NewStats: 3,265,449 , 8,186,774 topics. Date: Sunday, 15 June 2025 at 02:49 AM 5q6913

CAF secretary general speaking to the BBC.

They have a scheduling nightmare. Some people are pushing them to hold WAFCON out of the FIFA calendar, but he says that's not possible. He says that the best players are based outside of Africa and, with all due respect to the homebased players, they have raised the standard of WAFCON, it's very professional, so they can't do that (have WAFCON with only home based players).

He said that the problem was caused by the fact that AFCON was meant to hold in June last year, but you can't have a football competition in June in Ivory Coast because it's the rain season. So AFCON was held at the time that WAFCON was supposed to hold. So now they need to find a date for WAFCON.

The BBC reporter said that he talked about professionalism, but it doesn't look professional that CAF still doesn't have a date for WAFCON. He spoke to Desiree Ellis and she complained and is angry and disappointed that there is no date. Can he give Desiree Ellis and others that are waiting and disappointed a date?

The secretary general said that there will be an announcement by. . . (I didn't hear well if he said at the end of the week or end of the month). He is assuring everybody that there will be an announcement.

He mentioned possible dates this year (that won't clash with the Olympics), but he said that it could also be next year (he also mentioned possible dates).

The BBC reporter then pointed out that if WAFCON is held next year, then it will clash with the date for AFCON. The secretary general them mentioned possible options.

The BBC reporter summed it up that it's possible that WAFCON might be held next year and AFCON might be held in 2026.

mostob:
The draw for this year's U20 WWC will take place tomorrow. However, something is baffling and I would like someone to explain.
Nigeria is in pot 2, Ghana is in pot 3 while Morocco and Cameroon are in pot 4. Now, two Africans can't play each other in group stage. Right?

What will happen if the person in charge subsequently picked Nigeria from pot 2 and Ghana from pot 3?

Are the balls coloured differently according to continent?

This is solely from long term memory.

I that something like that happened at a draw a long time ago and the host simply said, "As we all know, two teams from the same confederation can't be in the same group" and the person picking the balls did another draw and picked another team.

They simply skipped the first pick and did it again.

I'm searching for a rebroadcast or text version of that interview, but it's not on the BBC's websites or social media handles. It's only the short clip that was on News Day.

I found out from the CAF secretary-general's Twitter feed that the interview took place 2 days ago and is longer than the clip I heard.

No wonder I couldn't find it. They only just published it right now.

Caf its Wafcon and Afcon ‘scheduling nightmare’


South Africa (left) won the Women's Nations Cup title in 2022 while Ivory Coast triumphed at the 2023 Nations Cup earlier this year

Ian Williams, Rob Stevens
BBC Sport Africa
Published 18 minutes ago

Organisers of Africa’s premier men’s and women’s international football tournaments have itted they face a “scheduling nightmare”, but dates for forthcoming editions are closer to being agreed, the BBC has been told.

During a rare in-depth interview Veron Mosengo-Omba, general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), promised that an announcement on the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco would arrive by the end of this month – revealing there is a strong chance it could be switched to next year.

“We are supposed to play this year but we have teams engaged in the Olympics, so we have to find another date,” Mosengo-Omba explained to BBC Sport Africa.

“We are talking with Uefa, because most of the players are playing in Europe, the European Club Association and also with Fifa in order to find [a] suitable date.”

Meanwhile, Mosengo-Omba confirmed that Caf could stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), also set to be hosted by Morocco, in early 2026 because of the timing of Fifa’s new 32-team Club World Cup in June and July next year.

“For the men, we need to make sure that the dates that we'll be choosing will be in the interests of the players,” said the Swiss-Congolese, highlighting issues around the workload of the continent’s elite players.

“For this we need to balance different aspects and also discuss with our partners and then we complete [the dates]. Scheduling is a nightmare for everybody.”

Big dilemma for Women’s Nations Cup

Caf’s statutes say both iterations of the Nations Cup should be held once every two years - rather than once every four as is the case with most major championships organised by other confederations.

However, that puts pressure on the African game’s governing body to fit its competitions into an ever-more-crowded international calendar.

Qualifying for the 2024 Wafcon was completed last December, but deciding when to hold the 12-team finals is complicated by the fact that record nine-time winners Nigeria and Zambia will be participating in the Paris Olympics during July and August.

Desiree Ellis, coach of reigning continental champions South Africa, says the crowded schedule is evidence of rapid growth in the women’s game – but she remains critical of Caf’s handling of the situation.

“If it (Wafcon) is postponed or cancelled, it will be a huge, huge disappointment,” the 61-year-old told BBC Sport Africa, pointing out that the 2020 Nations Cup was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, unlike the men’s 2021 tournament which was merely postponed.

“The growth of women's football over the last couple of years has really shot through the roof, especially on the African continent.

“Just communicate whether it's happening or whether it's not happening so we know how to prepare going forward.”

The growth of women’s football in Africa has been made clear this year by two record-breaking transfer fees paid for Zambian players.

In February, forward Rachel Kundananji set a new world record when ing American team Bay FC for $860,000 (£685,000) and the next month Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda moved to fellow National Women's Soccer League side Orlando Pride for $740,000 (£581,000).

Mosengo-Omba says Caf’s only option for scheduling Wafcon this year would involve playing it outside of an agreed international window – meaning club sides would not be compelled to release their stellar names.

“Do we play Women's Afcon without our best players? This is something that personally I think is not good,” he said.

“We cannot come back by using only local (domestic-based) players. They are good, but the standard would not be the same.”

The alternative is a postponement until 2025.

Player welfare a factor in 2025 Afcon timing


Record 12-time African club champions Al Ahly will play at the expanded Club World Cup next year - but also provide several players for the Egyptian national side

When it comes to the men’s Nations Cup, Caf’s “nightmare” has been caused by global governing body Fifa introducing its expanded Club World Cup.

The 32-team tournament will be played in the United States from 15 June to 13 July next year – dates which potentially could have been earmarked for the 2025 Afcon, with Caf having previously stated its aim of aligning its flagship competition with the European summer window.

“We have a problem that we're still discussing now with the same stakeholders and partners: the European Club Association, Uefa and Fifa,” said Mosengo-Omba.

He denied that Fifa has pressured Caf not to hold Afcon at the same time as the Club World Cup – something that Concacaf, the continental confederation for North and Central America, has decided to do with its Gold Cup competition.

Fifa has been forced to defend its new addition to the football calendar after criticism from unions that players are being “pushed beyond their limits”.

“We can play after the Club World Cup, but is this good for the interests of the players who have played all the season and then they travel to America to play [and then] immediately come to play Afcon?” Mosengo-Omba continued.

“We have to put this in balance before [we] take a decision.”

Despite concerns around heat, the 2019 Nations Cup in Egypt was hosted in June and July that year and the 2021 and 2023 editions were also due to be staged around the same time of year to avoid the regular club versus country clash caused by the tournament’s traditional January-February time slot.

However, the 2021 tournament in Cameroon was pushed back to early 2022 because of the pandemic and weather concerns, while the 2023 tournament was held in Ivory Coast earlier this year to avoid the West African rainy season.

Despite Caf failing to meet its aim of aligning the past two tournaments with the European football calendar, Mosengo-Omba its it could very well happen again in Morocco.

“If this is for the interests of the player, why not? Because we have to focus in of the player," he said.

Meanwhile, the date for the qualifying draw for the 2025 Afcon is set to be announced after the next meeting of Caf’s executive committee.

Qualifiers are expected to be held in September, October and November this year.


Veron Mosengo-Omba was appointed as Caf's general secretary in March 2021, having previously worked at Fifa

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c299ng4r370o?

naptu2:


It's the French Football Federation (FFF) logo (I always thought that it was funny [even for the male team] back in the 1990s).

To imagine it all started as a mockery... 😆😆😆😆

Les Blues.

There has been a lot of this swirling around just like last Olympics when they changed the roster size last minute. Time will tell if they change it again.

Deltamani:
There has been a lot of this swirling around just like last Olympics when they changed the roster size last minute. Time will tell if they change it again.

The IOC should increase the squad size oh! Insisting on only squad sizes of 18 players is unrealistic these days

It's official, Mariona Caldentay has left Barcelona.

Now awaiting the announcement from London.

naptu2:
It's official, Mariona Caldentay has left Barcelona.

Now awaiting the announcement from London.

Results of the U-20 WWC draw

PDPGuy:
Results of the U-20 WWC draw

Nigeria will qualify from this group either as first or second.south Korea are our dearly customer at any women's world cup at all level.

⭐️ 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 ⭐️

Nigeria 🇳🇬 SuperFalcons Attacking Midfielder Onyi Echegini named in Serie A team of the Season 2023-24 according to OptaPaolo 📊

#SerieAfemminile eBay 🇮🇹🔝

kheny12:
Nigeria will qualify from this group either as first or second.south Korea are our dearly customer any any women's world cup at all level.

💯 agree. The only real opposition in that group is .

••• Nigeria midfielder Rita Chikwelu opens new mansion in home town, Anambra State

••• Umunnachi Community Honours Super Falcons Star, Rita Chikwelu

••• Veteran SuperFalcons Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, Osinachi Ohale were around.


••• Falconet Saudi Arabia based forward was also present..

Deltamani:
⭐️ 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 ⭐️

Nigeria 🇳🇬 SuperFalcons Attacking Midfielder Onyi Echegini named in Serie A team of the Season 2023-24 according to OptaPaolo 📊

#SerieAfemminile eBay 🇮🇹🔝

Someone ed in January, and invest U20 player award, and is making the team of the season chaii that's 🔥

Deltamani:
••• Nigeria midfielder Rita Chikwelu opens new mansion in home town, Anambra State

••• Umunnachi Community Honours Super Falcons Star, Rita Chikwelu

••• Veteran SuperFalcons Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, Osinachi Ohale were around.


••• Falconet Saudi Arabia based forward was also present..

Iffa hear anybody refers to her as Uncle Rita again for here, Me and that per3go tie sokoto for waist ooo

do4luv14:



Someone ed in January, and invest U20 player award, and is making the team of the season chaii that's 🔥

To be sincere we’re underrating this girl so much like a Player that won the biggest Awards in the US as College Best Player.
1. Honda Best Player
2. MAC Hermann Trophy
3. ACC Offensive Player of the Year(NCAA).
4. U23 Best Serie A Best Player of the Season.
5. 2023/24 Serie A Team of the Season
6. The Various Best Player of the Week she won at College last season after the World Cup and the Players of the week she won this Season in Italy.



If it was one of the European Countries like England, or USA even Zambia sef the hype would have been so high, This girl is definitely among the top10 U23 Best Player in the World. She should make CAF top10 best player of the year.

Deltamani:
••• Nigeria midfielder Rita Chikwelu opens new mansion in home town, Anambra State

••• Umunnachi Community Honours Super Falcons Star, Rita Chikwelu

••• Veteran SuperFalcons Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, Osinachi Ohale were around.


••• Falconet Saudi Arabia based forward was also present..

Congrats to her👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

PDPGuy:


The IOC should increase the squad size oh! Insisting on only squad sizes of 18 players is unrealistic these days

FIFA not IOC

JohnBullMySon:


FIFA not IOC

Bro I noticed u don’t comment in d super eagles thread again …y 😊?

JohnBullMySon:


FIFA not IOC

The IOC is the body that sets forth the Olympic regulations, including squad sizes..

PDPGuy:

The IOC is the body that sets forth the Olympic regulations, including squad sizes..

Ok. I just know that FIFA controls the football part of Olympics. I don't know the details though.

elyte89:



Bro I noticed u don’t comment in d super eagles thread again …y 😊?

It wasn't intentional. At least for the most part. The thing is, I became a lot busier than I normally used to be a year ago. As a result, I was no longer keeping up with football as much as I used to.

Thanks for the concern. I really appreciate that 🙂

…and she’s just getting started 📝👊🔥

Deltamani:
…and she’s just getting started 📝👊🔥

Wafcon the cake icing especially if she shine uniquely there. But no certain date for that one so that leaves Olympics to be the icing. WAPOTY podium sure. Or they go wan use young player category in caf wound her?

daveP:
Wafcon the cake icing especially if she shine uniquely there. But no certain date for that one so that leaves Olympics to be the icing. WAPOTY podium sure. Or they go wan use young player category in caf wound her?

I understand why they gave her that U23 player of the year in Italy, she just came in half way and didn’t play too many game which is fine. If she had started the season with them I believe she would probably be the best player in the league as a Goal Scoring Midfielder just like Bellingham of Real Madrid/England..

Anyway those in the CAF Awards technical Bench Better Look her way..!

Sorry Guys I Had to Bring This Here since is Football and NFF Related...!

Report says that Daniel Amokachi is in Tanzania a few days ago coaching some kids, something is fishy with him and the NFF regarding his appointment as Finidi George's assistant coach…

Instead of the NFF addressing this issue beforehand, they are playing hide-and-seek.

🎙 You see those in our NFF? They are the biggest problem we have in Nigerian football.

Why on earth would you go ahead and announce Amokachi as the first assistant without asking the man if he truly wants to be in that role assisting Finidi George for crying out loud?

They are never professional in their approach. We just do things anyhow but at the same time expect different results.

Amokachi also applied for the role of head coach of the Super Eagles and was not consulted before the NFF decided to just announce him in a pay-per-match assistant role to Finidi George.

Nothing ever works with those people.

China Based Juliet Bassey

50 days to go until #Paris2024!

Which nation will take the gold medal home? 🥇

Granada's Super Falcons-eligible striker who arrived in Spain as a baby after hectic trip

Granada's Super Falcons-eligible striker who arrived in Spain as a baby after hectic trip
Stories of triumph against all odds often captivate audiences, shining a light on the resilience and determination of individuals who defy adversity.

One such tale unfolds with the emergence of Edna Imade, a young footballer currently plying her trade with Granada CF Femenino in the Spanish Liga F, hailing from Benin City, Nigeria.

Born into a world rife with turmoil and hardship, Edna's story is one that sends shivers down the spine.

Tracing back to a fateful day in January 2001 when her mother, driven by desperation and the hope for a better future, embarked on a perilous journey across the sea, fleeing the violence and destitution plaguing their homeland, according to Malaga based regional newspaper Diario Sur.

Edna's arrival in Algeciras, Spain, after a hectic boat trip with her parents at just three months old, marked the culmination of a harrowing voyage undertaken in search of safety and opportunity.

Raised amidst humble circumstances in Seville, Edna's upbringing bore little resemblance to her Nigerian roots.

Her mother's s of their arduous journey across the Sahara desert and the subsequent voyage to Morocco painted a vivid picture of sacrifice and determination.

Yet, despite the challenges they faced, Edna's family forged a new life in Spain, where she would eventually discover her ion for football.

From the tender age of six, Edna honed her skills on the pitch, ing a local children's team and embarking on a journey that would propel her towards sporting excellence.

With each match, she showcased her undeniable talent, earning accolades and catching the attention of scouts and agents alike.

Her formidable stature, standing close to 1.80 meters tall, coupled with her sheer athleticism, set her apart as a rising star in the making.

As Edna's prowess on the field continued to garner recognition, opportunities began to unfold before her.

A partnership with the SQH agency opened doors to a new chapter in her footballing career, culminating in a move to Málaga, where she would don the jersey of the storied club in the Spanish Second Division.

Edna would undoubtedly provide a healthy team competition and increasing squad depth in the nearest future.

https://www.facebook.com/ezzinelive/videos/2060325474368804/?mibextid=nb1MFm3jZYALyyMy



What a heavy punch!