Planet Sport Football Africa

We consider the hopes and chances of the Indomitable Lions and Black Stars at the World Cup finals in Brazil and visit the Maracana Stadium in Rio to find out how recycling has been incorporated into it's design.

Steve Vickers is at African broadcaster SuperSport's World Cup launch party in Durban to talk to former Bafana Bafana star Shaun Bartlett and SuperSport anchor Robert Marawa about Africa's chances at the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. A Brazilian music band completes the atmosphere at the venue beside the Indian Ocean.

We discuss Luis Suarez' award of Player of the Year the English Football Writers' Association and ask whether Yaya Toure should have won the title instead? Analysts Solomon Izang Ashoms in Johannesburg and Stuart Weir in England share their thoughts and we hear from football fans in Zimbabwe.

We talk to Super Eagles captain and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to find out the mood in the camp as Nigeria prepare for the 2014 World Cup. And we discuss age cheating as CAF ban The Gambia from all competition for two years after playing over-age players in their Under 20 team.

We talk to Algeria player Carl Medjani to find out about the team's hopes for the World Cup and we discuss which African player is likely to be an English Premier League title winner.

This week we ask whether we need more former players to be involved in administration in African football? We hear from fans and a former player in Kenya and discuss the issue with African correspondent Solomon Izang Ashoms and European football expert, Stuart Weir.

We hear how football unifies people in Ivory Coast and discuss whether the Elephants' squad is too old to make progress at the World Cup. And we ask if Demba Ba's view that a move to another team would be better than staying at Chelsea?

For years there have been allegations of dirty tricks when visiting teams are mistreated apparently in order to give the home team an advantage. The chairman of a Bulawayo team shares his experiences. We discuss the issue and ask why it happens in a continent which generally is so hospitable.

We discuss North Africa's dominance of this year's CAF Champions League, whether having wives and girlfriends with teams at the World Cup is a positive addition and with the race for the English Premier League title hotting up which of the Toure brothers, Yaya at Manchester City or Kolo at Liverpool, is most likely to win the title.

We discuss whether Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi will keep his job for the 2014 World Cup and Liverpool and England legend John Barnes shares his advice for emerging young players.

Liverpool and England legend John Barnes shares his thoughts on why an African nation has yet to win the World Cup and what needs to be done for that to happen.

We review the latest matches in the CAF Champions League and assess the differing fortunes of African defenders in the English Premier League. With the World Cup just three months away we visit the Maracana Stadium in Rio where the final will be played. And we discuss this week's Big Question: Is the South African Premier League good for African football? Tempted by high salaries many of Africa's top players head for the SAPL but end up sitting on the bench and missing game time. We ask for your thoughts on the subject.

With the World Cup less than 100 days away we consider the differing fortunes of the five African teams who have reached the finals after Wednesday's friendly matches. We review the unfolding CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup competitions and reflect on Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho's apparent criticism of striker Samuel Eto'o.

Two months ago a football fan in Kenya killed himself when his team Manchester United lost to Newcastle. How much do you love your team, how do you react when they win or lose and do we take football too seriously? We talk to fans in Mombasa and hear from former England striker, Cyrille Regis.

Has the flair gone out of African football since the 1980s and 90s when African side played with an entertaining style that captivated the crowds? Is the style today too predictable and safe? Steve Vickers leads a discussion with correspondents Solomon Izang Ashoms in South Africa and Stuart Weir in the UK and we hear from former Nigeria star Nwankwo Kanu.

We look at the challenge facing small teams at club and international level to improve against all the odds. What if anything can be done to help them or will they be perpetual losers? And in this light we explore success, which may mean winning a trophy for one team and simply qualifying for the next round for another.

We review Libya's success at the African Nations Championship and look forward to the start of the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup.

We reflect on the African Nations Championship ahead of the final between surprise package Libya and Ghana and review the big transfers featuring African players in Europe.

We report from the African Nations Championships in South Africa where home-placed talent is having the chance to shine on the international stage and look at the contrasting last seven days for Samuel Eto'o, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Anelka in the English Premier League.

We consider the challenges facing referees in Africa who often experience pressures from fans and officials to make decisions in their favour and consider whether fans should be more understanding.