Planet Sport Football Africa

On this week’s show we analyse the draw for the 2022 Fifa World Cup and ask if it will be a better showing for Africa this time.Also we have more from one of the biggest figures in women’s football in Africa – South Africa’s Fran Hilton-Smith, on her memories and reflections of many years in women’s football on the continent.And we hear from Samuel Osei Kuffour, the former Ghana and Bayern Munich defender, on the painful loss to Manchester United in the 1999 Uefa Champions League final.Plus Stuart on the EPL, as it’s Man City v Liverpool this weekend.

On this week’s show we look back at the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs, with some hotly-contested ties, as Senegal beat Egypt, as they did in the AFCON final, Ghana won the west African derby, and Cameroon scored a stunning late winner in Algeria.  Also we have the second part of our interview with one of the biggest figures in women’s football in Africa – South Africa’s Fran Hilton-Smith, on the development of the game. And we hear from Samuel Osei Kuffour, the former Ghana and Bayern Munich defender, on his humble beginnings in life. Plus Stuart on the EPL and the World Cup qualifiers in Europe. 

On this week’s show we brace up for the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs, with Ghana having only named their squad three days ahead of their first leg with Nigeria. Also we take a look at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s return to form with Barcelona.  And we speak to one of the biggest figures in women’s football in Africa – South Africa’s Fran Hilton-Smith, a former coach of the SA women’s national team and currently a CAF instructor. 

On this week’s show we look ahead to the upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs, with the first legs on next Friday and with Africa’s five places in Qatar to be decided. We hear from Ghana, where fomer Brighton manager Chris Hughton has been appointed as technical advisor for the tie against Nigeria, before possibly taking over as head coach:Plus your views on the action taken by the British government against Chelsea, and Stuart on Ronaldo’s brilliant hat-trick against Tottenham.

On this week’s show we look ahead to the weekend’s Caf Champions League games, with Al Ahly facing Mamelodi Sundowns in the standout game. Also we speak to Nigeria legend Joseph Yobo on the shock death of his former Super Eagles teammate Justice Christopher, who passed away suddenly at the age of 40 on Wednesday.And lots on the EPL as we ask whether Everton can avoid relegation, and whether Harry Kane is a better forward than Thierry Henry was.

On this week’s show we go to Ukraine, as we have an interview with Stephen Michael Gopey, a Nigerian player in the Ukraine top-flight, on how his club went to Turkey for a training camp and arrived back on the day that Russia moved into Ukraine. Also we talk about the appointment of Rigobert Song as the new Cameroon head coach, and lots on the EPL as we have the Manchester derby this weekend, and a word on Liverpool’s win over Chelsea in a classic EFL Cup final.

On this week’s show we catch up on the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers, as four teams made it for the first time. Plus the latest from Kenya and Zimbabwe, as both countries are given Fifa suspensions. We go to Ghana, where Black Stars legend Sulley Muntari has returned back home to the Ghana Premier League, where he is playing for Hearts of Oak, at the age of 37.  And Stuart on the EFL Cup final, with Chelsea playing Liverpool on Sunday. 

On this week’s show we look at the ongoing 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers, with places at the finals in Morocco to be decided over the next few days.Also we speak to Nigeria and Watford midfielder Oghenekaro Peter Etebo, who missed the AFCON but is now back in training.We have your views on the story of Kurt Zouma, as the West Ham defender kicked his cat.And Stuart on the EPL and the Uefa Champions League.

On this week’s show we reflect on the 2021 AFCON with its highs and lows, and we ask if it was the most exciting edition of the tournament ever, with Senegal taking their first title, with numerous upsets, and very sadly, a stadium tragedy.  Also we look at Al Ahly’s strong showing at the Fifa Club World Cup, and lots on the EPL, as West Ham’s Kurt Zouma was involved in controversy for kicking his cat. 

As Senegal are the champions of Africa for the first time, we talk about their penalty shootout win over Egypt in the final. Also a look at Cameroon forward Vincent Aboubakar’s achievement as tournament top-scorer with the joint second-highest total ever.****This is the last show in the series, thanks for your support! 

As Senegal play Egypt in the final – we hear from Egypt captain Mohamed Salah. And also a look at the thrilling third-place match, where Cameroon staged an incredible comeback against Burkina Faso.  *****The show is suitable for broadcast on Sunday 6 February, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Sunday, for broadcast on Monday 7 February 

With Senegal playing Egypt in the final this weekend, we speak to Teranga Lions star Sadio Mane. We assess Senegal’s chances in the final, and look at the performance of local coaches, as 15 were at #AFCON2021, alongside nine foreign coaches.*****The show is suitable for broadcast on Saturday 5 February, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Saturday, for broadcast on Sunday 6 February 

On this week’s show we catch up on the latest at AFCON 2021, with Senegal playing Egypt in Sunday’s final. Also we assess how the local coaches have performed in comparison to the foreign coaches at the tournament, and we look at how teams will have to get used to playing football in this Covid era. Plus Stuart on the EPL, and the transfer window, as Watford now have 10 African players.    ****A reminder that our new daily 15-minute programme on the AFCON “Cameroon Roars” will run from 8 January to 7 February. It will be uploaded by 10pm GMT and will be suitable for broadcast in the morning and afternoon. The show will be uploaded here. 

Day 27 today, with Egypt having knocked out the hosts on penalties to set up a final against Senegal on Sunday. We analyse the Pharoah’s penalty shootout win against Cameroon. Also we hear from Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traore on their semi-final exit. *****The show is suitable for broadcast on Friday 4 February, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Friday, for broadcast on Saturday 5 February

Day 26 today, with Senegal through to the final and Cameroon playing Egypt in a titanic clash – we’ll be looking ahead to the game. Plus a look at some of the unheralded players who have done well at the tournament. *****The show is suitable for broadcast on Thursday 3 February, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Thursday, for broadcast on Friday 4 February

Day 25 and it’s the first semi-final, with Burkina Faso playing Senegal. We look ahead to the game, and also we look at how Covid has affected the tournament and how it might continue to be part of football for a while. And with CAF approving the Olembe Stadium to host a semi-final and the final of the tournament after last week’s stadium tragedy, we look at the safety situation there now.  *****The show is suitable for broadcast on Wednesday 2 February, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Wednesday, for broadcast on Thursday 3 February 

Day 24 and it’s a rest day. We’ll be going to Yaounde to find out what the mood is like, with hosts Cameroon through to the semi-finals. We ask how fans are feeling about the tournament after last week’s stadium tragedy. And with Vincent Aboubakar the tournament’s top-scorer with six goals so far, we compare his haul with recent tournaments.  *****The show is suitable for broadcast on Tuesday 1 February, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Tuesday, for broadcast on Wednesday 2 February 

Day 23 and Mohamed Salah sparkled as Egypt went through to the semi-finals – did Morocco fail to handle the pressure? Senegal with their best performance so far at the tournament, with a comfortable win over Equatorial Guinea.And we take a look at The Gambia’s wonderful debut AFCON, and speak to forward Musa Barrow.*****The show is suitable for broadcast on Monday 31 January, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Monday, for broadcast on Tuesday 1 February 

Day 22 today with two more quarter-finals coming up. The Gambia’s wonderful run was brought to an end by the hosts Cameroon – we have an in-depth look at that game, and we also saw Burkina Faso through to the semi-finals. And we focus on today’s contest between Egypt and Morocco – could the winner of this tie go on to become champions? *****The show is suitable for broadcast on Sunday 30 January, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Sunday, for broadcast on Monday 31 January

Day 21 today with the quarter-finals getting underway, and The Gambia hoping to continue their amazing tournament as they play the hosts Cameroon. We speak to Scorpions defender Omar Colley. Also we look at the Burkina Faso/Tunisa game, and the agony of penalty shootouts. *****The show is suitable for broadcast on Saturday 29 January, the next show will be uploaded by 2200GMT on Saturday, for broadcast on Sunday 30 January