Planet Sport Football Africa

This week we applaud Leicester City and Algeria midfielder Riyad Mahrez who on Sunday became the first African to win the prestigious PFA Player of the Year title, awarded by his fellow professionals. Long-standing Leicester player Andy King tells us about his qualities and we hear from fans in The Gambia as we discuss whether Mahrez deserved the Award this year and whether this makes him the best African player to play in the English Premier League? We also catch up on Leicester's bid to win their first EPL title and the battle to avoid relegation. And we ask, who are the top three African players in the EPL this season?

On this week's show we focus on the crisis in Nigerian football. For the third time in five years, Nigeria will be missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations finals, and many angry fans are blaming football leaders. There are serious problems at the Nigeria Football Federation, with two rival leaderships. How important is it to have good leadership and good administration to achieve success in football? We talk to Lazio and Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and former head of Nigeria's Football Federation, Anthony Kojo Williams. We also report on the draws for this year's Olympic football competitions with tough Groups for Nigeria's men and Zimbabwe's women and we feature the latest news on how African players are doing in the EPL.

On this week's show we're talking about the money that players earn – is it fair that top players in Europe have massive salaries when many players in Africa get less that $1,000 a month? Do the huge stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi deserve salaries of over $425,000 a week and should something be done to make sure that players in Africa are rewarded more highly for their talents? Also we bring the latest on how African players are doing in the EPL.

On this week's show we find out about football in Tanzania. The country hasn't had much success in international football, but there's a lot of money in their league these days, and there could be good times ahead. We hear from the president of the Tanzania Football Federation and from one of the top clubs, Young Africans.
Stuart Weir gives the second and final part of a look at a book co-written by former Manchester United manger Sir Alex Ferguson on management and leadership, in which Ferguson reveals the best players who ever played for him at Manchester United. And we catch up with African players' contrasting fortunes last weekend in the English Premier League.

On this week's show we go in-depth on the qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals. There were 52 matches played over the space of six days, and the results saw some teams get into a very strong position, while others effectively bowed out of the race. Following last week's show on women's football in Africa we hear from listeners on the situations in their countries and go back into the archives to hear an interview recorded in 2011 with former Super Falcons international, Ajuma Ottache. Also, Stuart takes a fascinating look at a book co-written by former Manchester United manger Sir Alex Ferguson on management and leadership.

On this week's show we find out about the state of women's football in Africa, as the qualifiers are on for the Africa Women's Cup of Nations. We find out about women's football in Nigeria, The Gambia and Tanzania with comments from analyst Solomon Izang Ashoms and on the situation in Europe and the USA from European football expert Stuart Weir. And we catch up with what's going on in the EPL, and give exciting news of our brand new Planet Sport Football Africa App.

On this week's show we continue with our look at juju, or muti or charms in football. We hear from listeners with some fascinating stories about their own experiences and views from around Africa, and Planet Sport Football Africa's Solomon Izang Ashoms gives his analysis. We speak to a traditional healer from Zimbabwe who deals with football teams on a regular basis. Plus the latest on the title race in England, and a milestone for Modou Barrow, becoming the first Gambian to score in the EPL, while Ivory Coast's Max Gradel also got his first Premier League goal.

On this week's show we ask do superstitious beliefs work in football? In much of Africa, there are stories week-in week-out of football teams using juju – beliefs that the supernatural can help them to score goals and win games. Does it work, and is it advisable to get involved in this area? Is it more psychological than spiritual? We hear from former Congo-Brazzaville captain, Oscar Ewolo, who refused to take part in a fetish ceremony before playing in an important international fixture. We also have the latest news on the gripping title race in the EPL and hear listeners' thoughts on which three teams will be relegated at the end of the season.

On this week's show we have the third and final part of an exclusive interview with Swansea City and Gambia striker Modou Barrow. This week he answers listeners' questions, including whether he thinks The Gambia can qualify for the Nations Cup one day. Also we ask which team he would choose if he could play for any team in the EPL. Plus, a roundup of how African players are doing in England, and we have the first part of an interview with former Congo-Brazzaville captain Oscar Ewolo.

On this week's show we have the second part of an exclusive interview with Swansea City and Gambia striker Modou Barrow. He tells us about what the life of a top footballer is like, and also gives some insight into the qualities of teammate Andre Ayew of Ghana. Also Barrow tells us who he thinks is the best team in the EPL this season and we ask him if top footballers are paid too much money. Plus, a roundup of how African players are doing in England as Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike scores twice for West Ham in the FA Cup fifth round.