Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati were crowned the best men’s and women’s players in the world at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday night. Dembele, the Paris Saint-Germain and France forward, took the men’s prize after leading his club to a treble-winning season and their first Champions League success. “What I have just experienced is exceptional; I have no words for it—what happened with PSG,” said an emotional Dembele, whose mother joined him on the stage. “I…

South African coach Fadluraghman “Fadlu” Davids has completed his big move to Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca. Raja confirmed his appointment on Monday afternoon, with contract details not yet publicised. Davids, 44, has also said his goodbyes to Tanzanian club Simba SC, after a season with the club. “It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Simba SC,” noted Davids, in a statement on Monday afternoon. “From the moment I arrived, I felt the passion of this great…

There is trouble brewing at Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Siwelele FC. Club chairman Calvin Le John came out guns blazing on Sunday to make a few announcements that have not gone down well with local football stakeholders. Siwelele FC was acquired as a “going concern” when they bought the top-flight status of SuperSport United, and barely three months later, there are major changes. Le John announced the departures of CEO Stan Matthews and assistant coach Andre Arendse a day…

Bafana Bafana will be looking to banish their bad memories at Mbombela Stadium when they face Rwanda in the last match of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers. South African Football Association (SAFA) CEO Lydia Monyepao has confirmed Mbombela will host the match. “We are playing in Mbombela,” said Monyepao. “But (Bafana coach) Hugo Broos says he doesn’t care where he plays, but the field has to be in tip-top shape. I think you saw that we had issues in…

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named most of the players who were members of the squad that retained the Freedom Cup in New Zealand last weekend in his 33-man squad for their closing two Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches against Argentina in Durban and London. The Bok squad assembled in Durban on Thursday after having a few days off with their families following their return from New Zealand on Sunday night to begin their preparations for the last two matches…

Soweto club Kaizer Chiefs have finally commented on the future of their head coach, Nasreddine Nabi. The two parties are on the brink of a separation, and Chiefs have confirmed they are in discussions over his future, with about 10 months remaining on their contract. “Kaizer Chiefs confirms that Head Coach Nasreddine Nabi is currently not with the team as discussions between the club and the coach remain ongoing. The matter is internal in nature and is being addressed through…

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has opened up and given reasons why certain key players are not part of the squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup. Questions were raised why Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi was omitted from the team. “Mbekezeli Mbokazi was not considered as part of an agreement between (Amajita coach) Raymond Mdaka and his Bafana Bafana counterpart, Hugo Broos. The defender will be part of the Bafana Bafana squad that will play two crucial 2026…

World football governing body FIFA will investigate the ineligibility issue involving Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena. Mokoena featured in a World Cup Qualifier against Lesotho in March despite being suspended. FIFA regulations state a player who picks up two yellow cards in the qualifiers must serve a one-match suspension. Mokoena picked up his first yellow card against Benin in November 2023 and then against Zimbabwe in June 2024. Therefore, Mokoena and SAFA are charged for breaching disciplinary regulations, including the…

José Mourinho was unemployed for a grand total of 21 days after being dismissed by Turkish club, Fenerbahçe. But now the “Special One” is on his way to his home country, Portugal, to take over one of their biggest clubs, Benfica. Mourinho, 62, will sign a two-year contract until June 2027. The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager replaces Bruno Lage after the latter was shown the door following Tuesday’s shock UEFA Champions League home defeat to Qarabag of Azerbaijan.…

The South African U20 squad heading to the FIFA U20 World Cup has been announced. Coach Raymond Mdaka has named a 21-member team, with notable absentees being Mbekezeli Mbokazi of Orlando Pirates and Shandre Campbell, who turns out for Club Brugge in Belgium. The reigning African champions have been drawn in Group E alongside France, the USA and New Caledonia. The tournament will be held in Chile from 27 September to 19 October 2025. FULL SQUAD;