Episodes
Prior to the CAF Champions League final, we speak to Al Ahly fan Ahmed Assem about the prospects of the Red Devils securing their record-extending 12th title in the competition. We also ponder the existence of football DNA and ask: What makes Al Ahly Al Ahly?
Published 05/17/24
Published 05/17/24
In the second leg of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League, Esperance de Tunis and Al Ahly put in mature performances and managed to qualify past TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns
Published 04/26/24
This week we look back on what exactly happened between USM of Algiers and RS Berkane in the semi-final of the CAF Confederation Cup. Their scheduled match was never actually played because of a political controversy that we try to explain
Published 04/24/24
During the first leg of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League semi-finals, Esperance de Tunis nullified Mamelodi Sundowns' attacking threat and managed to win by a goal at home. Meanwhile Al Ahly left Lubumbashi with a nil-nil draw
Published 04/20/24
We're into the final four of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League and so this episode of the African Five-a-side podcast delves into a preview of Saturday's matches between Esperance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns and TP Mazembe versus Al Ahly.
Published 04/19/24
The second leg of the quarterfinals of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League took place on Saturday evening as TP Mazembe travelled to Luanda to take on Petro and Esperance travelled to Abidjan to take on ASEC Mimosas. The Congolese and Tunisian champions came away victorious on the evening and now set up juicy quarterfinals against Al Ahly and Sundowns in two weeks' time.
Published 04/07/24
Friday night's two matches had very different tones. While Tanzania's Yanga pushed AFL champions, Mamelodi Sundowns to the brink, their compatriots, Simba, couldn't muster up the same fight vs Al Ahly of Egypt. In this episode we discuss the general ideas of idealism versus pragmatism and if Sundowns are fit to overcome mental hurdles
Published 04/05/24
The first quarterfinal of the 2024 CAF Champions League took place on Friday evening between Simba and reigning champions, Al Ahly. It was a frustrating match for the hosts who peppered the Egyptian goal with countless chances, but could not convert a single one of them. We look back on the match and ponder themes such as collective psychology and what ask what the return leg has in store for us.
Published 03/29/24
Two months on from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations we have our first international window since the big tournament. We take a look at the state of 9 national teams and how they've attacked the post-Afcon period
Published 03/19/24
As the holy month of Ramadan begins, we ask a few questions about its place in professional football. Does fasting impede optimal athletic performance? How can clubs or leagues accommodate fasting players and make them feel welcome?
Published 03/15/24
The draw for the 2024 CAF Champions League took place a couple days ago, and so we finally have our quarterfinal matchups. We take a preliminary look at each of the matches and give our thoughts.
Published 03/14/24
As we prepare for the draw of the 2023/2024 CAF Champions League knockout stages, we decided to take a look at five up-and-coming youngsters that will be looking to impress and help their clubs to Africa's most prestigious trophy this year.
Published 03/10/24
With no quarterfinalists at the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Cote d'Ivoire and only 2 club sides in the quarterfinals of the 2024 CAF Champions League, the internet is telling us that North African football is on the decline. We take a forensic look at the performances of the national teams and the club sides and determine if this is a general geographic trend or if this is a case-by-case basis of misfortune. Check out Africa Is A Country: https://africasacountry.com
Published 03/04/24
In this episode of the African Five-a-side podcast, we look back on what has been an enthralling six matchdays of the 2024 CAF Champions League. In this year's competition, teams that have defended well have been rewarded, and after this weekend the competition will finally begin!
Published 03/01/24
We're back after an Afcon hangover and for our first episode back, we talk about the 2024 Summer Olympic Games qualifiers in African women's football. Before we pick our winners, we talk about the fact that 29/54 of the sides in Africa failed to even enter their teams for qualifying. You can read more on Cote d'Ivoire's failure to field a team here: https://africasacountry.com/2024/02/a-forgotten-relic
Published 02/28/24
On the weekend after the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, we delve into where all 24 teams go from here. For some, like Senegal, little change is necessary. For others, such as Cameroon or Algeria, much change is needed, but can the changes be carried out successfully?
Published 02/16/24
After several peaks and valleys, Cote d'Ivoire sealed their tournament by beating Nigeria in the Afcon final, 2-1. Nigeria took a first-half lead into the break after William Troost-Ekong scored off of a corner. But in the second half Simon Adingra and Sebastien haller dominated for the hosts, scoring and assisting the goals that would give them their third star.
Published 02/11/24
Palestine at Afcon article: https://africasacountry.com/2024/02/palestine-at-afcon Let's have a relaxing chat about third-place matches and how and why we think tonight's match will unfold as it will
Published 02/10/24
The semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations were just as entertaining as the rest of the tournament. Nigeria eeked past South Africa in the first match of the day after tension-filled penalty kicks. Cote d'Ivoire's victory over DR Congo was a much more calm affair, as Sebastien Haller fired The Elephants into the final
Published 02/08/24
My 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is over, but the tournament rolls on. Today we're back with a semi-final preview of Wednesday's matches. We delve into the Nigeria vs South Africa match in particular detail with a tactical breakdown of the match-up.
Published 02/06/24
In the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals Victor Osimhen and Nigeria got a goal past Angola and qualified to the semi-finals. And DR Congo comfortably advanced past Guinea into the final four as well.
Published 02/02/24
The 2023 Afcon quarterfinals are set to kick off tomorrow and so we break down the four matches including Cote d'Ivoire vs Mali, Nigeria vs Angola, DR Congo vs Guinea and Cape Verde vs South Africa
Published 02/01/24
It was a fascinating tactical battle between the Moroccan Atlas Lions and the South African Bafana boys. Both sides played cautiously, but it would be the South Africans that made less technical errors and came away with a victory. In the early match, Burkina Faso were no match for Mali who found their identity with a diamond 4-4-2.M
Published 01/30/24
Last night, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations served us an instant classic when hosts Cote d'Ivoire took on Senegal in the round of 16. Despite a terrible group stage performance, Cote d'Ivoire bounced back by eliminating defending champions Senegal in Yamoussoukro.
Published 01/30/24