chiamaka Nnadozie, the reigning African Goalkeeper of the Year. What makes her rise even more compelling is not just her heroics between the sticks, but the journey, a story woven with French discipline, Algerian heart, and unwavering ambition. From Marseille to Morocco: The Rise of a Determined Guardian Born in Meudon, France, N'Gazi's football journey has seen her climb through top French clubs like PSG, Issy, Fleury, Orleans, and Le Havre, before settling at Olympique de Marseille, where she currently guards the posts. Despite enduring a challenging six-month spell without game time last season, the Marseille custodian stayed the course. Her patience and perseverance have paid off, culminating in a historic group-stage performance for Algeria. 'For me personally, I am happy because I work a lot. I had a hard season as I didn't play for six months. Now, I am really happy; it's a big achievement,' she shared in an exclusive interview with 'It is a big achievement also for the team. I think it is teamwork because my defenders help me a lot. Now we can dream of big things.' Her defining performance came in the goalless draw against Nigeria, where she stood tall and outshone her counterpart, Nnadozie, widely regarded as the best in Africa. 'I know last year she (Chiamaka) won the best goalkeeper award in Africa. She deserved it because she had a big season. For me, it's good, I want to be the best goalkeeper in Africa. I think we have to prove that in competitions like WAFCON. I am really proud to get closer to Chiamaka.' Now, with the group stage accolades in her hands and Algeria in the knockout rounds, N'Gazi has already proven she's more than just competition, she's a contender. Beyond the Gloves: Identity, Roots, and Responsibility Though born and raised in France, N'Gazi proudly wears the Algerian jersey — a decision rooted in family, heritage, and passion. 'My cousin, Lilia Boumrar, played for Algeria and told me about the love the people have for football. Since I came here, I know Algeria is a big country… It's different from other countries because people are really counting on you. They really like soccer. You have to be good every time.' Her connection to Algeria is deepened by cultural ties — especially in Marseille, a city with a significant Algerian population. 'Even though we didn't grow up there, that is where our ancestry comes from. That is really important for me because family and ancestry matter. That's the roots. It's important for Africa to grow. We have to come back from where we are from,' she alluded. 'It's not that hard because I play for Marseille. There are a lot of Algerian people there. Marseille and Algeria are kind of the same — supporters and fans are really hard on us. We need people counting on us and it's a good pressure.' Chasing Greatness: N'Gazi's Dream to Be Africa's No. 1 Inspired by legendary German keeper Manuel Neuer, N'Gazi is driven to modernize her game and make her mark among the continent's elite. With her breakout group-stage showing, already crowned Best Goalkeeper of the Group Stage — she has carved a path toward her ultimate goal which is to be named Africa's best. "My first role model is Emmanuel Neuer because he changed goalkeeping for me. With him, we became more like a field player also," she admits. 'My personal ambition in this competition is to be nominated for the best goalkeeper. I want to keep growing because I know I am not there yet. Even if I'm 29 already, I'm getting to my best level.' N'Gazi respects the rise of fellow African keepers, particularly her group-stage rival. Still, she remains humble, knowing the climb is never steady. 'There are lots of competitions in France and lots of keepers are getting better like Chiamaka Nnadozie at Paris FC. Trying to get to their level is important," she acknowledges. 'You can go up one day and then the next day go really low. You have to keep grounding every time. Believe in yourself because if you don't, nobody is going to do it for you.' Her eyes are fixed on helping Algeria advance, but her heart beats for the broader movement of women's football in Africa. 'We want to go as far as we can. With what we did and showed, I think it's not just a dream now, we can really do it," she assures. 'CAF are doing great things in showing the games so that more people can see us play. It's a great thing for African women's football. 'Thank you for following us. We need you for the next game. We see all your comments and it's helping us a lot. Please continue to cheer us.' Coach's Trust: Chloe's Crucial Role in Algeria's Ambition Behind Algeria's defensive resilience stands a coach with immense belief in his No.1. Algeria head coach Farid Benstiti, who guided N'Gazi through a slow tournament start, now sees her as the heartbeat of their ambitions. While statistics praise her consistency, it's her ability to rise at the right moments that has truly impressed. 'Chloe started slowly the first game but after that she came out very strong. She has the quality at the highest level because she is tall, dynamic and technically very good with the foot and hand. She is calm. We are very happy to have a good goalkeeper like Chloe,"' he opens up with all smiles, to 'Chloe didn't have too many important things to do but when it was at a time that we needed her, she was really efficient. The coach and team need a strong goalkeeper at those crucial times and Chloe was really present in those times.' Benstiti points to her relationship with her backline as a cornerstone of Algeria's strength. With a tough quarterfinal against Ghana ahead, the coach is counting on N'Gazi more than ever. 'She is mature for now. Chloe helps the defenders and vice versa. They are friends, which is very important. We really feel that defenders with Chloe are close to her. They all help the team and that is very important," he anticipates. 'The next step for the team depends on the grip — and about Chloe because Ghana will have opportunities. The games are now 90 and more than 90 minutes. The players will be tired and we will also have opportunities. 'That's why the goalkeeper at this time of the competition is 50% of the team. PSG won the Champions League because of their goalkeeper. Everybody speaks about the players and the coach, but I think the goalkeeper was unbelievable at that time. 'We need Chloe at more than 100% of her quality to help the team win the quarterfinal.' With a commanding presence, deep-rooted pride, and the full backing of her coach and teammates, N'Gazi is no longer just Algeria's last line of defense but also their symbol of belief, their group-stage MVP, and perhaps, their ticket to continental glory.


CAF
an hour ago
- Sport
- CAF
Zambia name 32-man CHAN squad with sights set on East African success
Published: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 Zambia head coach Avram Grant has named a 32-man provisional squad for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, placing his faith in a new generation of home-based talent to lead Chipolopolo's charge in East Africa. Grant has combined experience and youth in his latest selection, banking on Zambia's strong domestic league to provide the spark in a highly competitive Group A featuring hosts Kenya, DR Congo, Morocco, and squad includes key figures such as Kelvin Kampamba of Zesco United, midfield dynamo Prince Mumba of Power Dynamos, and the versatile Charles Zulu from Nkana. Experienced defenders Kabaso Chongo and Benedict Chepeshi and promising attackers Charles Zulu, Evans Kayombo, and Andrew Phiri were also included. Zambia will begin their CHAN journey against DR Congo on 7 August, followed by a clash with Angola three days later. A heavyweight tie against defending champions Morocco awaits on 14 August, before rounding off the group campaign with a fixture against co-hosts Kenya. This year's edition marks Zambia's fifth appearance at the tournament, having previously featured in 2009, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Their best finish came in the inaugural 2009 edition, where they clinched bronze. With East Africa co-hosting for the first time across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from 2 to 30 August, the stage is set for Chipolopolo to script a fresh chapter in their CHAN history. The squad, drawn from Zambia's top-flight clubs, reflects a phased preparation process. Several players featured in the COSAFA Cup, while domestic training camps have been ongoing in Lusaka. A final training camp will be held in East Africa ahead of the competition. The former Ghana and Chelsea boss will use the tournament not only to target continental success, but also to build momentum towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. Below is Zambia's full provisional squad for the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship: Full Zambia Provisional Squad – CHAN 2024 Goalkeepers Francis Mwansa (Zanaco) Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos) Levison Banda (Zesco United) Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows) Defenders Benedict Chepeshi (Zesco United) Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United) Mathews Banda (Nkana) Kendrick Mumba (Nkana) Killian Kanguluma (Kabwe Warriors) Kebson Kamanga (Red Arrows) Happy Nsiku (Red Arrows) Lyson Banda (Green Buffaloes) Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos) John Chishimba (Zanaco) Midfielders Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos) Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos) Prince Mumba (Power Dynamos) Kelvin Kapumbu (Konkola Blades) Wilson Chisala (Zanaco) Philimon Chilimina (Green Buffaloes) Rally Bwalya (Napsa Stars) Abraham Siankombo (Zesco United) Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United) Jackson Kampamba (Mutondo Stars) Kenneth Kasanga (Nkwazi) Timothy Sichalwe (Athletico) Kelvin Mwanza (MUZA FC) Strikers Andrew Phiri (MUZA FC) Evans Kayombo (Napsa Stars) Charles Zulu (Nkana) Joseph Phiri (Red Arrows) Kenan Phiri (Makeni All Stars)


CAF
5 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
DR Congo to face Algeria in CHAN friendly, Leopards to camp in North Africa
Published: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 As part of their final preparations for the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), two-time champions DR Congo will embark on a high-intensity training camp in Algeria, where they are also scheduled to face the host nation in a crucial pre-tournament friendly. Following a short camp in Kinshasa from July 16 to 20, head coach Otis Ngoma and his 36-man home-based squad will travel to Algeria from July 21 to 30 for the decisive phase of their build-up to CHAN 2024, which kicks off on August 2 across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The highlight of the Algeria camp will be a marquee friendly match against the Algerian national team, one of Africa's top footballing nations. The match offers the Leopards a perfect dress rehearsal ahead of what promises to be a fiercely competitive group stage campaign. DR Congo are drawn into Group A — widely regarded as the 'Group of Death' — alongside co-hosts Kenya, Morocco, Angola, and Zambia. With such formidable opponents awaiting, Ngoma is placing strong emphasis on tactical readiness, fitness, and cohesion during the Algeria camp. 'This camp and the friendly against Algeria are crucial for testing our level,' said a member of the technical team. 'Facing a nation of Algeria's calibre just days before the tournament will give our players the competitive edge they need heading into the group stage.' The Leopards qualified for CHAN 2024 after a commanding performance over Chad (1-1 away, 3-1 home), showcasing their intent to return to the continental summit after missing the previous edition in 2022. Otis Ngoma's squad is a mix of experience and emerging talent, drawn exclusively from the domestic league. Powerhouses like TP Mazembe, AS Maniema Union, FC Lupopo, and AC Rangers have heavily contributed to the 36-man list, reflecting the depth of the Congolese league. With past CHAN titles in 2009 and 2016, DR Congo will look to use their Algeria experience to fine-tune their quest for a record-extending third championship.


CAF
5 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
Guinea line-up Burkina Faso, CAR friendlies ahead of CHAN
Published: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 Guinea have lined up two high-profile friendly matches against Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic (CAR) as part of their final preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. The Syli Local are scheduled to face fellow CHAN-bound nations in Douala, Cameroon, in what will be their final competitive tests before the tournament kicks off on 2 August in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) confirmed that the matches will take place behind closed doors, with the first friendly scheduled against Burkina Faso on 24 July, followed by a second fixture against the Central African Republic on 28 July. The two opponents represent a serious test for coach Souleymane Camara's side, with both teams also eyeing strong runs at CHAN 2024. Burkina Faso have emerged as one of the rising forces in West African football, while the Central African Republic are determined to impress in their return to the competition. 'These matches are more than just friendlies – they are a benchmark to test our progress and readiness for the tournament,' said head coach Camara. 'We expect two competitive games that will give us the clearest picture yet of our strengths and the areas we still need to improve.' The warm-up games come at the tail end of Guinea's second phase of preparation, following a six-day intensive camp in Morocco that runs from 13 to 19 July. The team arrived in North Africa to focus on tactical drills and build team chemistry before flying to Cameroon for the friendlies. Guinea will be making their fourth appearance at CHAN and have set their sights on a historic final after reaching the semi-finals in 2016 and 2020. They are drawn into a challenging Group C alongside Algeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Niger – a pool that offers no easy fixtures. Camara has placed a strong emphasis on discipline and mental strength throughout the team's buildup, and the two friendlies are expected to play a critical role in finalising his squad selection and preferred starting XI. The CHAN 2024 tournament features national teams made up exclusively of players who play in their domestic leagues, offering a platform to showcase local talent on the continental stage.