Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced the finalists for the 2025 MLS Year-End Awards, with South African coach Bradley Carnell vying for the Coach of the Year accolade. The Philadelphia Union mentor guided the team to their second Supporters’ Shield title. In 2025, Carnell won three Coach of the Week awards and led Union to the best defence in the league. The first-year Union coach also became just the third coach in MLS history to lead multiple clubs to at…

The South African Football Association (SAFA) and Sasol have renewed their sponsorship agreement for a further four years, four months after the expiry of the previous deal. Early in July, Sasol confirmed the deal had expired, just days before Banyana Banyana kicked off their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) defence in Morocco. They finished fourth in the tournament. The two parties finally announced in Friday that they have reached a new agreement on a deal until 2029. “The previous…

After a health scare, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana striker Iqraam Rayners has been cleared to resume training. Rayners, 29, was sidelined for a couple of weeks as he was released from the Bafana Bafana squad that played Zimbabwe and Rwanda in FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers recently due to “medical reasons”, as initially stated by the national team. “As you know, Rayners came from the national team. Thanks to God, his biology and physiology, we were able to see…

Moroccan star Hakim Ziyech has signed for Wydad Casablanca, returning to his roots. Ziyech, 32, was born in the Netherlands but opted to represent the country of his parents, Morocco, on the international stage. At the club level, he has never played in Morocco, and Wydad offers him the opportunity to play in the North African state, as well as on the continent, with the Red Castle campaigning in the CAF Confederation Cup this season. Wydad President Hicham Aït Mena…

Lionel Messi has agreed to a new contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) side, Inter Miami. The 38-year-old has signed a contract extension through the end of the 2028 MLS season, which will take him into his 40s. “It makes me really happy to stay here and to continue with this project that, besides being a dream, has become a beautiful reality — playing in this stadium, at Miami Freedom Park. Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy,…

Women’s marathon world record-holder Ruth Chepng’etich has been banned from competition for three years after admitting to Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) involving the banned diuretic Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). However, Chepng’etich’s record of 2:09:56, set at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, will remain on the books as it was set before her positive test, as per a statement from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). The 31-year-old Kenyan, a former World marathon champion and a three-time winner of the Chicago Marathon, accepted the charges…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the nominees in the Men’s Categories for the CAF Awards 2025, celebrating the continent’s top performers among players, coaches, clubs and national teams. CAF has noted that the impact of players and coaches on the African and global game has been immense for the period under consideration of 6 January to 15 October, 2025. MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR Andre Frank Zambo-Anguissa (Cameroon/Napoli)Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)Denis Bouanga (Gabon/Los Angeles FC)Serhou…

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the team. Amakhosi co-coach Cedric Kaze announced on Wednesday evening that Petersen is their new leader, succeeding Zitha Kwinika, who’s been wearing the armband this season. “We decided as the technical staff to appoint Petersen as the club captain going forward,” said Kaze, after the goalless draw against Siwelele FC at FNB Stadium. The 30-year-old has always been regarded as one of the leaders in the Chiefs…

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has sacked their senior national team head coach, Michael Nees, following a poor FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The decision comes after the Warriors finished bottom of Group C, with no win in 10 games, managing five draws and suffering five defeats. “ZIFA wishes to inform all stakeholders and members of the public that the Executive Committee has resolved to terminate the contract of Mr Michael Nees with immediate effect,” stated ZIFA. “The Association…

For Eastern Cape club Chippa United, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Chilli Boys have played just ten league games in the Betway Premiership, but they have confirmed their fourth coach of the season while parting ways with the Belgian, Luc Eymael. Club boss Siviwe Mpengesi is known to be trigger-happy, with coaches coming and going all the time. The 2025/26 season started with Sinethemba Badela at the helm, but he was dismissed after he…