Planet Sport Football Africa

On this week’s show we get ready for the resumption of the EPL – it’s just days away now, and Stuart looks at how the remaining games might go. Will there be some surprises with games played in empty stadiums? Also we have an interview with former Gambia national team defender John Bass, whose career was cut short due to a kidney problem. He tells us his story, and about how he’s now raising awareness of kidney disease in The Gambia. Plus, Raheem Sterling speaks out on racism and the Black Lives Matter movement.

On this week’s show we have an interview with Nigeria defender Leon Balogun, he’s on loan at English Championship side Wigan Athletic from EPL club Brighton until the end of the season. He talks about the disappointment of failing to get a regular starting place with Brighton. Balogun also talks about racism in Germany, where he grew up, and on the same theme we look at the Black Lives Matter movement as footballers have spoken out about the death of George Floyd in the USA. 

On this week’s show we look at the future of football in Africa, as an online conference was held to examine the direction that the African sports industry should take post Covid-19. We’ll hear from Liberia’s President George Weah, and from South African sports media consultant Gary Rathbone, who believes that clubs must have a stronger digital presence. We also look at a suggestion that some of Africa’s traditional sports could be commercialised. Our European football expert Stuart analyses the apparent lack of home advantage in the Bundesliga, and whether it will affect the relegation battle in the EPL. Send us your views on WhatsApp +44 7955 232 780

On this week’s show we take a look at transfer fees – how they have risen steeply in the world’s big leagues over the last few years, and whether Covid-19 is going to end this transfer inflation. The biggest transfer deal for an African player is Nicholas Pepe last August, while 222m Euro move to PSG is the world record. But back in 1979 there was excitement when Trevor Francis became Britain's first £1 million player, we speak to him. Plus listeners’ thoughts on lessons that we are learning during the coronavirus pandemic, and Stuart has some great statistics as the Bundesliga resumed in empty stadiums – only one home win and less dribbling.

On this week’s show we talk about playing behind closed doors, as it’s one of the conditions for football to return. Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo scored for Man United in an empty stadium in a Europa League match just before football was stopped in Europe, he tells us about it. And the German Bundesliga is back this weekend – the first of Europe’s big leagues to return to action. Stuart highlights the African presence in the Bundesliga.

On this week’s show we ask if we’re likely to see any more continental competition in Africa this year, given the effects of coronavirus. Also, as the coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of people to think deeply, to think about what really matters in life, we speak to Yaw Yeboah, the Ghana captain at last year’s Under-23 AFCON in Egypt. He’s based in Spain and he tells us about how life is there. And Stuart looks at the issues that clubs must vote on ahead of a resumption of the EPL, and we ask whether the Uefa Champions League is likely to be completed

On this week’s show we look at how the coronavirus situation is affecting football in Africa. There was good news for national associations as Fifa will give $500,000 of financial relief to all of their member associations for operational costs. But it’s tough for clubs, though Cameroon’s FA, say they will give clubs in the top divisions $2000 each – it’s not much, but they are trying.Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba’s aim of becoming the next Ivory Coast FA president took a knock in a preliminary vote, where he had no votes. But do we need more former players to get involved as administrators, or do they lack the skills required? Plus Stuart continues his series assessing the African players’ performances in the EPL so far this season.

On this week’s show we remember the Zambia air disaster of 1993, when Zambia lost most of their national team players in a crash off the coast of Gabon. In 2012 Zambia were to go on to win the Nations Cup in Gabon. As mental health is an issue right now, we have an interview with Gambian Cherno Samba. When a dream move to Liverpool fell through, Samba battled with depression and he attempted suicide.And we have a very clever commentary from Sierra Leone to promote coronavirus awareness.

On this week’s show we talk about racism in football – while most of us are missing the excitement of football in Europe’s big leagues, it’s worth remembering that it’s been a bad season in terms of racism in European football, and we hear from former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey. Also Stuart continues looking at the African players who have done well so far this season in the EPL, and we go into the archive and relive a trip to the pyramids in Egypt during last year’s AFCON.

On this week’s show we ask when will action resume in the EPL, as fans around Africa are missing the games so much. Also, Stuart takes a look at the best African players in the EPL this season, and we go into our archive to a 2017 interview with Liberia legend James Debbah, who played alongside George Weah. Debbah talks about Liberia’s first qualification to the AFCON in 1996.

On this week’s show we talk about stadiums in Africa, and we hear from South Africa legend Mark Fish, who’s part of a Caf team that’s been inspecting stadiums in Africa ahead of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. Fish says that better stadiums in Africa will produce better football. Plus, we go into our archive and go back to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, and visit the Copacabana Beach and the Christ the Redeemer statue. And Stuart looks at the large amount of errors made this season by goalkeepers in the EPL.

On this week’s show we look at how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting clubs in Africa, with the situation stretching the finances of many teams. Also we speak to Modou Lamin Marong, a Gambian player based in Sweden, he tells us how he’s managing to stay fit as a player in self-isolation.Stuart takes a look at the implications of the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, and while we are all affected by the coronavirus situation in some way, we’re going to make sure that the show gives you plenty of entertainment every week to lift your spirits, and this week we’re going back to the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, where the world was hit by the noisy vuvuzela!

On this week’s show, Idah has been speaking to Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke – we’ll hear about winning the treble in 1999, his amazing partnership with Andy Cole, and his thoughts on African football.Plus a look at the impact of Coronavirus on football, with the African Nations Championship postponed, and we’ll hear from a Nigerian and a Gambian based in Europe. And as Euro 2020 is postponed because of Coronavirus, as well as Europe’s top leagues, we ask Stuart how the calendar will work as the EPL says the season will be completed. Also we ask what the economic implications are.

On this week’s show we catch up on the Caf Champions League, as there’s a possibility of an all-Egyptian or an all-Moroccan final. We take a trip to Tanzania and find out about one of Africa’s biggest derbies, the Dar Es Salaam derby between Yanga and Simba. And in Europe, we get Stuart’s thoughts on Liverpool’s early exit from the Champions League.

On this week’s show we go to Ghana and hear about the #BringBackTheLove campaign for the national team, as fans have been through frustrating times. Many of us do fall in and out of love with our national team, we hear what Ghana supporters make of this campaign. Plus, three defeats from four for Liverpool, how will the Reds cope in their crucial Champions League game against Atletico Madrid next Wednesday?

On this week’s show we have an exclusive interview with Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo, who has fulfilled his dream of playing for Manchester United, joining them on loan from China, and even taking a pay cut. We also hear how Ighalo lost his sister Mary, who died last December, and how he is dedicating his career to her. And we ask if Ighalo will be a success at Manchester United. Plus lots on the latest VAR controversy in the EPL.

On this week’s show we take a look at the draw for the 2020 African Nations Championship, the CHAN, to be played in April in Cameroon. We hear from Zambia’s new coach, Micho. As CAF conducts the bidding process for host venues for this season’s African Champions League and Confederation Cup finals – giving potential hosts only 10 days to bid, and with the finals of these two tournaments just three months away, we ask how reasonable this was. And Liverpool lose a game in the Uefa Champions League – will they struggle in the knockout stage?

On this week’s show we focus on the under-representation of black managers in European football. While African stars have lit up the leagues of Europe as players, Africans have made virtually no impact as managers in Europe. More than that, there is a general lack of what are called BAME managers in English football – BAME standing for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic. We ask what the way forward is. Plus, Emmanuel Adebayor makes a surprise move to Paraguay, and a look at the EPL and Italy’s Serie A.

On this week’s show we talk about the comments made by Fifa President Gianni Infantino, who has proposed that the Africa Cup of Nations be held every four years instead of two. Is this Fifa interfering in African football, does the idea make sense? Also, with the 2020 Futsal AFCON ending in Morocco, we go to Morocco and find out about the tournament. And as Mbwana Samatta became the first Tanzanian to play in the EPL, Stuart takes a look at the African representation there over the years.

On this week’s show we head to Cameroon and catch up on preparations for the 2021 AFCON, which is less than a year away, and also the CHAN, being held in just over two months, also in Cameroon. We’ll hear from CAF president Ahmad, who is impressed with how it’s going. Also, we catch up with some of the transfer news in Europe in the January window, as Nigeria’s Victor Moses has gone to Italian side Inter Milan on loan, reuniting with Antonio Conte, who was his coach at Chelsea. And Stuart takes a look at the crisis at Manchester United.