Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville may put up joint candidacy for the host of the 2029 Africa Cup of Nations.

If that happens, it would be the first collaboration between the two neighbouring countries for a sporting event.

No official announcement has yet been made, but speculations in the media have it that the Minister of Sports of DR Congo, Didier Budimbu, confirmed this ambition in a statement relayed by local media: “With my counterpart from Congo-Brazzaville, we are determined to organize the CAN 2029 together. “

Morocco will be hosting the 2025 edition while the trio of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania already have that of 2027.

At the 46th General Assembly of CAF in Addis Ababa in October,

Ethiopia’s president, Taye Astike Selassie, requested that CAF endorse the East African nation’s bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2029.

Ethiopia last hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1976. None of the two Congo republics has ever hosted.

 Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

On Friday, Senegal appointed Pape Thiaw as national coach intending to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations title and qualify for the next World Cup.

A Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) official confirmed 43-year-old Thiaw’s selection.

Thiaw had held the position on an interim basis since October following the dismissal of Aliou Cisse who took over in 2015 and led the country to their first Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2022 and to the last two World Cup tournaments.

Former Senegal forward Thiaw, who played at French clubs St Etienne, Strasbourg and Metz, was on the team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup.

As a coach, he won the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) reserved for local players.

-AFP

Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) may have begun investigating Guinea’s protest filed against Tanzania in the encounter at the last match day of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

Tanzania won the match 1-0 to qualify and eliminated Guinea.

Guinea submitted an appeal to the governing body last week following claiming that Tanzania fielded a player with the wrong number on his shirt.

In their appeal, Guinea argued that Ibrahim Ame, who was brought on in the 73rd minute, wore the incorrect number, contrary to CAF’s rules.

Ame’s number on the official team sheets was 24 but he donned number 26 while entering the field of play. Guinea, therefore, wants CAF to disqualify Tanzania and upgrade the West Africans as qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

A complaint was also lodged against the Kenyan match commissioner.

According to Kenyan publication, Tuko.co.ke, CAF has responded to Guinea’s complaint and wrote that  

CAF promised to make a follow-up as soon as possible.

“CAF informed the Guinean Football Federation (FGF) that the Secretariat of the Disciplinary Organs of CAF has taken note of the FGF’s complaint relating to the Tanzania – Guinea match,” read part of the statement.

Guinea have expressly asked CAF to pronounce itself and state the laws.

Both sides will now be waiting pensively for CAF’s findings to know who will qualify for Morocco next year. DR Congo qualified as group winners.

Guinea called out a Kenyan official who was the match commissioner in the match in question.

Guinea accused the official of inexplicable behaviour after he refused to take down their complaints.