Latest news with #CAFConfederationCup
IOL News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Kaizer Chiefs aim for redemption in Toyota Cup against Asante Kotoko
ZITHA Kwinika says the Kaizer Chiefs faithful must expect a highly-improved team from the one they witnessed last season when Amakhosi take on Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup at the weekend. Highly disappointing until they won the Nedbank Cup, Chiefs had a rather forgetful league campaign that sees them missing out on participation in the MTN8 for a second season running. But they are intent on exciting their die-hard followers as early as on Saturday at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium when they host the one-time Ghanaian giants to set the scene for what is to come. Smashed 4-0 by Tanzania's Young Africans last year, Amakhosi are eager to ensure the trophy remains home this time around. And defender Kwinika believes their pre-season tour of the Netherlands has helped turn them into an improved lot. 'The supporters must expect a different us in the Toyota Cup,' he said in an interview with the club's media department. 'We are growing as a group from where we left last season. We are adding blocks from that and from the pre-season we went through we really learnt a lot. We are going to be different.' Kwinika is excited that they are getting the opportunity to play opposition from the continent as this will help them get ready for their participation in the CAF Confederation Cup, for which they qualified courtesy of their victory in the Nedbank Cup. 'The Toyota Cup is where we are going to test ourselves against our African brothers as we are preparing ourselves for CAF, so it is still all in building block stage.' Kwinika feels he has personally grown from the Dutch experience. 'It was good for me, but the thing in football is that it is not mainly about me. To do well, I need my teammates. Personally, I got a lot of fitness from it. "As a team it was important how we sync and bringing the other (new) players into the team and it was a great one for the group at large. The Netherlands was good to us, we learnt a lot and we definitely came back home as better players and better people.' The 31-year-old says playing against teams of a much higher level will stand them in good stead for the upcoming domestic campaign. 'To be honest, the level is a bit high (in the Netherlands). Football is football yes, but they understand moments very well; they know the right time to press and where to press," he said. "The passing is precise and how they keep the ball is different from the way we keep it. While here at home we dribble around, they dribble you with a pass. And the seconds they spend on the ball are minimal but effective.' While Chiefs won a single match of their five outings in Holland, Kwinika – like the rest of Chiefs at Naturena – believe the tour was a success. 'We did well because we gradually grew as a team from the first game to the last game and the boys felt good and the confidence is high now.' That confidence, he says, will be evident on Saturday.
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Hilal become dual champions after triumph in war-torn Sudan
JOHANNESBURG: Al Hilal became champions in two countries when they thumped Al Merrikh 4-0 on Tuesday to win the Elite League in Sudan, where a civil war has been raging since 2023. To escape a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, according to the United Nations, Hilal and Merrikh competed in the Mauritanian championship, finishing first and sixth. However, Confederation of African Football rules state that only national champions can enter the CAF Champions League, forcing the two clubs to return home and play in army-controlled northeast venues. The national army have recaptured the capital, Khartoum, after two years of occupation by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, but fighting rages in other parts of the east African nation. Here, AFP Sport brings news from around the continent, including a personal triumph for Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro from South African club Mamelodi Sundowns. Hilal hammered greatest domestic rivals Merrikh after building a three-goal lead by half-time to be crowned Sudanese champions a record-extending 31st time. Hilal (plus 11) won the title on goal difference from Al Ahly Madani (plus 6) after both sides secured 14 points in the eight-club mini-league. Snatching the title means Hilal will extend a remarkable record of competing in the Champions League every season since 2004 while Madani will represent Sudan in the competition for the first time. The goal Ribeiro scored for South African champions Sundowns against Borussia Dortmund has been voted the best of the 2025 Club World Cup in a FIFA online poll. Securing possession in midfield, the 26-year-old used pace and footwork to burst through the defence before calmly shooting past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Unfortunately for Sundowns, the first goal of the group match in the 11th minute triggered an immediate response from the German outfit, who scored four times before finishing 4-3 winners. Simba captain Mohammed Husseini will not have his contract renewed by Simba after 12 years at a club who have dominated Tanzanian football for decades with Dar es Salaam neighbours Young Africans. The 28-year-old left-back joined Simba from Kagera Sugar in 2014 and has been a first choice since under various coaches, including current incumbent, South African Fadlu Davids. Simba were runners-up in the CAF Confederation Cup and Tanzanian Premier League last season and suffered a surprise semi-finals loss to Singida Black Stars in the Tanzanian FA Cup. Abdul-Karim Zito has been elevated from caretaker to head coach of Asante Kotoko, a Ghanaian club seeking to become giants again in the west African nation. The two-time African champions came third in the league last season behind first-time title-holders Bibiani Gold Stars, then beat Golden Kick with an added-time goal to win the Ghana FA Cup. Lifting the cup qualified Kotoko for the CAF Confederation Cup, the second-tier African competition where Zito exceeded expectations in 2024 by taking another Ghanaian club, Dreams, to the semi-finals. Widely travelled Belgian coach Ivan Minnaert has swapped one domestic champion club for another by moving from Fassell of Liberia to Vipers of Uganda. Monrovia-based Fassell finished 11 points ahead of Heaven Eleven in the Liberian title race to be crowned national champions for the first time.
Al-Ahram Weekly
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Hilal become dual champions after triumph in war-torn Sudan - Africa
Al Hilal became champions in two countries when they thumped Al Merrikh 4-0 on Tuesday to win the Elite League in Sudan, where a civil war has been raging since 2023. To escape a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, according to the United Nations, Hilal and Merrikh competed in the Mauritanian championship, finishing first and sixth. However, Confederation of African Football rules state that only national champions can enter the CAF Champions League, forcing the two clubs to return home and play in army-controlled northeast venues. The national army have recaptured the capital, Khartoum, after two years of occupation by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, but fighting rages in other parts of the east African nation. Here, AFP Sport brings news from around the continent, including a personal triumph for Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro from South African club Mamelodi Sundowns. Sudan Hilal hammered greatest domestic rivals Merrikh after building a three-goal lead by half-time to be crowned Sudanese champions a record-extending 31st time. Hilal (plus 11) won the title on goal difference from Al Ahly Madani (plus 6) after both sides secured 14 points in the eight-club mini-league. Snatching the title means Hilal will extend a remarkable record of competing in the Champions League every season since 2004 while Madani will represent Sudan in the competition for the first time. South Africa The goal Ribeiro scored for South African champions Sundowns against Borussia Dortmund has been voted the best of the 2025 Club World Cup in a FIFA online poll. Securing possession in midfield, the 26-year-old used pace and footwork to burst through the defence before calmly shooting past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Unfortunately for Sundowns, the first goal of the group match in the 11th minute triggered an immediate response from the German outfit, who scored four times before finishing 4-3 winners. Tanzania Simba captain Mohammed Husseini will not have his contract renewed by Simba after 12 years at a club who have dominated Tanzanian football for decades with Dar es Salaam neighbours Young Africans. The 28-year-old left-back joined Simba from Kagera Sugar in 2014 and has been a first choice since under various coaches, including current incumbent, South African Fadlu Davids. Simba were runners-up in the CAF Confederation Cup and Tanzanian Premier League last season and suffered a surprise semi-finals loss to Singida Black Stars in the Tanzanian FA Cup. Ghana Abdul-Karim Zito has been elevated from caretaker to head coach of Asante Kotoko, a Ghanaian club seeking to become giants again in the west African nation. The two-time African champions came third in the league last season behind first-time title-holders Bibiani Gold Stars, then beat Golden Kick with an added-time goal to win the Ghana FA Cup. Lifting the cup qualified Kotoko for the CAF Confederation Cup, the second-tier African competition where Zito exceeded expectations in 2024 by taking another Ghanaian club, Dreams, to the semi-finals. Uganda Widely travelled Belgian coach Ivan Minnaert has swapped one domestic champion club for another by moving from Fassell of Liberia to Vipers of Uganda. Monrovia-based Fassell finished 11 points ahead of Heaven Eleven in the Liberian title race to be crowned national champions for the first time. Vipers, whose home ground lies 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the capital Kampala, won a much tighter Ugandan league chase, securing just two points more than runners-up NEC. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
NDTV
14 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Al Hilal Become Dual Champions After Triumph In War-Torn Sudan
Al Hilal became champions in two countries when they thumped Al Merrikh 4-0 on Tuesday to win the Elite League in Sudan, where a civil war has been raging since 2023. To escape a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, according to the United Nations, Hilal and Merrikh competed in the Mauritanian championship, finishing first and sixth. However, Confederation of African Football rules state that only national champions can enter the CAF Champions League, forcing the two clubs to return home and play in army-controlled northeast venues. The national army have recaptured the capital, Khartoum, after two years of occupation by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, but fighting rages in other parts of the east African nation. Here, AFP Sport brings news from around the continent, including a personal triumph for Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro from South African club Mamelodi Sundowns. Sudan Hilal hammered greatest domestic rivals Merrikh after building a three-goal lead by half-time to be crowned Sudanese champions a record-extending 31st time. Hilal (plus 11) won the title on goal difference from Al Ahly Madani (plus 6) after both sides secured 14 points in the eight-club mini-league. Snatching the title means Hilal will extend a remarkable record of competing in the Champions League every season since 2004 while Madani will represent Sudan in the competition for the first time. South Africa The goal Ribeiro scored for South African champions Sundowns against Borussia Dortmund has been voted the best of the 2025 Club World Cup in a FIFA online poll. Securing possession in midfield, the 26-year-old used pace and footwork to burst through the defence before calmly shooting past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Unfortunately for Sundowns, the first goal of the group match in the 11th minute triggered an immediate response from the German outfit, who scored four times before finishing 4-3 winners. Tanzania Simba captain Mohammed Husseini will not have his contract renewed by Simba after 12 years at a club who have dominated Tanzanian football for decades with Dar es Salaam neighbours Young Africans. The 28-year-old left-back joined Simba from Kagera Sugar in 2014 and has been a first choice since under various coaches, including current incumbent, South African Fadlu Davids. Simba were runners-up in the CAF Confederation Cup and Tanzanian Premier League last season and suffered a surprise semi-finals loss to Singida Black Stars in the Tanzanian FA Cup. Ghana Abdul-Karim Zito has been elevated from caretaker to head coach of Asante Kotoko, a Ghanaian club seeking to become giants again in the west African nation. The two-time African champions came third in the league last season behind first-time title-holders Bibiani Gold Stars, then beat Golden Kick with an added-time goal to win the Ghana FA Cup. Lifting the cup qualified Kotoko for the CAF Confederation Cup, the second-tier African competition where Zito exceeded expectations in 2024 by taking another Ghanaian club, Dreams, to the semi-finals. Uganda Widely travelled Belgian coach Ivan Minnaert has swapped one domestic champion club for another by moving from Fassell of Liberia to Vipers of Uganda. Monrovia-based Fassell finished 11 points ahead of Heaven Eleven in the Liberian title race to be crowned national champions for the first time. Vipers, whose home ground lies 25 kilometres (16 miles) from the capital Kampala, won a much tighter Ugandan league chase, securing just two points more than runners-up NEC. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
Striker's father reveals what Kaizer Chiefs asked him
Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi during a Betway Premiership match against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium. Image: @kaizerchiefs/X Kaizer Chiefs are still firmly keen on signing Khanyisa Mayo since missing out on the 26-year-old forward in 2023. The former Richards Bay FC and Cape Town City FC star famously joined Algerian giants CR Beloizdad an hour before the Glamour Boys called his agent in September 2023. With Amakhosi in the market for experienced attacking talent, Mayo's father, Patrick, has revealed that the Soweto giants called him in recent days. ADVERTISEMENT KHANYISA MAYO'S FATHER GETS A CALL FROM KAIZER CHIEFS French-based star waiting for Amakhosi bosses Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Patrick Mayo playing Premier Soccer League football against Orlando Pirates. Image: BackpagePix After six goals and one assist in 41 games for The Chababists last season, the left-footed attacker has been discussed inside the Amakhosi's offices. 'Kaizer Chiefs called me last week to find out if I would give Khanyisa my blessing to join the club,' his father, Patrick, told Kick Off. Kaizer Chiefs update: More new signings 'It is Khanyisa who will decide whether he wants to join them. I told Kaizer Chiefs I would be happy to see Khanyisa at the club because that would be a historic moment. He would be following in his father's footsteps, and that would make me a proud father. 'But I did make it clear to Kaizer Chiefs that if they are genuinely interested, they should speak to his current club and buy him, as his contract runs until the end of the 2026/27 season,' the former Amakhosi striker added. JERSEY NUMBER 21 TO HONOUR HIS FATHER 'I told Kaizer Chiefs that they should assign him my jersey number 21 when he arrives at the club, not jersey number 10,' Mayo senior continued. ADVERTISEMENT 'They informed me they would get back to me with an update, so I'm still waiting for a response from Kaizer Chiefs,' he concluded. In the meantime, CRB confirmed a place in next season's CAF Confederation Cup after finishing third behind AC Alger and JS Kabyile in Algeria. DO YOU BELIEVE KHANYISA MAYO WILL EVER WEAR THE KAIZER CHIEFS JERSEY? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
