The tournament, set to take place in the United States from 15 June to 13 July 2025, will feature 32 teams in an expanded format.As one of four African representatives in the competition, Sundowns joined Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco), and Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia) in a bid to showcase the continent's footballing strength on the global stage.The tournament will also serve as a crucial precursor to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with 12 venues across 11 cities being trialled ahead of the major international event jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.&nbsp;Group F: Sundowns' Uphill BattlePlaced in Pot 4 as one of the lowest-ranked teams, Sundowns faced an inevitable uphill battle. Their group features Flamengo, winners of multiple Copa Libertadores titles; Borussia Dortmund, one of the Bundesliga's powerhouses; and Ulsan Hyundai, a dominant force in South Korea.Meanwhile, fellow African side Wydad AC drew an even tougher path in Group G, facing reigning UEFA Champions League winners Manchester City, Italian giants Juventus, and UAE's Al Ain.&nbsp;Other African RepresentativesAl Ahly, led by Percy Tau, will kick off the tournament against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in Group A, which also includes FC Porto and Palmeiras. Elias Mokwana's Esperance were drawn into Group D alongside Flamengo, Chelsea, and Club León.This expanded edition of the Club World Cup presents a significant opportunity for African clubs to test their mettle against some of the world's best teams, though the path to success will be anything but easy.The stage is set for a thrilling competition, with Sundowns and their African counterparts eager to leave their mark on football's biggest club stage.

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 Full 2025 FIFA Club World Cup draw

This comes after Zimbabwe secured their place in the tournament with a game to spare, marking their return to AFCON since 2019.Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube emphasized the role of sports in national development, with a budget of ZWL 888.4 million (approximately US$24.7 million) directed to the Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts, and Culture. A key focus of the budget is improving sports infrastructure."Sports, arts, and culture sectors contribute significantly to employment creation and economic growth, while also addressing social challenges such as drug and substance abuse," Ncube stated.&nbsp;He further noted that provisions had been made to support the Warriors' preparations and participation in the 2025 AFCON.National team coach Michael Nees expressed optimism about the government's backing. He hopes the investment will not only boost the Warriors' performance but also enable Zimbabwe to host international matches again.While the team celebrates their AFCON qualification, they face challenges in the World Cup qualifiers. Zimbabwe currently sits in fifth place in Group C, with only two points.&nbsp;They trail rivals Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin, all tied on seven points, while Lesotho and Nigeria have five and three points, respectively.The financial support will be crucial in ensuring the team's readiness for AFCON and improving their competitiveness on the world stage. &nbsp;

 Zimbabwe's national team receives financial boost after AFCON qualification

Rufai's praise highlighted the striker's consistency and hunger for goals, both of which have made him a cornerstone for Nigeria. Since his debut in June 2017, Osimhen, 25, has delivered remarkable performances, amassing 23 goals and 11 assists in 39 appearances.This prolific output places him second on Nigeria's all-time goalscorers list, an extraordinary feat for a player still in his prime.&nbsp;Rufai emphasised Osimhen's unmatched commitment and impact, stating: "When Osimhen comes into a team, he makes a difference. The other players also contribute, but to be a champion, you must give everything, and that's where Osimhen excels."He's always hungry for goals and ready to give his best whenever he represents the Super Eagles."In Osimhen's absence, however, Nigeria's attacking line often faltered. Strikers like Victor Boniface, Taiwo Awoniyi, and Umar Sadiq struggled to replicate his influence during key moments. Rufai acknowledged the pressure faced by other forwards, saying, "Sometimes, a player has a bad day, and when the match is critical, the spotlight exposes their struggles."&nbsp;Osimhen's latest contribution for Nigeria came in their 1-1 draw with Benin Republic, a crucial result that secured their spot in the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Meanwhile, at Galatasaray, the striker has maintained blistering form, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in ten appearances this season.For both club and country, Osimhen continues to set the standard, proving why he remains indispensable to Nigerian football.

Peter Rufai hails Victor Osimhen's goal-scoring brilliance

Three months of exciting action saw 47 teams battle it out across the continent for the right to join hosts Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.In this Ayoba video we break down the numbers from the six rounds which saw Ghana fail to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2004.

2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign

This prompted head coach Otto Addo to issue a heartfelt apology to fans while firmly stating he will not resign.The Black Stars had a disappointing campaign, finishing bottom of Group F with just three points. Losses to Sudan and Angola sealed their fate, with both teams advancing to the 2025 tournament in Morocco."I am ready to apologise. I am so sorry that we did not do well and qualify. I am sorry because I know how it feels and how Ghanaians are hurt. I am so sorry," Addo said during an interview with Citi Sports.&nbsp;Despite widespread criticism and calls for his resignation, the 49-year-old coach remained resolute about staying in his role."I'm not a person who can resign. If I had done this, I would never have become a player or even a coach," Addo stated."If you know where I come from as a person to arrive at this job, you won't even ask about resignation. People shouting and telling me to resign can't affect me."Ghana's failure marks a troubling decline in performance, following group-stage exits at the 2021 and 2024 AFCON tournaments.&nbsp;The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is expected to hold an executive meeting on Wednesday to deliberate on the team's future and Otto Addo's position as head coach. Fans and analysts alike await the GFA's decision, which could signal significant changes for the Black Stars.

Ghana coach Otto Addo apologises for AFCON qualification failure but refuses to resign

The Super Eagles had taken the lead in the first half through Samuel Chukwueze, but Rwanda staged a comeback with goals from Jimmy Mutsinzi and Innocent Nshuti, securing an upset victory. Eguavoen did not hold back in his post-match assessment."Below standard, and I feel very sad," he admitted."This result was not what we planned for. We scored and were pushing for a second goal, but, quite against the run of play, we conceded. I tried to change the formation, but it didn't work."&nbsp;Despite the loss, Nigeria had already secured qualification for the AFCON tournament in Morocco next year, finishing top of Group D with 11 points. Benin joined them as runners-up, also on eight points, edging Rwanda out on goal difference.Rwanda's spirited performance saw them claim maximum points in their final outing but fall short of qualification, finishing third in the group with eight points after six games. While the Amavubi exit the qualifiers with pride, Eguavoen and the Super Eagles face pressure to address their shortcomings ahead of the continental tournament.

 Nigeria coach laments display after Rwanda defeat

Tunisia, Comoros, Gabon, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Uganda became the latest teams to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with one game to spare. &nbsp;In this Ayoba video we break down the numbers from matchday 5 which saw host nation Morocco thrash Gabon to be the only team still boasting a perfect record in the qualifying campaign.

2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Review - Matchday 5

Algeria 5-1 LiberiaAt the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium, Algeria delivered a dominant performance, defeating Liberia 5-1. Despite an early scare when Sampson Dweh put Liberia ahead in the 6th minute, Algeria quickly turned the tide. Aissa Mandi equalised in the 20th minute, followed by a header from Riyad Mahrez nine minutes later.&nbsp;Second-half goals from Baghdad Bounedjah, Amine Gouiri, and Mohammed Amoura sealed the victory. Gouiri's finish into the bottom-left corner was a standout moment. The victory capped a flawless group stage for Algeria, who finished unbeaten with 16 points, scoring 16 goals and conceding only two.&nbsp;This result extended their unbeaten run in AFCON qualifiers to 19 matches. Heading into Morocco 2025, Algeria's dominance and defensive solidity make them one of the tournament favourites.Togo 3-0 Equatorial GuineaIn Lome, Togo ended their campaign with a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Equatorial Guinea. Yaw Annor scored twice, in the 14th and 87th minutes, while Kevin Denkey added a spectacular long-range strike early in the second half.&nbsp;Though eliminated, Togo snapped a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea, already qualified, saw their 10-game unbeaten run in qualifiers come to an end.Their vulnerabilities may require attention ahead of the main tournament. Algeria topped the group, while Equatorial Guinea finished second, securing qualification. Togo and Liberia were eliminated, with Liberia enduring a heavy defeat in their final match.

 AFCON 2025 qualifiers: Algeria crush Liberia to stay unbeaten

Firat noted that Zimbabwe played defensively after their 1-1 draw at Peter Mokaba Stadium last Friday.Kenya was eager to return to AFCON, having last participated in the continental tournament in 2019."The game unfolded as we anticipated," the Harambee Stars mentor told Eastleighvoice.co.ke."Zimbabwe stayed deep and relied on long balls to their fast attackers during counterattacks. Both teams fought hard, but we failed to convert our chances, and injuries, such as the one to Joseph Okumu, also affected us."&nbsp;Firat acknowledged that his side has a goal-scoring problem and wished they could have addressed it earlier."It's clear we have a goal-scoring issue that needs to be resolved if we are to reach a higher level. I wish we had addressed this sooner, but unfortunately, we couldn't," he continued."The boys gave everything until the final whistle. They deserved more from the game, but football doesn't always reward effort."

 Kenya coach bemoans lack of firepower upfront after failing in AFCON qualifiers

The much-anticipated match will take place at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, marking a decisive clash as both teams push for a spot in the AFCON tournament. This showdown will be the third encounter between Nigeria and Benin this year, with each team claiming a win in their previous meetings.&nbsp;Despite Benin's recent success over Nigeria in June, the Super Eagles have shown solid form, and they enter this fixture as favourites to clinch three critical points. Adepoju, a former Super Eagles midfielder who enjoyed a successful career with Real Madrid, highlighted the importance of Thursday's match, emphasizing the need for Nigeria to reclaim dominance."I'm definitely looking forward to a victory and a strong performance from the Super Eagles," Adepoju stated. "This game is crucial not only for qualification but also to make a statement."&nbsp;Adepoju underscored the significance of redemption following Nigeria's earlier loss to Benin, expressing that a win would not only secure AFCON qualification but also serve as a powerful response."It's important for the players, for the fans, and for the whole country," he explained."We have to show that their victory over us in June was a one-off. Nigeria has to remind them who the superior team is."&nbsp;Victory for the Super Eagles would seal their qualification for the 2025 AFCON, though Benin are equally motivated, as they, too, remain in contention. With both sides determined to prevail, fans are set for a thrilling encounter on Thursday.

 Mutiu Adepoju backs Super Eagles to beat Benin in AFCON qualifier

The Black Stars take on Angola and Niger for a place at the 2025 AFCON. Ghana are currently in third place in Group F with two points from four games. Angola top the group with 12 points, while Sudan are in second place with seven points, and Niger prop up the standings with one point.Athletic Bilbao striker Williams, who has scored five goals this season, is suffering from a hamstring injury and will undergo a scan on Monday.&nbsp;He will miss his side's LaLiga game against Real Valladolid. A club statement read: "The forward will be unavailable for Sunday's La Liga clash with Real Valladolid."Athletic Club forward Inaki Williams will miss Sunday's LaLiga clash with Real Valladolid after straining his left hamstring muscles."The Black Stars take on Angola on November 15 and Niger on November 18.

Inaki Williams injury blow for Ghana

The 25-year-old is now set to lead the Super Eagles in their final two qualifying fixtures for the 2025 tournament.Nigeria will face Benin Republic on November 14 at the Stade Felix-Houphouet-Boigny before concluding the group stage against Rwanda on November 18 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.&nbsp;Osimhen's return is a welcome boost for coach Augustine Eguavoen, though the squad will be without defender Semi Ajayi, who has been sidelined for four months due to a high-grade muscle tear.West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan confirmed that Ajayi would undergo surgery.His absence has paved the way for Gabriel Osho, the former Luton Town player who was first called up in March but missed the squad due to injury.&nbsp;Also making a return is Real Sociedad's Sadiq Umar, who has rediscovered his form after recovering from an ACL injury.Ademola Lookman, another key player in the squad and a Ballon d'Or nominee, continues to shine for Atalanta and is a contender for the CAF African Player of the Year award.With a strong attacking line-up and a few key defensive changes, Nigeria will be hoping to seal their place in next year's AFCON.

 Victor Osimhen returns to Nigeria squad for crucial AFCON qualifiers

Africans were responsible for breaking eight world records at the 2024 Paralympics, with South Africa's Mpumelelo Mhlongo and Nigeria's Onyinyechi Mark excelling. &nbsp;In this Ayoba video we look at how the African countries fared in Paris as Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Namibia and Kenya all brought home medals.

2024 Paralympic Games in numbers

Simone Kruger has paid tribute to her former coach, Pierre Blignaut, after winning the gold medal in the women’s discus throw at the 2024 Paralympics on Friday.
The 19-year-old set a new Paralympic record of 38.70m on her third attempt and stayed in first place after seeing China’s Li Yingli come up just 6cm short with her final throw.
The winning distance was some 4.97m further than what Mexico’s Rosa Carolina Castro managed at Tokyo 2020 to win the gold medal, which would only have been good enough for seventh place in Paris.
Kruger’s record-breaking performance was witnessed by her mother and sister, who were both in attendance at the Stade de France, and she admitted it helped settle her nerves.
“This gold is for my coach Pierre Blignaut who passed last December. Also for my grandfather who we also lost, she said. “There’s so many people who have stood with me on my journey, and this just feels amazing.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do this without support from home. My mum and my sister made their first overseas trip to see me compete. It made me feel so much more relaxed knowing they were here. It was amazing to have them in the stadium.”


Kruger dedicates gold medal to late coach

Morocco claimed their third gold medal at the 2024 Paralympics after Fatima Ezzahra El Idrissi won the women’s T12 marathon in world-record time on Sunday.
The 29-year-old crossed the finish line in a time of 2:48:36, more than nine minutes ahead of compatriot Meryem En-Nourhi, who took second place, with Spain’s Elena Congost completing the podium.
El Idrissi not only demolished the field, but she also shattered the previous record of Japan’s Misato Michishita by almost six minutes.
It was her second medal in Paris after scooping silver in the T13 1500m on August 31 and upped Morocco’s medal tally to 15, placing them 31st in the table.
There was more success for Africa on the final day of the Paralympic Games as Tunisia’s Wajdi Boukhili won the gold medal in the men’s T12 marathon with a season-best time of 2:22:05.


El Idrissi breaks world record in women’s marathon

Onyinyechi Mark broke two world records in the women’s 61kg powerlifting on Friday to claim Nigeria’s first gold medal at the 2024 Paralympics.
The 23-year-old, who has been competing in the sport since 2018, surpassed the previous record held by compatriot Lucy Ejike when he lifted 145kg.
Mark wasn’t done yet though, as she made 147kg with her final regular lift and then shattered another world record with a 150kg power lift just 10 minutes later.
The young Nigerian took her country’s medal tally in Paris to three after Eniola Bolaji scooped bronze in the women’s badminton singles and Esther Nworgu overcame a dislocated shoulder to take home silver in the women’s 41kg powerlifting.
“I feel excited and so happy,” Mark said. “I’ve worked so hard to be in these Games today, my expectation was for me to win my gold. I’m here today to win, I did it; I’m so happy.”


Mark shines for Nigeria in powerlifting

Mpumelelo Mhlongo broke his own record in men’s long jump at the 2024 Paralympics, but still missed out on the podium after finishing fifth in the final.
The 30-year-old won South Africa’s first medal in Paris when he claimed gold in the men’s T44 100m final on Sunday with a time of 11.12 – just 0.12 seconds off his own world record.
Mhlongo also held the world record in the T44 long jump which he shattered on Wednesday evening with a distance of 7.12m, although it was some way short of a top-three finish.
He had to compete against athletes in the T62 and T64 classes, with T64 long-jumper Markus Rehm winning the gold medal following a leap of 8.13m.
Team SA did add another two medals to their tally though, after cyclist Nicolas Pieter du Preez and wheelchair doubles partners Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole won bronze in their events.


Another world record tumbles for Mhlongo

Christian Sadie narrowly missed out on a third medal for South Africa at the 2024 Paralympics after finishing fifth in the men’s S7 100m backstroke final on Tuesday.
Louzanne Coetzee had doubled Team SA’s medal tally when she claimed bronze in the women’s T11 1500m final on Monday, and Sadie had put himself in contention for a podium place after setting the sixth fastest time in the heats.
The 27-year-old swimmer, who also competed at Tokyo 2020, went quicker in the final and his time of 1:13:03 was only 0.8 seconds shy of third-placed Federico Bicelli (Italy).
Sadie declared it a “good day” for him after admitting the backstroke it not a style he excels in and hadn’t trained for the event prior to the Games in Paris.
“Super happy, I’m an IM swimmer and a fly swimmer so it’s not something we’ve been training for,” he said. “I didn’t know how close I was, but apparently, my coach said it was close so I’m really happy, it was a good day.”


Sadie ‘super happy’ with 100m backstroke effort

Mpumelelo Mhlongo has put South Africa on the board at the 2024 Paralympics after winning the gold medal in the men’s T44 100m final on Sunday.
The 30-year-old came to Paris in scintillating form after defending his 100m title at the Para Athletics World Championships in May and breaking the 200m record in Kobe, Japan.
Mpumelelo, who also holds the 100m world record at 11.00, led the final from start to finish as he crossed the line in a time of 11.12 to fend off the challenge of Cuba’s Yamel Luis Vives Suares (11.20).
He has secured Team SA’s first medal in the French capital and hopes the feat will inspire his compatriots to obtain more podium places in the coming week.
“I didn’t execute the race perfectly and at 60 metres I told myself that I have to wake up. But it’s job done!” Mpumelelo declared. “We got the gold and hopefully now the floodgates will open.”


Mhlongo wins gold for South Africa at Paris 2024

Three-time world champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo is determined to win her second gold medal in the Paralympics Games.
The Nigerian powerlifter will compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympics having scooped gold at the 2020 edition in the 86kg event in Tokyo, Japan.
Oluwafemiayo also won a silver medal in the 75kg event at the 2012 London 2012 Paralympics.
“I want to make Africa proud. Nigeria proud, myself, family and my federation,” Oluwafemiayo said on BBC Africa.
“This won’t be my last Paralympic Games. I’m still training for more and I’m targeting for more world records.”
The 39-year-old has won three gold medals in the World Para Powerlifting Championships.
She also competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where she won a gold medal in the heavyweight event.


‘I want to make Africa proud’ – Oluwafemiayo eyes gold medal

South Africa’s medal hopes suffered a blow after wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane withdrew from the 2024 Paralympic Games on Saturday.
The 39-year-old was in action on Friday and she and partner Mariska Venter beat France’s Charlotte Fairbank and Emmanuelle Morch in the first round of the women’s doubles.
Montjane was due to face China’s Luoyao Guo in the first round of the women’s singles the following day, but failed to appear for personal reasons and her opponent won on a walkover.
The South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) subsequently confirmed that the 2024 Wimbledon doubles champion had pulled out of all competition at Paris 2024.
Montjane was making her fifth appearance at the Games after also being a member of the South African team in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020, but had yet to win a medal.


Montjane pulls out of tennis events at Paris 2024

South African Paralympic star Mpumelelo Mhlongo recently expressed how sport helped him overcome a difficult childhood in which he was often teased by kids and ostracised by family members.
Mhlongo, who will be aiming to make history at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, currently holds three world records in the T44 category for long jump, 100m, and 200m track events.
“I grew up in the township, where there was a lot of stigma around people with disabilities. I not only felt the brunt of being teased by other kids but also being ostracised by family members,” Mhlongo said, as per Good Things Guy.
“Thanks to sports, I became known as the fastest kid in the neighbourhood. In fact, I was often picked first, due to my speed, rather than being left out due to my disability. For me, this truly highlights the power of sports, in that it enabled me to help change the world for the better, just by doing what I love.”


SA Paralympic star details tough upbringing

Ugandan swimmer Husna Kukundakwe is confident that she can excel at the 2024 Paralympics despite not having the same training facilities as her fellow competitors.
The 17-year-old qualified for six events in Paris, but has decided to focus on just three of them and will compete in the women’s 100m breaststroke on Friday, August 30.
Kukundakwe, who was the youngest athlete across all sports to participate at the 2020 Paralympics, achieved her personal best time of 1:34.35 in the stroke in Tokyo, although he she didn’t qualify for the final.
The teenager has gone on to win medals in various swimming categories and she is hopeful of earning a podium finish in Paris, but admits she has faced challenges.
“Here we train in twenty-five meter pools, twenty-five yard pools, only to go and compete in a fifty-meter pool. Those guys have trained, they’ve trained in it every day of their lives. They’ve practised,” she said.
“My coach and I, we had a discussion and we realised that it’s not necessary to have all these events so we decided on the main three that I wanted to take part of, that we believe have potential.”


Kukundakwe carries Uganda’s medal hopes

South African para-athlete Kirsty Weir believes that she is the ‘luckiest Paralympian in the world.’
The East London-born sportswoman will compete in the paratriathlon at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, which will be contested at the Pont d’Iéna.
“I’m the luckiest Paralympian in the world,” 44-year-old Weir, who classified as a para-athlete due to neuro lupus, said on Team SA.
“I have been gifted the most amazing opportunity, and in this past year that I’ve been doing para-triathlon I’ve met the most amazing people in my life. 
“I genuinely can’t express my happiness. I feel safe, accepted, and it just feels right. And that’s the hardest thing for me to understand because I’ve never experienced that before,” she added.
“I’ve had many trials and tribulations that I’m not comfortable going into now, but for the first time, I’m feeling a bit safer.”
Weir is set to compete in the Women’s PTS4 event on Sunday, September 1 and she will be hoping to secure a gold medal.


‘I’m the luckiest Paralympian in the world’ – Kirsty Weir

Visually impaired sprinter Guillaume Atangana, who made his way from Cameroon to Bradford, has been confirmed as the flagbearer for the refugee team at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
The 25-year-old will compete in the 400-meter code at the upcoming Paralympic Games and will do so alongside Donard Nyamjua, who will serve as his guide on the track.
Both Atangana and Nyamjua represented Cameroon at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo before moving to the UK after the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“It’s a great honour to be selected to carry this flag, it’s a pleasure for me,” Atangana said.
“At the moment I have several loads on my shoulders. Several athletes before me have spoken with their voices and have said we must die for this vest.
“I know we have a very good team. We’ve trained well, we’re supported, we hope to keep feeling good here. We promise to do our best and to, if we can, bring home a gold medal to Yorkshire.
“I feel super excited and ready to start this competition. I’ve been waiting for it for so long, to show what I’m capable of and what refugees can do. That motivates us the most.”
