Planet Sport Football Africa

On this week’s show we hear from Liberian President George Weah, the 1995 World Footballer of the Year, on whether he agrees with those who say that he is the best African player ever. Weah also talks about the hard work that he and other trailblazing African players did in Europe, opening the way for thousands to follow. Plus Stuart on Manchester City’s inconsistency.

We look at the changes to the African football calendar, with the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations moved to January 2022, and the African Nations Championship taking place in January 2021. And in women’s football, the CAF Women’s Champions League launches next year. Can it succeed? Plus, more on the EPL as Liverpool are crowned champions and the games come thick and fast …

As Liverpool are crowned EPL champions, we speak to club legend Ian Rush, winner of five league titles with the Reds, and two European titles. Rush give his thoughts on the African players in the current Liverpool squad. And a CAF document recommends that for the game to resume in Africa, players should have regular Covid-19 tests, and that all teams should gather in one city until the end of the league. We ask how practical this is.

In 30 years, no African team has bettered Cameroon’s quarter-final place at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Why has no-one done better – and why have Cameroon failed to build on their achievement? Ex-keeper and legend Joseph-Antoine Bell pulls no punches … plus Stuart Weir analyses the EPL’s return. Listen now at planetsport.tv/planetsportfootballafrica and give us YOUR views: comment below or on WhatsApp +44 7955 232 780

On this week’s show we get ready for the resumption of the EPL – it’s just days away now, and Stuart looks at how the remaining games might go. Will there be some surprises with games played in empty stadiums? Also we have an interview with former Gambia national team defender John Bass, whose career was cut short due to a kidney problem. He tells us his story, and about how he’s now raising awareness of kidney disease in The Gambia. Plus, Raheem Sterling speaks out on racism and the Black Lives Matter movement.

On this week’s show we have an interview with Nigeria defender Leon Balogun, he’s on loan at English Championship side Wigan Athletic from EPL club Brighton until the end of the season. He talks about the disappointment of failing to get a regular starting place with Brighton. Balogun also talks about racism in Germany, where he grew up, and on the same theme we look at the Black Lives Matter movement as footballers have spoken out about the death of George Floyd in the USA.

On this week’s show we look at the future of football in Africa, as an online conference was held to examine the direction that the African sports industry should take post Covid-19. We’ll hear from Liberia’s President George Weah, and from South African sports media consultant Gary Rathbone, who believes that clubs must have a stronger digital presence. We also look at a suggestion that some of Africa’s traditional sports could be commercialised. Our European football expert Stuart analyses the apparent lack of home advantage in the Bundesliga, and whether it will affect the relegation battle in the EPL. Send us your views on WhatsApp +44 7955 232 780

On this week’s show we take a look at transfer fees – how they have risen steeply in the world’s big leagues over the last few years, and whether Covid-19 is going to end this transfer inflation. The biggest transfer deal for an African player is Nicholas Pepe last August, while 222m Euro move to PSG is the world record. But back in 1979 there was excitement when Trevor Francis became Britain's first £1 million player, we speak to him. Plus listeners’ thoughts on lessons that we are learning during the coronavirus pandemic, and Stuart has some great statistics as the Bundesliga resumed in empty stadiums – only one home win and less dribbling.

On this week’s show we talk about playing behind closed doors, as it’s one of the conditions for football to return. Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo scored for Man United in an empty stadium in a Europa League match just before football was stopped in Europe, he tells us about it.
And the German Bundesliga is back this weekend – the first of Europe’s big leagues to return to action. Stuart highlights the African presence in the Bundesliga.

On this week’s show we ask if we’re likely to see any more continental competition in Africa this year, given the effects of coronavirus. Also, as the coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of people to think deeply, to think about what really matters in life, we speak to Yaw Yeboah, the Ghana captain at last year’s Under-23 AFCON in Egypt. He’s based in Spain and he tells us about how life is there. And Stuart looks at the issues that clubs must vote on ahead of a resumption of the EPL, and we ask whether the Uefa Champions League is likely to be completed