Planet Sport Football Africa

On this week’s show we look at the disappointment and controversy over the release of English Premier League players for this month’s World Cup qualifiers. Last week the EPL released a statement saying that clubs had unanimously decided not to release players, but two clubs have gone on to let players feature for red-listed Argentina, while no African players have been released. We have strong opinions from listeners on this.
Also we hear from the Zimbabwean who was tasked with marking Lionel Messi on Messi’s debut in France. And we talk about Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United.

On this week’s show we talk about the football tournament at the Tokyo Paralympics and look at Senegal’s great run at the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia. And with the group stage of qualifying for the 2022 Fifa World Cup beginning next Wednesday, many African countries will be without their English Premier League players, as they will not be released for international matches played in red-list countries.
Also we speak to Zambia and Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu, who’s moved from RB Salzburg, on getting the chance to play in Europe.
And lots to talk about in the EPL – we ask what impact Romelu Lukaku will make at Chelsea.

On this week’s show we focus on the draw for the 2021 AFCON, starting on 9 January, with holders Algeria and Ivory Coast drawn in the same group, and Nigeria placed alongside Egypt, and Morocco and Ghana together in the same group.

And we look at comments made by CAF president Patrice Motsepe at the draw, speaking of a plan to pay some prize money for the winners direct to players, rather than players waiting to get money through their federations – a possible way of solving some of the disputes over payment of winning bonuses that have affected so many teams in African football.

And lots of EPL action to talk about, and Stuart highlights the African players there this season.

On this week’s show we look at how the introduction of the CAF Women’s Champions League might boost the game on the continent. With qualifiers taking place around the continent, we hear from Namibian club Tura Magic. Lots on the EPL, with the new season starting this weekend – we ask who might be the champions, and whether we are likely to have a close race. And of course, we talk about Lionel Messi’s big move to PSG.

On this week’s show we analyse Africa’s football performance at the Tokyo Olympics with Ivory Coast and Egypt reaching the quarter-finals, and we hear from Stuart, on the experience of being at the Olympics in Tokyo. And the French Ligue 1 gets underway this weekend, with many Africans based in France, and we hear from Nigeria winger Moses Simon, who plays for Nantes. Simon has also played in the top leagues in Slovakia, Belgium and Spain.

On this week’s show we look at the football tournaments at the Tokyo Olympics, with Ivory Coast and Egypt through to the men’s quarter-finals. And we hear from Stuart Weir who is in Tokyo. We talk about Serbian coach Milutin “Micho” Sredrovic’s return to coach Uganda for the second time. And we speak to Ramon Azeez, a Nigeria international who plays for Granada in Spain.

On this week’s show we hear from Al Ahly’s South African coach Pitso Mosimane, who has thanked the club for believing in him rather than a European coach, as he won back-to-back Champions League titles with the Egyptian club, saying that Africa has the resources in terms of coaches, and they can do what foreign coaches can do.
 
Also we look at the chances of the African teams in the football competitions at the Tokyo Olympics, and as CAF has given its support to Fifa’s proposal to hold the World Cup every two years, we analyse whether this is a good idea, given that the Africa Cup of Nations is staged every two years.
 
Plus, a look at the trials of five potential new rules that Fifa is carrying out – including two 30-minute halves, with the clock being stopped when the ball goes out of play, and unlimited substitutions.

On this week’s show we look at the latest episode of racism in European football, as three black England players all suffering abuse in the hours after missing penalties against Italy in the Euro 2020 final. And we hear from Nigeria international Joel Obi, with his reflections on racial abuse that he received from a fellow player in Italy.
 
Also, as Simba of Tanzania reported a big loss from playing in the group stage of the Champions League, we ask whether the competition is about making money or the prestige of playing on the continent.
 
And, with the Euro 2020 final decided on penalties, with heartache for the England fans and players, we look at how penalty shootouts became the way of deciding tied finals, and if there is any better alternative.

On this week’s show we look at CAF’s new policy of playing club competition finals over one leg at neutral venues – will it work in Africa? Also, we speak to Nigeria's Tony Nwakaeme, who’s based in Turkey with Trabzonspor, and he tells us how tough it’s been playing in empty stadiums. And another Zambian, Enock Mwepu, moves to the EPL to Brighton, a week after Patson Daka joined Leicester, and we have Stuart on the Euros, ahead of Sunday’s final.

On this week’s show we analyse Zambia striker Patson Daka’s big move to Leicester City – will he succeed in the EPL? And Daka tells us about his faith. Also, Uefa have decided to scrap the away goals rule in European club football, should CAF do the same? Plus Stuart on Euro 2020, and on Patrick Viera becoming Crystal Palace manager.