Planet Sport Football Africa

SHOULD THE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BE EXPANDED TO 16 TEAMS?On this week's show we take a look at the CAF Champions League and ask if the competition should be expanded to have 16 teams in the group stage rather than 8. Giants like Coton Sport, Asante Kotoko, Enyimba and Kano Pillars are already out, while second round ties include Raja Casablanca against defending champions Entente Setif. We hear from Gambian club Real de Banjul on how tough their campaign was. Is it time to expand the competition to give more teams a chance, or is it ok as it is?

On this week's show we hear from the current top-scoring African in England – Nigeria's Odion Ighalo, who has 19 goals for Watford in the Championship. Also we ask if Gabon will be good hosts of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, and if Africa is wise to offer overwhelming support for Sepp Blatter in the elections for Fifa president next month.

On this week's show we ask who has been the best African player in the EPL so far this season. With Yaya Toure not at his best, who is really shining? We hear from fans in Kenya and give our own analysis on an issue where there are plenty of different opinions.

On this week's show we speak to Fifa’s Head of Development on football development in Liberia, The Gambia and Zimbabwe. With Nigeria winning the African U20 championship again, we ask when will Nigeria's success at youth level be converted to success at senior level. And we catch up on how the African stars are doing in the EPL, as Wilfried Bony gets his first goal for Manchester City.

On this week's show we take a look at the struggles of smaller footballing nations in Africa and we speak to Alphonso Armah from the Liberia Football Association. Fifa gives an annual development grant of $250,000 to each one of its member nations, and Armah strongly believes that it doesn't make sense. He argues that more money should go to the developing football nations, while countries like England don't need the money at all.

On this week's show we have an interview with the secretary-general of the Liberia Football Association on how the Ebola outbreak has affected football in that country. Liberia's national team and their clubs involved in continental competitions have been burdened with huge expenses as they have had to play home matches in other countries.Also we take a look at Didier Drogba's amazing Cup achievements with Chelsea.

On this week's show we have an interview with US-based Gambian Abdoulie Mansally, who recently went on a trip to his home village where he gave football boots and bags of rice to people in the community, as part of the work of his foundation. Many other players with good contracts do support noble causes, but do players do enough to give back to others, given the huge salaries that some of them earn?

This week we hear more from Nigeria forward Sani Emmanuel, the player of the tournament at the Fifa U-17 World Cup in 2009 and we look at the common situation where players who are injured on national duty are not assisted by their federations. And we ask what we can expect from Wilfried Bony at Manchester City after two appearances as a substitute.

This week we speak to Nigeria forward Sani Emmanuel, the player of the tournament at the Fifa U-17 World Cup in 2009. A promising start to his career was derailed by injury, and Emmanuel tells us about his hopes. We ask why it is that some greatly-gifted young players don't fulfil their talent at senior level, and we hear from England's Michael Owen.

This week we look back at the AFCON, with Ivory Coast winning a good tournament. We speak to fans in the Gambia, who were excited to see their referee Bakary Papa Gassama officiate the final. And we look forward to the first legs of the round of 16 in the Uefa Champions League, with lots of Africans likely to be involved.

This week we look back at the controversial AFCON semi-final between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana, and we look ahead to Sunday's final between Ivory Coast and Ghana. Cameroon midfielder Eyong Enoh tells us about handling pressure, and we take a look at the big transfers involving African players in the January transfer window, among them Wilfried Bony's move to Manchester City.

This week's show is all about the Africa Cup of Nations as we analyse the competition so far. We ask if it was fair that Guinea and Mali had to be separated by the drawing of lots and we ask how clubs in England are doing without their African stars? And we hear from Ivory Coast on the progress of the Elephants.

This week we take a look at how the 2015 AFCON is shaping up in Equatorial Guinea, with five of the opening games ending in 1-1 draws. Also we find out more about players changing nationality and discover that Equatorial Guinea is the most prolific country in Africa as far as this is concerned.

This week we look ahead to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and hear from the coaches of two previous winner of the competition – South Africa and Zambia. We ask if Algeria can hold their nerve and win the tournament, and we speak to Zambia international Jacob Mulenga on how he has coped with the disappointment of long-term injury.

This week we focus on the issue of players changing nationality – as many national associations are on the lookout for players who are eligible to switch allegiance and play for them, we ask if it's fair, and if it's unpatriotic. And we take a look at Cameroon's chances at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

This week we look ahead to the new year in football, which includes the Africa Cup of Nations, the Women's World Cup, the Under-20 World Cup and the Under-17 World Cup. Also we look back at 2014 and hear from fans in Malawi on their highs and lows.

We review African football over the past twelve months including the performance of teams at the World Cup in Brazil and presenter Solomon Ashoms recalls a personal highlight from the World Cup in Rio, visiting the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking the city.

This week we take a look youth football in Africa and ask if the continent is serious enough in youth football. Nigeria have won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup four times, Ghana have won it twice, and have also won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, showing that there is great talent in Africa at youth level, but youth coaches of many African countries feel that they are not getting the support that they need. We hear from youth coaches in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Namibia.

This week we take a look at the 2014 Fifa Club World Cup, which and is currently taking place in Morocco. We look at the history of the tournament and we ask what the purpose of the competition is exactly. Also we assess Africa's chances and ask if anyone can beat Real Madrid.

This week we ask who is the best African player of 2014 and look at Yacine Brahimi of Algeria, Asamoah Gyan of Ghana and Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang. Also we speak to South Africa women's team striker Portia Modise, who reached the milestone of 100 international goals this year, and we ask whether former Chelsea boss Avram Grant will be successful in his new job as Ghana coach.