International Football
SOCIAL MEDIA BULLYING OF BLACK PLAYERS: ‘WE NEED TO DO MORE’ SAYS SUPER EAGLES’ OFFICIAL, TUNDE ADELAKUN
International football commentator, Tunde Adelakun has called on the authorities to be bold and come out and do more to protect football players who have come under attack by fans on social media lately.
The incidence of social media racist abuse seems to have increased significantly over the last few months with no less than ten Europe based black football players suffering one form of abuse or the other each passing day.
‘It has become scary these days’, says Adelakun, who is also the first assistant to the head coach of the Nigerian football team – the Super Eagles.
‘You just have to look at a team playing perhaps below par and you just know that a few of their players, mostly black ones, will come under heavy attack with monkey emojis and racial slurs aimed at them before the day runs out’.
Clubs in Europe have come to take various stances against the menace in recent weeks following racial abuse of their players.
Swansea FC which has Ghana’s Andre Ayew on their books, Birmingham City also in the second tier of English football and newly crowned Scottish Premiership champions Rangers have all opted out of social media activities for one week, in protest at the lack of enough measures by the social media companies to curb the abuse.
But does anyone know where it all stemmed from? Adelakun believes that racism has never been more apparent in today’s sport, perhaps due to the restrictions brought about by the pandemic.
‘Racism is a part of the human fabric and has been for many years’, the former Publisher of New African Soccer magazine explained, ‘and I have seen firsthand, the effect of the chants and jeers on the mentality of African players in my time.
‘It is an extension of the wider society, I have always said, and it is not easy to curb or stop.
‘This pandemic has brought idleness to our midst, and because we can’t seem to get out and go to the stadium and watch games, we vent our frustrations using our keypads.
‘This time, the racist individual who might be able to go out and shout his racist chants at a player in a stadium can’t anymore. He therefore reverts to doing it on social media, where more people will see it, and add their own take to the one, which then makes it even bigger’.
‘It is particularly sad when you see that these players are laying life and limb on the line to provide entertainment and earn a living, yet they are being abused, and getting even more threats to their families who have done no one any wrong. It is scary’, he says.
Tunde Adelakun is also the voice of TundeTalks, which is a mentoring and mindset coaching service that he offers to corporate organisations and individuals, and he has had to use his mental skills to help some players who have received abuse over time.
‘Yes’, he confirms, ‘I indeed have had to speak to a good few of Africa’s best players who have suffered abuse by online bullies and tried to redirect their minds to continue to focus on their primary tasks, which is to enjoy their vocation which is football, play to the best of their abilities and blot out the noises from online racists and bullies’.
But he believes more can be done by the authorities.
‘These players are always alone when things like these happen to them. I have seen it first hand. There is no support network and I think there should be more support for the players and coaches who suffer racist abuse, than there is now’
‘Broadcast organisations have been vocal, as have the respective clubs of the players involved. But the wider authorities need to be bold enough to make a big statement to show solidarity with the players.
‘CAF is the custodian of football in Africa, and I think it is high time that this confederation steps up and provides more support to its players who form a huge majority of victims of racial abuse by online bullies around the world.
‘Not once has CAF come out to condemn the act of abuse on an African player, and this is worrisome, when we consider the fact that if this same player does something good, we all rush to claim the player as one of us and shout his name to the high heavens.
‘I think there should be a support system by CAF to look at directly liaising with our players and checking on their well-being anytime they are bullied and abused on social media’. Adelakun, also the founder and CEO of Africa’s scouts and coaches network AFSCON, concluded.
It will be recalled that the likes of Cameroonian assistant coach of Turkish club Istanbul Besakhsehir came under intense social media attack following a high profile spat in a Champions League game earlier this season. Since then players like Glasgow Rangers’ Glen Kamara, Valencia’s Diakhaby and Liverpool female player Rinsola Babajide of Nigeria are just a few of African players that have been subjected to intense and brutal racial slurs on social media in recent weeks
International Football
Again, it is #DestinationMorocco as FIFA takes Women’s Series 2025 to the Kingdom
By Kunle Solaja
FIFA has officially confirmed that the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 will be hosted by Morocco, with the opening matches scheduled to kick off on Sunday, October 26.
The event marks yet another milestone for Moroccan football, further cementing the kingdom’s growing stature as a global hub for the sport.
The upcoming tournament promises historic firsts for women’s football. The Afghan Women United team—formed from Afghan players living in exile—will play their first-ever international match, while Chad and Libya will make their FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking debuts at the conclusion of the round-robin competition.
In a statement, FIFA expressed gratitude to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FMRF) for its collaboration and reiterated its commitment to advancing women’s football globally. The world football governing body also reaffirmed its support for Afghan women footballers, no
ting that the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football, approved by the FIFA Council in May 2025, continues to guide the federation’s inclusive efforts.
“FIFA looks forward to working closely with the FMRF to host a successful and symbolic tournament that showcases the unifying power of football,” the organization said.
As part of that effort, FIFA confirmed that Afghan Women United was selected as the team’s new official name following consultations with players—a symbolic gesture reflecting unity, resilience, and identity amid global challenges.
Morocco: A Flourishing Football Destination
Morocco’s selection as host comes at a time when the North African nation’s football profile is soaring. The country is currently hosting the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and, just this week, celebrated another historic milestone as its U-20 men’s team clinched the FIFA U-20 World Cup title—a triumph widely viewed as the fruit of a long-term national sports vision.
A Victory Rooted in Royal Vision
The Lion Cubs’ success is no accident. It stems from a deliberate and structured sports policy championed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has consistently positioned sport as a catalyst for human, social, and territorial development. Since the National Sports Conference of 2008, the King’s leadership has inspired a generation of athletes and administrators to see football as both a unifying national force and a tool for youth empowerment.
The Mohammed VI Football Academy: Cradle of Excellence
Central to Morocco’s football renaissance is the Mohammed VI Football Academy (AMF), inaugurated in 2010. The academy epitomizes the royal vision of using sport as a means of education, personal growth, and international competitiveness. Five players from the victorious U-20 squad—Yassir Zabir, Othmane Kountoune, Fouad Zahouani, Houssam Essadak, and Yassine Khalifi—are proud graduates of the academy.
Investing in Infrastructure and Inclusion
Morocco’s nationwide expansion of local playing fields, regional training centres, and modern football facilities has created a fertile ground for nurturing young talent. This democratization of access to sport has shaped a new generation of Moroccan youth—disciplined, skilled, and confident on the global stage.
The success of both the Atlas Lions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Atlas Lionesses, who reached the knockout stages of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, reflects the depth of this comprehensive strategy.
A Beacon of African and Arab Football
With the hosting of the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 and the country’s string of international achievements, Morocco continues to position itself as a pioneer in African and Arab football. Its success is more than athletic—it is symbolic of a nation where sport drives progress, unity, and pride.
As the Afghan Women United, Chad, and Libya prepare to make history in Morocco this October, the Kingdom once again proves that its football journey is not only national but inspirational—anchored in vision, excellence, and the unifying power of the beautiful game.
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Brazil will round off their 2025 calendar with two friendly matches in Europe next month, taking on Senegal and Tunisia as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian FA (CBF) announced on Thursday.
The five-time world champions, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, will face Senegal on November 15 at Emirates Stadium in London and, three days later, they will meet Tunisia in Lille, France.
The CBF announced that these fixtures were designed to “provide the team with valuable experience against African opposition” ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
After the conclusion of the South American qualifiers, the choice of opponents follows October’s encounters against Asian teams, which saw Brazil beat South Korea 5-0 but suffer a stunning first defeat to Japan.
With coach Ancelotti facing limited preparation time after arriving in May from Real Madrid, the matches form part of a broader plan to expose Brazil to a variety of playing styles in preparation for next year’s the World Cup.
Looking ahead to March 2026, the CBF has indicated that Brazil’s next set of friendlies will likely be against top-level European nations, with the U.S. as the expected venue.
Ancelotti has been steadily implementing his vision for the squad and has emphasised the importance of adapting to diverse tactical challenges, particularly against teams from other continents.
CBF sources indicated that the plan for the three remaining international breaks would be to make final observations regarding players and tactical adjustments in November, lock in the starting line-up in March and strengthen ties with Brazilian fans with a final friendly at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana before departing for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia will provide an opportunity to test Brazil’s readiness against two of Africa’s strongest sides.
Senegal boast a formidable squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly. They shocked Brazil 4-2 in their last encounter, a friendly played in Lisbon two years ago.
Tunisia, meanwhile, are known for their defensive organisation and have consistently performed well in African competitions.
Back in September they were the second African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with two games to spare.
-Reuters
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Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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