Planet Sport Football Africa

On this week’s show we look at how social media is changing football – how Whats App, FB, Twitter, Instagram have changed how we get results, how we can follow our favourite players and clubs, and find out more about them, and the financial power of social media. Plus a look at a thrilling week in the Uefa Champions League and an assessment of how the top African players are doing in the EPL.

On this week’s show we look at eventful time in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers, and find out a bit about the Botswana national team. We hear from their Algerian coach Adel Amrouche, and they could be the only men’s national team in the world with a female assistant, Dr Carolin Braun from Germany. The EPL is back this weekend, and we ask if Tottenham did the right thing in firing manager Mauricio Pochettino and replacing him with Jose Mourinho.

On this week’s show we have lots on the Under-23 AFCON in Egypt – how it compares to the senior AFCON in July, the level of organisation, and what it means for the teams to take a top-three finish and qualify for the Olympics. We have the latest from 2021 AFCON qualifying.Plus a focus on the EPL as Liverpool go into the international break with a huge lead.

On this week’s show we look at the U23 AFCON, which starts this weekend in Cairo with the top three teams qualifying for next year’s Olympics. We talk about professionalising Africa’s leagues and hear from the chief executive of the World Leagues Forum. And we look ahead to Sunday’s big game in the EPL between Liverpool and Manchester City.

On this week’s show we look at how Fifa's decision to play the 2021 Club World Cup in June and July could affect the Africa Cup of Nations and take us back to club versus country rows over the Nations Cup, and how African stars could have no time to rest on the off-season. Also we look at how football brings hope and inspiration to prisoners, and we look at the EPL and the turbulent times at Arsenal.

On this week’s show we look ahead to the Under-17 World Cup, with four African countries taking part. More on racism in football as an English FA Cup tie was abandoned as one of the teams walked off amid accusations of racism, we ask how significant this was. And as former Nigeria striker Promise Isaac died earlier this month at the age of 31 of a suspected heart attack, we highlight how many others have been affected.

On this week’s show we look at the biggest global sports story of week, the racist abuse of England players by home fans in Bulgaria on Monday night in a Euro 2020 qualifier. We take a look back at the WAFU Cup, where hosts Senegal beat Ghana in the final of the West African regional tournament. All 22 games in the 16-day long tournament were played on the same pitch, was this acceptable? And as Manchester United host Liverpool in the weekend’s big game in the EPL, Stuart looks at the meaning of this fixture that brings together the two clubs that have been England’s most successful past 40 years or so.

On this week’s show we take a look at the draw for the group stage of the CAF Champions League, with some very tough groups. We scrutinise the weather conditions that the 2022 Fifa World Cup will be played in in Qatar, as Stuart has just come back from Qatar, where the World Athletics Championships were held. And lots on the EPL, we ask how significant Liverpool’s eight-point lead is at this early stage.

On this week’s show we look at the challenge that many players face of being in the squad but not getting in the starting line-up much. We hear from Nigeria midfielder John Ogu, who went to the World Cup last year and didn’t get to play, and only had 45 minutes of game time with the Super Eagles at this year’s AFCON. We ask why there are no West and East African teams in the group stage of the Caf Champions League. Also, a great week for African players in the Uefa Champions League, and we look at how things are shaping up in the EPL.

On this week’s show we look at the controversy around the Best FIFA Football awards, with no place for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in the team of the year. We find out about football in Lesotho, as hopes are of building a team that can qualify for a continental tournament. Have Cameroon made the right move in appointing a Portuguese coach who’s never worked in Africa? We look at the Egyptian Premier League and ask if upcoming Pyramids FC can challenge Al Ahly and Zamalek. Plus lots on the EPL, is it time for Manchester United fans to get worried?

On this week’s show we have the second part of our interview with the 1997 African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba of Nigeria, and we ask whether it works if you pray for victory. Ikpeba says that while he prays in private, he didn’t pray for victory ahead of a match, unless it was the whole team praying together. Often we have fans and players of both teams praying to win. So is it helpful to pray for success before a match, and does God mind who wins a football match or any sporting contest? Will it help if you place the situation into God’s hands?Also, we talk about Barcelona’s 16-year-old talent Ansu Fati, and the goalscoring exploits of Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

On this week’s show we speak to Leicester City and Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi. We hear about his decision to take up studies at university, and we ask if he will be leaving Leicester soon. Also, as Samuel Eto’o retires, is he the greatest African player ever? And we look ahead to the start of the Uefa Champions League group stage.

On this week’s show we ask whether Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi deserved a place among the finalists in the Best FIFA Football Awards - despite winning the Africa Cup of Nations in July, Belmadi is not among the final three. Also, we have an interview with the 1997 African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba of Nigeria. Ikpeba tells us about his long career in Europe, and how he benefited from playing under Arsene Wenger at Monaco. Also, is the tension between Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah anything for Liverpool fans to worry about?

On this week’s show we talk about whether foreign coaches are better than local coaches for national teams in Africa. This year’s AFCON final was contested between two local coaches, and Egypt and Kenya have both said that they want to go in the direction of local coaches. On the other hand, Liberia have appointed an English coach. So can local coaches take Africa to the highest level? Will they always struggle to get the respect of high-profile players? And are things changing. We hear from Senegal coach Aliou Cisse. Plus a look at the issue of racist abuse being directed at black players on social media.

On this week’s show we talk about football in North Africa, with Morocco having a new coach in Vahid Halihodzic, replacing Frenchman Herve Renard. And the African Games are underway in Morocco, with men’s and women’s Under-20 tournaments. Also we have the story of Cherno Samba, who’s from the Gambia and as a teenager had a bright future when he was set to join Liverpool. When the transfer fell through, Samba battled with depression and he attempted suicide. And in the EPL, is the VAR working – is it too much interference, or is it necessary these days?

On this week’s show we talk about women’s football, and hear from one of Africa’s leading female players, Jean Sseninde of Uganda, who has played for QPR in England. Lots on the EPL too, as the VAR was an issue on the opening weekend. And we speak to Nigeria forward Alex Iwobi, who’s moved to Everton, and was once told he would never be good enough for the Arsenal first team.

On this week’s show we start getting ready for the new EPL season, as we assess some of the big transfers, plus we hear from Gambia and Sampdoria defender Omar Colley!

On this week’s show we start getting ready for the new EPL season, as we assess some of the big transfers, and look at how the VAR will be used as it comes to the EPL for the first time. Also we find out about football in Libya, as the country hasn’t been allowed to host international matches since 2014. If conditions are right, how much of a force could Libya be in Africa?

On this week’s show we talk about flair in African football. While the continent used to be famous for players like Roger Milla and Jay Jay Okocha and the amazing things that they could do, these days there’s certainly less flair in the African game, and some feel that the game is becoming too European in Africa. We look at the AFCON and assess how things were, and we hear from legends Joseph-Antoine Bell, Nwankwo Kanu and Jay Jay Okocha.

In our final Egyptian Dream podcast we look back on the 2019 Cup of Nations with Kenyan journalist Idah Waringa and South Africa-based analyst Solomon Izang Ashoms and we hear from listeners with their thoughts on this year's AFCON edition.