Ogarbor will lead a four-man Nigerian officiating team for the fixture at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

According to the Ghana Football Association, Ogarbor has been designated as the centre referee, with compatriots Tejiri Besmart Digbori and Ahmad Tijani Mustapha appointed as assistant referees, while Salisu Basher will serve as the fourth official.

The Gambian Bakary Jammeh has been appointed match commissioner, while Ivorian referee assessor Sinko Zeli will serve as the referee assessor.

The appointment comes as the 2026/27 CAF Champions League gets underway this weekend, with the first preliminary round first legs scheduled for September 4-6.

The return legs will be played from September 11-13, with the 16 clubs that progress from the preliminary rounds advancing to the group stage.

A total of 61 clubs entered this season’s CAF Champions League, with defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Espérance Sportive de Tunis and RS Berkane receiving byes into the second preliminary round.

Medeama face a difficult opening assignment against TP Mazembe, who have won Africa’s premier club competition five times.

The winner of the tie will face either Tunisia‘s Club Africain or Mali‘s Djoliba AC in the second preliminary round.

Ogarbor’s appointment gives him an opportunity to officiate at the continental level after earning the confidence of CAF for a high-profile Champions League fixture.

The assignment comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s declining presence among the continent’s leading refereeing nations in recent years.

Nigerian match officials have missed several major international competitions amid concerns surrounding the standard of domestic football, referee development, fitness, assessment, facilities and the limited exposure officials receive to high-level matches.

The quality and organisation of domestic competitions have also remained an issue, with inconsistent standards, pressure surrounding officiating and limited access to modern refereeing technology affecting the environment in which Nigerian officials operate.

Those challenges have made it increasingly difficult for referees to consistently meet the fitness, technical and performance standards required to secure places at major CAF and FIFA tournaments.

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Nigeria’s Edo Queens continued their impressive start to the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifying campaign with a 3-1 victory over Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas in Burkina Faso.

The Nigerian champions secured their second consecutive win in the WAFU B qualifying tournament, strengthening their position in the race for a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Oluwakemi Adegbuyi was at the centre of Edo Queens’ latest victory, scoring against ASEC Mimosas and earning the Player of the Match award for her performance.

Adegbuyi combined her attacking contribution with an energetic display throughout the contest as Edo Queens maintained their winning start to the regional qualifiers.

The victory followed Edo Queens’ opening win in the competition and gave the Nigerian side back-to-back victories as they continue their campaign in Burkina Faso.

However, the match was not without controversy.

ASEC Mimosas appeared to have a strong claim that the ball had gone out of play in the build-up to one of the goals, with the incident prompting questions over the decision to allow play to continue.

Despite the controversy, Edo Queens maintained their composure and went on to complete a 3-1 victory over the Ivorian side.

For Edo Queens, the result represents another positive step in their bid to return to the CAF Women’s Champions League.

The Benin City-based club made history in 2024 when they became the first Nigerian club to win the WAFU B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifying tournament.

They subsequently represented West Africa at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco, where they reached the semi-finals before finishing third after defeating TP Mazembe.

Their current campaign provides another opportunity to challenge for continental honours and secure a return to the main CAF Women’s Champions League tournament.

Adegbuyi’s performance also gives Edo Queens another attacking option to rely on as the competition progresses.

The Player of the Match award capped a strong individual outing for the Nigerian forward, who made her presence felt at both ends of the pitch and helped Edo Queens maintain their perfect start.

With two wins from their opening matches, Edo Queens will now turn their attention to their remaining fixtures in the WAFU B qualifiers.

The objective is clear: maintain their winning momentum, finish strongly in the group and secure another opportunity to represent Nigeria on the continental stage.

For Edo Queens, the journey in Burkina Faso is already producing results.

And with players such as Adegbuyi stepping up when it matters, the Nigerian champions are once again showing why they remain one of the teams to watch in West African women’s football.

The post Edo Queens defeat ASEC Mimosas as Oluwakemi Adegbuyi stars in CAF Women’s Champions League qualifier appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

The Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024 will be played between 9 and 23 November 2024. Morocco previously hosted the 2022 edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League – the premier women’s club football competition in Africa.

Eight clubs will contest the top prize. The winners will receive USD 400,000 in prize money, with the runners-up earning USD 250,000.

Morocco to host CAF Women’s Champions League 2024 in Novemberhttps://t.co/yydET5PX4H

— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) October 16, 2024

Mamelodi Sundowns are the current holders, having won the competition twice in three years. Morocco’s ASFAR is the only other team to have won the competition, back in 2022 when they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns.

Since its inception, the CAF Women’s Champions League has played a key role in shaping women’s football in Africa.

Morocco’s hosting of the CAF Women’s Champions League follows the nation’s successful hosting of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022, which also achieved unparalleled success.

Six zonal tournaments took place to qualify six teams, in addition to the host and the holder of the 2023 title, for the final tournament of the CAF Women’s Champions League 2024. The following teams have qualified:

CAF Women’s Champions League Qualified Clubs:

– Holders: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

– Host: ASFAR (Morocco)

– WAFU A: Aigles de la Médina (Senegal)

– WAFU B: Edo Queens (Nigeria)

– COSAFA: University of Western Cape (South Africa)

– UNAF: Tutankhamun (Egypt)

– CECAFA: CBE FC (Ethiopia)

– UNIFFAC: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Live updates, indepth statistics  and historical facts of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League will be available across all Made In Africa Sport channels.

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The group stage saw title holders, USM Alger, top group A, while Zamalek, Dreams, and RS Berkane topped groups B, C, and D respectively.

With Egypt being the only country with two teams in the second round after Modern Future finished as runners-up in group A, they were joined by Libya’s Abu Salim from group B, Nigeria’s Rivers United from group C, and Mali’s Stade Malien from group D.

In the Champions League, Mamelodi Sundowns, ASEC Mimosas, Petro de Luanda, and Al Ahly were the group winners, and TP Mazembe, Simba, Espérance de Tunis, and Young Africans joined as runners-up.

Both competitions deployed the same procedure, as the four group winners were seeded for the quarter-finals while the four group runners-up were unseeded. The seeded teams were drawn against the unseeded teams, with the seeded teams hosting the second leg.

Teams from the same group were not drawn against each other, while teams from the same country were drawn against each other.

The Confederation Cup Quarter-Finals draw took place first and saw exciting match-ups for the quarter-finals of the continent’s secondary club competition. Holders, USM Alger, will travel to Nigeria to face Rivers United.

Abu Salim will stand in the way of RS Berkane in their quest to win a record-equalling three titles, as Modern Future trade tackles with Zamalek in an all-Egyptian affair, and the quartet is completed with Ghana’s Dreams facing Stade Malien.

8 teams, 8 different routes, 1 final destination in sight. #TotalEnergiesCAFCC pic.twitter.com/3CzA2NYgag

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC (@CAFCLCC) March 12, 2024

The road to the final of the 60th edition of Africa’s premier club football tournament is as challenging as one could ever imagine.

Tunisian champions, Espérance de Tunis, will welcome Ivorian champion, ASEC Mimosas, with the winner facing the Tanzanian champion, Young Africans, or the South African champion, Mamelodi Sundowns.

In the other path of the draw, five-time winner TP Mazembe will face Angola Girabola champions, Petro de Luanda, and the match-up between 22-time Tanzania league winner, Simba, and Champions League title holder, Al Ahly.

The road to the precious #TotalEnergiesCAFCL title is all drawn. pic.twitter.com/Kb9zBMfkCj

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC (@CAFCLCC) March 12, 2024

The knockout will kick off with games in the Champions League on 29–30 March 2024 for the first leg, and the second leg comes a week later from 5–6 April 2024, while the Confederation Cup comes up a day later for both legs on 31 March 2024 and 7 April 2024.

The semi-final is scheduled for 19–20 April 2024 and 26–27 April 2024 for the Champions League, and 21 April 2024 and 28 April 2024 for the Confederation Cup.

The African club competitions end with double-legged finals, starting with the Confederations Cup on 10 May 2024 and 17 May 2024, and the Champions League on 19 May 2024 and 26 May 2024.

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Sunzu’s kick handed Zambia an 8-7 win on spot kicks over the heavily fancied Côte d’Ivoire in the 2012 final in Libreville. He is one of only two players named on Saturday by coach Avram Grant who has previous finals experience.

Iraq-based Roderick Kabwe was also in the squad on their last appearance in 2015 but Zambia have since missed out on three successive editions, failing to qualify for the 2017, 2019 and 2021 editions of the tournament.

https://twitter.com/fazfootball/status/1741118207086207187?s=46

Zambia take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening game in San Pedro on Jan. 17 and also meet Tanzania and Morocco in Group F.

Their squad heads for Saudi Arabia on Monday for their preparations where they will meet Cameroon in a friendly warm-up game.

Zambia AFCON 2023 Squad:

• Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Green Buffaloes), Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United)
• Defenders: Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Roderick Kabwe (Zakho), Gift Mphande (Hapoel Rishon Lezion), Frankie Musonda (Ayr United), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe), Zephaniah Phiri (Prison Leopards), Stoppilla Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou)
• Midfielders: Emmanuel Banda (HNK Rijeka), Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune United), Miguel Chaiwa (Young Boys Berne), Clatous Chama (Simba), Edward Chilufya (Hacken), Kings Kangwa (Red Star Belgrade), Kelvin Kapumbu (Zesco United), Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov), Kelvin Mubanga (Zesco United), Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos), Lubambo Musonda (Silkeborg), Switzerland), Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav)
• Forwards: Lameck Banda (Lecce), Patson Daka (Leicester City), Kennedy Musonda (Young Africans), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha).

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Friendly Fire Before the Flames

Before diving headfirst into the AFCON furnace, Mauritania will test their mettle against North African giants Tunisia in an international friendly on January 6. This pre-tournament clash will be a crucial opportunity to fine-tune tactics and build momentum for the tougher battles ahead.

Familiar Faces and Fresh Blood

The squad features a blend of seasoned veterans and exciting newcomers. The experienced El-Hadji Ba, a former Ligue 1 midfielder with Racing Lens and Sunderland, makes a triumphant return to the national fold after an 18-month hiatus. His return adds depth and leadership to the midfield.

Teenager Oumar Ngom, a rising star currently honing his skills at French club Pau, receives his maiden call-up, injecting a spark of youthful exuberance into the squad.

AFCON news:

Mauritania named their final squad list for the AFCON next month.

• 3 goalkeepers
• 8 defenders
• 8 midfielders
• 8 attackers #AfconwithMicky #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/Zfyo3SgwPb

— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) December 25, 2023

Group of Grit

Mauritania’s AFCON journey begins on January 16 against Burkina Faso in Bouake. The Lions will then face continental powerhouses Algeria and Angola in Group D, promising a grueling test of their resolve.

With a potent mix of experience and young talent, Mauritania are determined to go beyond the group stage for the first time in their AFCON history. The friendly against Tunisia will be the first step in their quest to reaching new heights in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers: Namori Diaw (Tevragh Zeina), Babacar Diop (FC Nouadhibou), Babacar Niasse (En Avant Guingamp)

Defenders: Aly Abeid (UTA Arad), Lamine Ba (NK Varazdin), Khadim Diaw (Al Hilal), Nouh Mohamed El Abd (FC Nouadhibou), El Hassen Houeibib (Al Zawraa), Ibrahima Keita (TP Mazembe), Bakary Ndiaye (Al Quwa Al Jawiya), Mohamed Dellah Yali (Al Hedod)

Midfielders: El Hadji Ba, Mouhsine Bodda (both FC Nouadhibou), Bakari Camara (Villefranche-Beaujolais), Sidi Ahmed Mohamed El Abd (Nouakchott Kings), Guessouma Fofana (Doxa Katokopias), Omare Gassama (Chateauroux), Abdallahi Mahmoud (Bellinzona), Oumar Ngom (Pau)

Forwards: Souleymane Anne (KMSK Deinze), Pape Ibnou Ba (Concarneau), Amar Sidi Bouna (FC Nouadhibou), Souleymane Doukara (Magusa Turk Gucu), Aboubakar Kamara (Al Jazira), Aboubakaray Koita (St Truiden), Hemeya Tanji (Ai Ittihad Tripoli), Idrissa Thiam (Al Mesaimeer)

The post Abdou unveils provisional squad as Mauritanian ready to roar into AFCON 2023 with pre-tournament clash against Tunisia appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Speaking from their training base in Uyo, Eze Ekwutoziam Happy addressed the media in anticipation of the upcoming clash against Wydad Casablanca.

“A lot is expected from us, especially as we approach the game against Wydad Casablanca,” Eze Ekwutoziam Happy said. “We are well aware of how formidable our opponents are; they are one of the biggest teams in the entirety of Africa. However, we are not succumbing to pressure, as we have put in extensive effort to maintain our form and devise strategies to overcome Wydad Casablanca.”

He continued, “Expectations are high, not just from our loyal fans but from all Nigerians and the entire West Africa. We want to assure everyone that we will not disappoint. We are entering this game with the right mindset, one focused on victory.”

Happy emphasised the significance of this platform, saying, “This is a monumental opportunity for us. We are not only representing Nigeria but the entire West Africa, and we take that responsibility seriously.”

The African Football League started on Friday, 20 October 2023, at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar es Salaam in an opening match that saw Egyptian side Al Ahly draw 2-2 against the host, Simba SC.

Game two of the league will see Petro Atlético host South African giant, Mamelodi Sundowns at the Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, by 4 p.m. on Saturday, 21 October 2023, while 19-times DR Congo Vodacom Ligue 1’s champion, TP Mazembe, will welcome Espérance de Tunis at their makeshift ground in Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, by 4 p.m. on Sunday, 22 October 2023.

Off the back of their impressive 3-2 win in a five-goal thriller against Akwa United in the NPFL, Enyimba will be playing host to Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Casablanca home away from home at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo in the AFL’s last match of the first leg by 7 p.m. on Sunday, 22 October 2023.

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