Nothing has changed; Free State Stadium will host Bafana Bafana matches against Lesotho and Nigeria over the next week. In the first match, Lesotho, who play their home matches in South Africa, will take on Bafana Bafana on Friday, 5 September, before Bafana Bafana play as a home team against Nigeria on Tuesday, 9 September. Both matches are FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The fixtures had been under scrutiny in recent weeks amidst concerns over the readiness of the playing…

Bafana Bafana group opponents Nigeria still entertain thoughts of the former being docked points by world football governing body FIFA. Bafana Bafana and Nigeria are in Group C of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Back in March, Bafana Bafana fielded Teboho Mokoena in the 2-0 win over Lesotho despite the fact that he had accumulated two yellow cards and was, therefore, suspended for the match. Crucially, Lesotho failed to lodge a protest. In terms of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, “protests…

Finding a replacement for Bafana Bafana playmaker Themba Zwane will be easier said than done. At 36, age is catching up with Zwane, who has played 51 games for South Africa’s senior national team since his debut in 2014. African Times reported recently that Zwane is sidelined for two months with a thigh injury, on the back of an Achilles tendon injury that kept him out for the better part of last season. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos had picked…

Former Al Ahly coach José Riveiro was never the right man for the Egyptian powerhouse. This is the view of Egyptian journalist Amr Famhy. Famhy was speaking to Radio 2000 after Al Ahly sacked the Spaniard, just three months into his new job, following his move from Orlando Pirates. “It seemed like a mismatch from the beginning,” asserted Famhy. “Al Ahly invested a lot in the transfer market, but there was no improvement.The fans were also not happy with the…

Dutch coach Erik ten Hag’s farewell statement after being fired two games into the new season is scathing. Leverkusen made the decision on Monday, citing concerns over their lack of progress since the former Manchester United manager arrived at the club in May, on a two-year contract. However, ten Hag says the decision is surprising to say the least. “The decision by Bayer Leverkusen’s management to put me on a leave of absence came as a complete surprise. To part…

Athletics South Africa (ASA) president James Moloi is confident the team picked for the World Athletics Championships can deliver for the country. ASA has announced a 49-member team (32 men and 17 women) for the Championships to be held in Tokyo, Japan, between 13 and 21 September. “This team reflects the dedication, resilience, and hard work of our athletes, coaches, and support staff, who have tirelessly prepared for this moment on both local and international stages,” stated Moloi. “Their selection…

Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Orlando Pirates have confirmed that Head Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and five members of the club’s staff were involved in a road traffic incident on Sunday night. The incident occurred on the R21 highway as the team returned from Gqeberha, following their 3–0 victory against Chippa United. “Upon encountering a collision between two vehicles, Coach Ouaddou and several staff members disembarked from the team bus to assist those involved. Tragically, while attending to the scene, a…

Liverpool FC has completed the transfer of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record transfer fee of £125 million (R2.9 billion). The previous British transfer record was the £107 million (R2.5 billion) Chelsea paid Benfica for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez in 2023. On a global scale, Isak’s move to the Reds is third when based on initial fees. The two most expensive moves in football are Paris St-Germain’s signings of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. The French club spent…

Bundesliga club FC Bayern have signed Nicolas Jackson on loan from FIFA Club World Cup winners Chelsea. The 24-year-old Senegalese will spend the 2025/26 season in Munich and wear the No.11 shirt. “I’m really happy to now be part of this great club. Bayern is one of the best clubs in the world,” said Jackson. “Everyone knows the names of the legends who’ve played here and knows that this club stands for the greatest success. I’ve got big goals and…

Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have announced the signing of Randal Kolo Muani on a season loan from Paris Saint-Germain. The 26-year-old France international will wear the number 39 shirt. Muani said: “I’m really happy and very proud to be at such a great club. I can’t wait to meet my team-mates, all the fans and to get out on the pitch.” Head Coach, Thomas Frank, said: “Randal is a quality player who has proven himself over a number of…