International Football
THE FA IN ENGLAND PROPOSING REBRANDING
BY NANCY GILLEN
The Football Association (FA) has held discussions over rebranding to the English Football Association.
It has long been an objective of outgoing chief executive Martin Glenn and talks were recently held at Wembley Stadium, as reported by SportsPro.
He described as “the ultimate expression of arrogance” the existing name when he began his role in 2015 and FA executives have referred to “the English FA” when on international business for several years.
It had been proposed the governance of the game in England would be overseen by the EFA and that 28 England teams, national players, coaches, grassroots football and facilities would come under a new ‘England Football’ brand.
The FA would remain the organisation’s legal name and the name of the holding company, with the FA Cup, FA Council, FA Board and county football associations continuing to have the same names.
Discussions on the subject are set to continue at the FA’s next meeting.
The move could act as a boost to England’s hopes of holding the 2030 FIFA World Cup, potentially as a joint host with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A feasibility study is being carried out by The FA regarding the possibility of a bid.
Glenn announced his resignation from the chief executive role in December and will hope to implement the rebrand as one of his final acts.
Mark Bullingham has been named his successor and will begin the job at the end of the 2018-2019 season.
The appointment is an internal one, the Englishman having joined The FA in August 2016 as its commercial and marketing director.
His role expanded in December last year, when he became chief commercial and football development officer.
Bullingham had been the chief executive of Fuse Sport and Entertainment for five years prior to joining the FA.
“I’m hugely passionate about the role The FA plays in improving the English game and our positive contribution to society,” he said.
“Getting kids across the country active and learning life skills such as teamwork and communication is incredibly rewarding.
“I’m confident in the talent and determination of the workforce here and the direction we are heading together.
“However, there is still a huge amount to do; from transforming the quality of amateur pitches, to doubling the women’s and girls’ game across the country, to hosting major international tournaments, to building digital tools to help volunteers across all areas of the grassroots game.
“The to-do list is long but we know that as a team, we can deliver huge progress.
He added: “I would also like to thank Martin Glenn for his support over the past two and a half years.
“Martin has played a principal role in making The FA a more modern, innovative and inclusive organisation.
“He has created a strong leadership team that is making a real difference at every level of English football.”
Glenn’s four years as chief executive were marked by various controversies.
This included the sacking of the England women’s manager Mark Sampson following allegations of racism and an “unprofessional” relationship with a player, the departure of Sam Allardyce as the manager of the men’s team after 67 days in the role and the cancellation of a proposed sale of Wembley Stadium.
His tenure also saw success for England’s national teams, however, with the women’s team finishing third in the 2015 FIFA World Cup and the men’s team ending fourth in the 2018 tournament.
- Inside The Games
Moroccan defender Zakaria El Ouahdi has definitively ended speculation about his international future, affirming his unwavering commitment to the Atlas Lions despite interest from Belgium.
The 22-year-old right-back, currently plying his trade with Belgian side Genk, has reassured Moroccan supporters of his loyalty after his recent comments were widely seen as his openness to representing the Belgian national team.
However, in an interview with in the Belgian media, El Ouahdi clarified his stance, emphasizing his determination to represent Morocco at the senior level.
“Even if I am told that I am 100% sure of being a regular for the Red Devils and that in Morocco this chance is only 10%, I would have a hard time changing. I made this choice with my heart,” he said.
El Ouahdi, who won bronze with Morocco at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023, added that he wears the Moroccan jersey with pride.
The defender’s father, Mohamed, echoed these sentiments, stating, “His heart and blood are Moroccan.”
El Ouahdi’s commitment comes as a relief to Moroccan fans, especially with the team gearing up for the crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations which will be hosted by his country later this year.
The Antwerp-born player, who was called up to the senior squad last August but did not feature, reiterated his ambition to solidify his place in the Atlas Lions’ set-up.
-CAF
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For more than a decade, Robert Eziakor has been with Hougang United as a player, general coordinator, youth coach, assistant coach and head of youth development.
On Dec 24, the 38-year-old Nigerian landed the biggest assignment of his professional coaching career when he was named interim coach for the Cheetahs, replacing Marko Kraljevic, who has been redesignated as the Singapore Premier League (SPL) side’s head of youth development.
Eziakor told Singapore’s The Straits Times: “I’m excited, having been involved in different roles at the club, and in terms of my personal development, it’s like climbing a ladder all the way to the top.
“I’m thankful I have had the opportunity to learn from the different roles rather than staying put in one position. This makes things very interesting for me and it made sense for me to continue with Hougang.
“It’s easier for me to step up as coach knowing the players and how things are run but at the same time it is a big challenge and there are big shoes to fill.”
In his new role, Eziakor has hit the ground running, signing 1.92m Montenegrin centre-back Jovan Mugosa to shore up the defence of seventh-placed Hougang, who have conceded 49 goals in 20 matches, the fourth worst in the nine-team league.
He has also released underperforming imports – forward Petar Banovic, and defenders Faris Hasic and Ensar Bruncevic. In addition, club hero Kristijan Krajcek, who will be remembered for his 2022 Singapore Cup final hat-trick, has returned to Croatia for ankle surgery as his professional playing days could be over.
Eziakor said: “Defence is primarily where we have a problem. We need to improve in this area so we have made the necessary changes to concede less as we try to create more positive results when the league restarts on Jan 19 for us (against Balestier Khalsa).
“We are able to score goals (Hougang’s 37 goals have come in all but one league games this season), but we are not able to defend properly. We want to tighten our defence and scoring will come naturally for us.”
Bigger things were expected of perennial underdogs Hougang after winning the 2022 Singapore Cup for their first major silverware, but their displays since have been underwhelming.
In 2023, another run to the Singapore Cup final masked a disappointing sixth-placed finish in the SPL. In 2024, they failed to register a single win in the first round of eight league matches before they rebounded with three wins and three draws in the second round.
In the first three games of the third round, two narrow losses to top-half sides Albirex Niigata and Geylang International sandwiched a 6-0 win over bottom club Tanjong Pagar United before the Cheetahs decided on the coaching switch with 12 games remaining.
Eziakor arrived in Singapore in 2006 to join African side Sporting Afrique, but never got to play in the then S.League before the team were dissolved. The forward then went on to play in the National Football League (NFL) with Katong FC, Singapore Recreation Club and Tiong Bahru before he signed for Hougang in 2013.
After scoring once in eight games, he retired and joined the Cheetahs’ backroom staff. From 2015 to 2024, he was also coach of Tiong Bahru and led them to the NFL Division 1 titles in 2018 and 2019.
He also took up permanent residency in the Republic, where his son Uchenna plays for the Singapore Under-15s.
He said: “Singapore means everything to me because my son and I are all about football and this country has given us all our opportunities. Our football journeys are rooted here.”
In his 18 years in Singapore, Eziakor has scored in the professional league, won titles at the amateur level, and seen his son represent the country. Now, he hopes to mark his professional coaching career with another milestone.
He said: “We believe it is possible for us to finish in the top half and go on another good run in the Singapore Cup. I just want us all to put in the work and performances we can look back on and be proud of at the end of the season.”
-The Strait Times
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The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) wrapped up an extraordinary year of football in 2024, with major milestones in men’s, women’s, youth, and club football.
From Côte d’Ivoire’s historic AFCON victory to landmark performances in CAF competitions, here’s a comprehensive look at the year in African football.
Côte d’Ivoire triumphs at AFCON 2023
The year began with the culmination of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, where the hosts stunned the continent by lifting their third AFCON title. Despite a shaky start, a managerial change mid-tournament reinvigorated the Elephants. Emerse Fae’s side edged Nigeria 2-1 in a dramatic final in Abidjan, in front of over 57,000 fans. The tournament dubbed the “AFCON of the century,” saw emerging teams like Cabo Verde, Mauritania, and Equatorial Guinea make impressive runs.
2025 AFCON Qualifiers Provide Thrills
The qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) delivered high-octane drama. Twenty-four nations secured their spots for the tournament to be hosted by Morocco. Powerhouses like Nigeria, Senegal, and Egypt booked their tickets, while Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Comoros made exciting comebacks to the continental stage. The qualifiers featured thrilling narratives, including Botswana’s unexpected draw against Egypt to qualify and Zimbabwe’s resurgence after missing recent editions.
Diaz was the top scorer in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers
World Cup qualifying Excitement
In the FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifiers, African teams made a strong start, with Côte d’Ivoire emerging as top scorers and Sudan and Tunisia topping their respective groups.
Ghana’s Jordan Ayew dazzled with a hat-trick in a thrilling 4-3 win over the Central African Republic, while Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet kept Egypt’s hopes alive with stellar performances. These early stages underscore Africa’s growing ambitions on the global stage.
Al Ahly and Zamalek Shine in CAF Club Competitions
Al Ahly reaffirmed their dominance in African club football, claiming their record-extending 12th CAF Champions League title with a 1-0 win over Tunisia’s Esperance. The Egyptians also went unbeaten throughout the campaign, underscoring their supremacy.
Meanwhile, Egyptian rivals Zamalek dramatically clinched the CAF Confederation Cup, overturning a first-leg deficit against RS Berkane to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory. Zamalek followed this up by defeating Al Ahly in the CAF Super Cup via a penalty shootout, sealing a stellar year for the club.
TP Mazembe Crowned Queens of Africa
In women’s football, TP Mazembe from DR Congo lifted their maiden CAF Women’s Champions League title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco’s AS FAR in the final. A first-half penalty from Marlene Kasaj proved decisive as Mazembe displayed resilience against the former champions. This triumph capped a remarkable journey for the Congolese side after their earlier group-stage exit in 2022.
Women’s Football Growth
The CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) draw revealed a highly competitive tournament scheduled for 2025. Host nation Morocco finds itself in a challenging group alongside Zambia, Senegal, and DR Congo, while defending champions South Africa will face Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania. Nigeria, aiming to reclaim their dominance, will battle Botswana, Tunisia, and Algeria.
CHAN 2024 Final Qualifiers
The final round of qualifiers for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) featured intense rivalries, including the much-anticipated “Jollof Derby” between Ghana and Nigeria. The tournament, set for January in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, promises to spotlight Africa’s domestic football talents.
Youth Football: Tanzania and South Africa Celebrate
The CAF African Schools Football Championship showcased the continent’s rising stars. Tanzania won the boys’ competition on home soil, while South Africa clinched the girls’ title after a thrilling penalty shootout victory against Morocco. The championship highlighted CAF’s commitment to nurturing grassroots talent.
Futsal and Beach Soccer Success
Morocco claimed their third consecutive CAF Futsal AFCON title with a commanding 5-1 win over Angola. On the beach soccer front, Senegal retained their CAF Beach Soccer AFCON title, defeating Mauritania 6-1 in the final. Both teams will represent Africa at the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025.
-CAF
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