Latest from CAF
CAF
8 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
7 days to go before the Women's AFCON: VAR made its debut in 2022
Published: Saturday, 28 June 2025 The countdown to the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations has officially begun. To mark the occasion, takes a look back at some of the defining moments that have shaped this competition, now gearing up for its 13th edition. Today, we shine a light on the introduction of a major technological tool that marked a turning point in the tournament's history: Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Just 7 days to go until the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024. For the first time, during the Morocco 2022 edition, VAR was used on all 28 matches of the Women's AFCON, becoming the first women's competition in Africa to benefit from this tool on all pitches and in every match. Deployed as part of CAF's modernisation strategy, this innovation aimed to strengthen the fairness, transparency and quality of refereeing, while offering officials valuable assistance in crucial decisions of the game: penalties, red cards, disputed goals or errors of identity. "The introduction of VAR in African women's football is a strategic step forward. It reflects our desire to place the competition at the highest level of demand," said Souleiman Waberi, president of the CAF Referees Commission from 2021 to 2025, at the opening of the tournament. This system was accompanied by rigorous work beforehand: intensive training, referee upgrading, technical tests on the stadiums, etc. The deployment of VAR was part of a global approach led by CAF to further professionalize the environment of women's competitions on the continent.
CAF
17 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
Women's AFCON: Teams land in Morocco as tournament nears kick-off
Africa's top women's football nations have begun arriving in Morocco ahead of the highly anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with defending champions South Africa among the first to pitch camp. The tournament, which kicks off on 5 July and runs until 26 July 2025, will see twelve of the continent's finest sides competing across Moroccan cities in what promises to be a fiercely contested edition of the championship. Banyana Banyana, who clinched their maiden WAFCON title in Morocco in 2022, arrived in Casablanca on Wednesday after a demanding 24-hour journey from Johannesburg, including a layover in Ghana. Despite travel delays, the South Africans wasted no time, holding their first training session shortly after settling in. African champions Banyana Banyana departed for Morocco this afternoon ahead of their defense of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations title next month.#LiveTheImpossible @SABC_Sport — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) June 24, 2025 'It was a long and tiring trip, but we have arrived and nicely settled in, and we managed to have our first training session,' said head coach Dr Desiree Ellis. 'It's very exciting to be here to finally get started. There is a big tournament coming up and we have to be ready for it.' South Africa are drawn in Group C alongside Ghana, Mali and Tanzania. They open their title defence against the Black Queens of Ghana on 7 July, followed by fixtures against Tanzania (11 July) and Mali (14 July), all to be staged at Honneur Stadium in Oujda. Meanwhile, Zambia's Copper Queens are also intensifying preparations in Mohammédia. The team, led by coach Nora Häuptle, has been holding high-intensity sessions at the Lanoria Club, with both local and foreign-based players in camp. The Zambians face hosts Morocco in the tournament's opening match at the newly built Olympic Stadium in Rabat on 5 July. Zambia's group stage campaign continues with encounters against Senegal and DR Congo on 9 and 12 July, respectively, both at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammédia. Hosts Morocco remain camped in Rabat and will play a friendly against Tanzania at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday as part of their final preparations. The Lionesses, coached by Jorge Vilda Rodriguez, are also in Group A with Zambia, Senegal, and DR Congo. Senegal, for their part, have now departed for Morocco to begin their tournament build-up. Group B will feature continental heavyweights Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana. With the teams now assembling across the host nation, anticipation continues to build for the premier women's football event on the continent. All eyes will be on Morocco from next week, as the best of African women's football takes centre stage.
CAF
a day ago
- Sport
- CAF
Uganda turn to Byekwaso-Muhumuza coaching duo for CHAN 2024 mission
Published: Friday, 27 June 2025 Fred Muhumuza and Morley Byekwaso have been appointed to jointly lead Uganda's home-based national team at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), the Uganda Football Federation (FUFA) has announced. The coaching duo will take charge of the Uganda Cranes squad set to compete in the tournament from 2–30 August 2025, which will be co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania under the 'Pamoja East Africa' initiative. Their appointment marks a significant show of confidence in local coaching talent, with FUFA opting for continuity and chemistry by reuniting the pair who briefly oversaw the Cranes during international friendlies against Mali and Zambia in October 2023. Morley Byekwaso, a respected figure in Ugandan football, brings a strong track record of nurturing youth. He guided Uganda to the final of the 2021 Africa U20 Cup of Nations and led the team to silver at the 2024 African Games. Muhumuza, meanwhile, is a long-serving technical figure in the domestic game, known for his tactical awareness and deep understanding of local players. The duo will operate under the overall strategic direction of senior head coach Paul Put, who retains overarching responsibility for Uganda's technical vision at CHAN. FUFA has indicated that the full backroom staff and the final player list will be confirmed in the coming weeks. This appointment signals FUFA's faith in a collaborative approach and builds on the country's drive to promote homegrown coaches on the continental stage. Hosting part of the tournament on home soil gives Uganda a rare opportunity to combine tactical ambition with the power of home support — and FUFA is hoping this experienced local partnership can help deliver. CHAN 2024 is reserved exclusively for players competing in their domestic leagues. Uganda, with its strong local base and growing technical leadership, will aim to make a deep run in front of home fans. The announcement comes at a time when East Africa is in the spotlight, with the CHAN tournament serving as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will also be co-hosted by the region. FUFA says the Cranes' preparations will intensify in the coming weeks, with local training camps and friendly matches expected to help shape a competitive squad.
CAF
a day ago
- Sport
- CAF
Ngatsono returns to helm as Congo names new coaching staff for CHAN
Published: Friday, 27 June 2025 Barthélémy Ngatsono has been named head coach of Congo's A' national team as the country prepares for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), in a major technical overhaul by the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT). Ngatsono's appointment marks a return to national duty for the seasoned tactician, who previously led the senior Red Devils and now steps into a pivotal role as Congo eye their fifth appearance at the CHAN finals. He will be supported by assistant coach Cédric Nanitelamio, both of whom recently earned CAF A coaching licenses, aligning Congo's ambitions with continental standards. The decision by FECOFOOT to completely revamp the coaching structure—retaining only physical trainer Éric Moukouyou from the previous setup—underscores a desire to reset and re-energize the team's prospects ahead of the tournament in East Africa this August. The 2024 CHAN will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from 2–30 August under the 'Pamoja East Africa' initiative. Congo has been drawn into Group D, widely considered the competition's 'group of death,' featuring reigning champions Senegal, West African giants Nigeria, and Sudan. Despite the former technical team having guided the Red Devils A' to qualification, FECOFOOT's leadership opted for experience and freshness, signaling a shift toward tactical discipline and renewed intensity. Ngatsono's knowledge of the local game and history with the national side are expected to provide much-needed direction and confidence. The appointment also comes at a time when African federations are placing increasing trust in homegrown coaching talents. With both Ngatsono and Nanitelamio products of CAF's elite licensing programme, Congo joins a growing list of nations backing local expertise to compete at the highest level of continental football. CHAN 2024 is exclusively reserved for players plying their trade in domestic leagues, offering a critical platform for unearthing hidden talent and strengthening national league development. For Congo, the pressure is on to progress from the group stages—a feat they've managed just once since their CHAN debut in 2014. With a revamped technical crew and seasoned leadership, Congo's Red Devils A' are aiming to not just participate, but to make a bold statement on the continental stage. Full Red Devils A' Technical Staff: Head Coach : Barthélémy Ngatsono Assistant Coach : Cédric Nanitelamio Physical Trainer : Éric Moukouyou Goalkeeping Coach : Narcisse Bakoua Team Doctor : Auguste Ndoki Physiotherapist : Kevin Yembangoye Steward : Aimé Bopiel Media Officer: Ruffin Louemba
CAF
a day ago
- Sport
- CAF
D-8 to the Women's AFCON: Onome Ebi, Record-Breaker and Symbol of Longevity
The countdown to the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations has officially begun. To mark the occasion, invites you to relive some of the standout moments from the competition, now approaching its 13th edition. Today, we look back at the journey of a woman who has featured in seven editions of the tournament: Onome Ebi. Only 8 days to go until the CAF TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations. In the history of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, few players can compete with the longevity and impact of Onome Ebi. An emblematic central defender of Nigeria, she remains the most capped player of the tournament, with seven appearances to her credit. Ebi has played in seven editions of the Women's AFCON: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022. Across generations, opponents and styles of play, she has established herself as a central figure in the Super Falcons, an essential defensive pillar and a model of consistency. Her continental record is simply remarkable: four titles won (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) and a presence in all of Nigeria's major campaigns for more than fifteen years. Each time, Ebi held her ground, solid on her feet, lucid in her reading, sober in her attitude. A natural leader, respected and listened to. "Each African Cup has its own requirements. It's never a formality, even for a team like Nigeria," she said at the 2018 AFCON in Ghana, which ended with a victory over South Africa. If her statistics are impressive — more than 100 international caps, four AFCON wins, five World Cups played — it is above all his consistency at the very highest level that commands respect. On the pitch, as in the locker room, she embodied for more than a decade the high standards and pride of wearing the Super Falcons jersey. "As the oldest member of the group, I had a moral duty: to motivate the young people, to set an example. You don't stay in the national team with your past, you stay there with your rigor," she said in 2022, during her last appearance in the finals. Her last AFCON, in Morocco in 2022, did not lead to a title, but it will remain as the ultimate symbol of his loyalty to Nigeria and his attachment to this competition that has punctuated her career. Today, Onome Ebi occupies a special place in the archives of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, engraved over the editions, the titles and the example she has left.
