Planet Sport Football Africa

On this week's show we ask whether football was better in the old days. In many countries around Africa, retired great players will tell you that football was so much better in their era than today's. They might say that they were more committed, more entertaining and that they would have gone further with the opportunities that African players have today. But how far true is that?

On this week's show we focus on one of the greatest African players ever, Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu, who played for five seasons at Arsenal and was twice named African Footballer of the Year. We talk about Sofiane Boufal, who's making his mark at Southampton in the English Premier League, and we speak to Jordan Botaka, a DR Congo striker who plays in Belgium with St Truidense. Botaka still believes that the DRC can qualify for next year's World Cup. And we look forward to the CAF Champions League two-legged final between Egypt's Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca from Morocco.

On this week's show we catch up with the latest African football news, as Morocco will replace Kenya as hosts of the 2018 African Nations Championship – will they do a good job? We speak to Nigeria midfielder John Ogu, who plays his club football in Israel with Hapoel Beer Sheva. And we ask if it's a good place to be in terms of being noticed. Plus news from the Under-17 World Cup.

On this week's show we talk about the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, as Nigeria and Egypt have made it to Russia 2018, while Ivory Coast are in a precarious situation. We have an in-depth interview with Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah, who tells us about life in the USA, his faith and his best moments with the Black Stars. We also zoom in on the Uefa Champions League, as 39 Africans are among the 32 teams playing in the group stage.

On this week's show we look at Africa's chances at the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in India, with four teams representing the continent. We have an interview with young Nigerian goalkeeper Dele Alampasu, the goalkeeper of the tournament at the 2013 edition of the Under-17 World Cup, and one of few young African goalkeepers to have made it in Europe, currently playing in Portugal. Also, perhaps better times ahead for Senegal's Diafra Sakho after a quiet season last time, getting the winner for West Ham last weekend.

On this week's show we catch up with one of the greatest African footballers of all time, Nigeria's Jay Jay Okocha, arguably the most skilful African footballer of all time. Okocha gives his views on what needs to be done in Nigerian football to get back to those glory days of the 1990s. Also we catch up with how the top African players are doing in China. And, as Kenya has had the right to host the 2018 African Nations Championship taken away, who might replace them?

This week's show comes from the Wafu Cup in Ghana. We focus on football here in Ghana and get the views of a leading sports journalist. We also experience some of the country's culture, and we ask how significant is the appointment of Ivory Coast great Kolo Toure as technical assistant of Scottish club Celtic.

On this week's show we speak to a rising star in African football – Nigeria goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who made his full debut for the Super Eagles against Cameroon in the recent World Cup qualifiers. We have a special report from Cameroon on the team failing to qualify for next year's World Cup, with reaction from fans, analysts and former players. Plus news from the EPL as Senegal's Sadio Mane gets a somewhat controversial red card.

On this week's show we speak to Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo, back in the national team after a disappointing spell at Watford, which saw him move to China. We have your thoughts on refereeing in Africa, and we hear from former EPL referee Bob Hamer on how the Premier League era changed the game in England. And Stuart takes a look at the main African moves in an action-packed transfer window.

On this week's show we talk about the standards of refereeing in Africa. We often hear fans, players and coaches complaining about referees, but are they really doing a bad job? We speak to a referees' instructor and we get the views of fans in the Gambia. Is the continent lagging behind, are allegations of corruption among match officials justified?

On this week's show we ask how do you prefer to watch football – do you like to go to the stadium and soak up the atmosphere and excitement; do you love to watch at home on TV, or maybe you're one of those who likes to watch on TV but in a public place such as a sports bar or a viewing centre.We catch up with the latest in the EPL – are Manchester United hot favourites for the title now? And your thoughts on who's the greatest African ever in the EPL.

On this week's show we catch up on the start of the new EPL season, with plenty of Africans shining, among them the little-known Steve Mounie at Huddersfield. Nigeria's Olarenwaju Kayode signed by Manchester City but immediately loaned to a Spanish side – what does that mean for Kayode? And part two of our interview with Enoh Eyong, the Cameroon midfielder who's played all across Europe. This week he talks of how his faith helps him in difficult times.

On this week's show we look ahead to the new EPL season. Which team is most likely to win it, which African players will shine, and which managers have made the best signings? Also we speak to Enoh Eyong, the Cameroon midfielder who's played for Ajax in the Netherlands, Fulham in the EPL and is currently in Belgium with Standard Liege. And we ask whether Gambian winger Modou Barrow's move to Reading in the English Championship is a good one.

On this week's show we talk about the transfer market and in particular the huge fees being paid for top players in Europe and we'll contrast that with the very low fees that are paid in most African countries. Can these high fees in Europe be sustained? We hear from fans in Kenya.Plus thoughts on the expanded Africa Cup of Nations, and, as two fans died in a stadium disaster in South Africa last weekend, we get reaction from Solomon in Johannesburg.

On this week's show we focus on the Africa Cup Of Nations. Major changes have been made, including the expansion of the tournament, which has brought 2019 hosts Cameroon's ability to stage the competition under further scrutiny. We hear from Cameroon on the state of preparations. And we find out about football in Namibia as the team is through to the final round of 2018 CHAN qualifying, despite having many challenges...

On this week's show we ask how safe our stadiums are in Africa. Last weekend eight people died after a wall collapsed at a stadium in Senegal, after police fired tear gas. It's the latest in a long line of tragedies and we ask whether it's safe to take our families to stadiums and if enough action is being taken. We hear from Ghana, the scene of Africa's worst-ever stadium disaster, and from South Africa, where 43 fans died in 2001.And we have part two of our interview with Kenya national team goalkeeper Arnold Origi.

On this week's show we talk a bit more about football in South Africa and hear from France-based winger Kermit Erasmus, who plays for Rennes in France. Erasmus tells us about the challenges of moving to Europe. Also we catch up on transfer news in Europe, and ask how Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho would fit in at Leicester. And we talk about Egypt's Mohamed Salah, who's moved from Roma in Italy to Liverpool for around $40m. And we have an interview with Kenya national team goalkeeper Arnold Origi. Cousin of Liverpool's Divock Origi. Arnold plays for Lillestrøm in Norway.

On this week's show we talk to two young African players based in Europe – South Africa national team midfielder Keagan Dolly tells us about life at Montpelier in France, and says that he hopes that more South Africans can make it in Europe. Also we speak to Ghana hotshot Raphael Dwamena, who plays for FC Zurich in Switzerand. Dwamena recently made his debut for the Black Stars, scoring twice in a Nations Cup qualifier, but he wasn't expecting to get his chance so soon.

On this week's show we focus on African players in Belgium – a popular destination for Africans, many of whom hope to move on to bigger leagues. We speak to Zimbabwe national team captain Knowledge Musona, who plays for KV Oostende and is rated as one of the best strikers in Belgium. Also we discuss Cameroon's group-stage exit at the Fifa Confederations Cup.

On this week's show we talk about the use of Video Assistant Referees at the Fifa Confederations Cup as the technology is being used for the first time at a major senior tournament. The VARs have ensured that correct decisions are being made, but they seem to be disturbing the flow of play. Also we talk about other proposed plans to improve the game of football, such as having 30-minute halves with the watch being stopped when the ball goes out of play. And we speak to DR Congo winger Paul-José M'Poku, who scored twice at this year's AFCON in Gabon, talking about his football and his faith.