Focus on Africa

Africa's World Cup dream: controversy and opportunity


Listen Later

Africa's football spirit meets the 2026 World Cup buzz, controversy, and opportunities. The tournament is a landmark moment for African football, coming four years after Morocco became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final at the Qatar edition in 2022. But even before the games begin, the tournament has been shrouded in controversy after the US denied Somali referee Omar Artan entry into the country. Omar was one of six referees from Africa appointed by FIFA for this year's World Cup. We speak to former Ghana international player Jonathan Mensah and former Ugandan international women's footballer, Jean Manayega Sseninder to unpack the opportunity for the 10 African competitors in the tournament.

And, a remote Kenyan community embarks on a mission to empower young girls with vocational skills.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna

Producers: Godwin Asediba and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango
Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba
Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Focus on AfricaBy BBC World Service

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

356 ratings


More shows like Focus on Africa

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,649 Listeners

Economist Podcasts by The Economist

Economist Podcasts

4,140 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

519 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,046 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

292 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,511 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,798 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,101 Listeners

The Interview by BBC World Service

The Interview

355 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

731 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

217 Listeners

Evil Genius with Russell Kane by BBC Radio 4

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

361 Listeners

Al Jazeera News Updates by Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera News Updates

275 Listeners

Have You Heard George's Podcast? by BBC Sounds

Have You Heard George's Podcast?

233 Listeners

The Take by Al Jazeera

The Take

577 Listeners

Into Africa by CSIS  |  Center for Strategic and International Studies

Into Africa

143 Listeners

Elis James and John Robins by Significant Productions

Elis James and John Robins

308 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,169 Listeners

Hold Your Fire! by International Crisis Group

Hold Your Fire!

66 Listeners

Africa Daily by BBC World Service

Africa Daily

170 Listeners

Sport's Strangest Crimes by BBC Radio 5 Live

Sport's Strangest Crimes

65 Listeners

The Inside Story Podcast by Al Jazeera

The Inside Story Podcast

146 Listeners

Uncanny by BBC Radio 4

Uncanny

817 Listeners

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley by BBC Radio 4

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

555 Listeners

Reuters World News by Reuters

Reuters World News

296 Listeners

Believe in Magic by BBC Studios

Believe in Magic

642 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

387 Listeners

Miss Me? by Persephonica

Miss Me?

239 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

56 Listeners

Rory Stewart: The Long History of... by BBC Radio 4

Rory Stewart: The Long History of...

75 Listeners

The History Bureau by BBC

The History Bureau

74 Listeners