Indomitable Lions eliminate overrated Bafana Bafana out of 2025 AFCON

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….Cameroon 2-1 South Africa…..

RABAT-(MaraviPost)-Cameroon booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 after a tense 2–1 victory over South Africa in the Round of 16.

The match,saw the Indomitable Lions take control early and withstand a late fightback from Bafana Bafana.

The first breakthrough came in the first half when Junior Tchamadeu opened the scoring for Cameroon.

His goal rewarded the Lions’ early dominance and left South Africa trailing as the teams went into halftime.

The goal also highlighted Cameroon’s clinical approach in taking chances when they arise.

South Africa tried to respond but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the first half.

Cameroon’s midfield controlled the tempo and limited the South African attacks, frustrating Bafana Bafana’s attempts to level the score before the break.

Cameroon returned from halftime with renewed energy. Just minutes into the second half, Christian Kofane doubled the lead for the Indomitable Lions.

His composed finish gave Cameroon a 2–0 advantage and put South Africa under significant pressure to mount a comeback.

Trailing by two goals, South Africa intensified their attacking efforts.

They pressed higher up the field and tried to exploit spaces left by Cameroon, determined to keep their AFCON dreams alive.

The persistence paid off when Evidence Makgopa scored for Bafana Bafana on 88 minutes, reducing the deficit to 2–1.

The goal injected belief into the South African side and made the final stages of the match highly competitive and tense.

Cameroon, however, relied on their experience and composure to manage the closing minutes. They defended resolutely and slowed down the tempo whenever South Africa threatened, ensuring the lead remained intact.

Despite South Africa’s late pressure and attacking forays, they could not find the equalizer.

Cameroon’s defensive discipline and strategic play proved decisive in securing the win.

The victory ensures Cameroon progresses to the AFCON 2025 quarterfinals, keeping their hopes of winning the tournament alive since winning AFCON in 2017.

South Africa, meanwhile, exit the competition after a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful effort.

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Late Etihad rescue shows Chelsea squad ready for new era: 2025/26 English Premier league

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LONDON-(MaraviPost)-Chelsea’s 1-1 draw away to Manchester City may only go down as a single point in the table, but in the wider context of a club in transition, it felt like much more than that.

Thrown into the deep end following Enzo Maresca’s sudden exit, interim head coach Calum McFarlane faced the ultimate baptism of fire a trip to the Etihad to take on Pep Guardiola’s champions.

Instead of retreating into damage limitation, Chelsea responded with bravery, structure and a refusal to accept defeat.

City’s early dominance was expected, and when Tijani Reijnders punished a costly Chelsea error before half time, it appeared the script was following a familiar path.

Erling Haaland had already rattled the post, and the home crowd sensed another routine win.

But Chelsea did not unravel. McFarlane tweaked his shape at the break, introducing Andrey Santos and asking his side to be braver in transition. The change worked.

Chelsea began to carry a greater attacking threat, even if Pedro Neto’s glaring miss threatened to undo their renewed momentum.

What followed was a test of mentality. Chelsea stayed compact, pressed intelligently and defended as a unit.

Young players like Josh Acheampong and Estevao Willian showed maturity beyond their years, while Enzo Fernandez led by example in midfield.
The reward came in the dying seconds.

Malo Gusto’s delivery found Fernandez once more and this time the Argentine made no mistake.

The away end erupted, the bench emptied and a moment of collective release followed weeks of uncertainty.

Beyond the drama, the performance felt like a quiet message to the club’s hierarchy and to likely incoming manager Liam Rosenior.

This squad, often criticised for inconsistency and fragility, showed togetherness, commitment and a willingness to absorb pressure for the greater good.

With this draw Manchester City remain on position two with 42 points from 20 games while Chelsea remain on position 5 with 31 points from same number of games

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Morocco advance to 2025 AFCON Quarter-Finals

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RABAT-(MaraviPost)-Morocco capitalised on home ground advantage to secure a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Tanzania and book their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the Atlas Lions started on the front foot and thought they had taken an early lead through Ismael Saibari.

However, celebrations were cut short after VAR ruled the goal out for offside, keeping the contest finely balanced.

Despite dominating possession, Morocco found it difficult to break down a disciplined Tanzanian defence in the first half, with the teams going into the break deadlocked at 0–0.

The breakthrough eventually came in the second half when Brahim Diaz found the back of the net to send the home supporters into celebration.

The goal proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter.

Diaz’s strike also etched his name into the tournament’s history books, as he became the first player to score in four consecutive AFCON 2025 matches.

His impressive performance earned him the Man of the Match accolade.

Tanzania fought bravely until the final whistle but were unable to find an equaliser against a determined Moroccan side.

With the win, Morocco advance to the quarter-finals, buoyed by the energy of their supporters and growing belief as the tournament progresses.

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Chombo satisfied with Bullets Women’s season after derby win over Wanderers Queens

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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women’s coach Maggie Chombo has expressed satisfaction with her team’s performance in the current National Bank Premiership season, describing it as a positive foundation for the future.

Chombo made the remarks after her side edged Mighty Wanderers Queens 1-0 in a closely contested Blantyre derby played on Saturday afternoon at Mpira Stadium.

The Bullets mentor said although the season did not start as planned, the team showed great improvement as the campaign progressed, particularly in the second round of the league.

She explained that the slow start in the first round was a learning phase for the squad but the response in the second round has given her confidence heading into the next season.

The match was decided in the second half when Triza Chiwere found the back of the net in the 58 minute, scoring the only goal in what proved to be a tight and physical derby encounter.

Chiwere’s goal sealed Bullets Women’s second victory over Wanderers Queens this season, having also beaten their rivals 1-0 in the first round meeting.

Chombo praised her players for their discipline and determination, noting that derby matches are always difficult regardless of league position.

On the other hand, Mighty Wanderers Queens head coach Thom Kazembe admitted his side still needs more work ahead of the upcoming season.

Kazembe said the team is in a rebuilding phase and promised that Wanderers Queens will return stronger and more competitive next season.

He also raised concerns over officiating, saying improvements are needed to ensure the league maintains high standards and fairness.

Despite the defeat, Kazembe remains optimistic, stressing that the challenges faced this season will help shape a better team in the future.

Following the result, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women’s sit third on the National Bank Premiership table with 31 points from 16 matches, while Mighty Wanderers Queens are seventh with 23 points from the same number of games.

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Salima, Singini standout in Malawi’s 2025 football campaigns

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As the curtain falls on the 2025 TNM Super League season, the debate over who deserves the prestigious Player of the Season award is gathering momentum with Chikumbutso Salima and Blessings Singini emerging as two of the strongest contenders.

Chikumbutso Salima enjoyed a memorable season after finishing as the league’s top scorer with 15 goals.

His impressive tally made him the most lethal forward in the 2025 campaign and placed him firmly at the centre of the individual awards conversation.

Turning out for FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, Salima was not just about goals. He delivered consistent match winning performances, contributed assists at crucial moments and collected several Player of the Match awards along the way.

His ability to influence games week in and week out highlighted his importance to Bullets’ title challenge.

Salima’s all round attacking contribution played a major role in helping Big Bullets finish the season in second position. Beyond the statistics, his creativity and movement in attack made him one of the most feared players in the league.

On the other hand, Mighty Wanderers forward Blessings Singini may not have matched Salima’s goal tally but his impact on his team’s success cannot be overlooked.

Singini scored eight goals in the 2025 TNM Super League based on the latest available match reports, many of which came at decisive moments.

Singini’s biggest argument lies in his contribution to team success. His goals and overall influence helped Wanderers to win the league and playing a key role in their campaign and underlining his value to the Nomads.

While official assist statistics for Singini are less documented, his ability to step up in big matches and deliver when it mattered most strengthened his case as a genuine contender for the top individual honour.

The Player of the Season award is not decided on goals alone. Factors such as consistency, match influence, leadership and contribution to team performance all come into play.

In this regard, both Salima and Singini tick important boxes, albeit in different ways.Salima stands out for his superior numbers, all round attacking play and individual accolades collected during the season.

Salima have tipped him as a front runner due to his goals, assists and consistent influence for Bullets.

However, Singini’s role in helping his team mount a strong league challenge carries significant weight.

While Salima guided Bullets to a second place finish, Singini’s contribution to Wanderers’ overall campaign gives him a compelling case of his own.

Ultimately, the 2025 Player of the Season race reflects the beauty of football debates goals versus impact, numbers versus moments and individual brilliance versus team success. Whether voters prioritise Salima’s 15 goals and all round excellence or Singini’s decisive role in Wanderers’ season, both players have done enough to deserve a place in the conversation.

As the final verdict awaits, one thing is clear,the 2025 TNM Super League was richer for the presence of Chikumbutso Salima and Blessings Singini, two players who defined the season in their own unique ways.

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Persistent rain forces MPC to reschedule hosting 2nd edition of Malawi Para-Games

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By Edwin Mbewe

LILONGWE–(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Paralympic Committee (MPC) has been forced to reschedule the hosting of the 2nd edition of the Malawi Para-Games to until further notice due to the bad weather and persistent rain which the country is currently experiencing.

MPC was expected to host the games on 3rd January 2026 at the Bingu National Stadium in the Capital, Lilongwe where over 150 athletes living with disabilities from the three regions, Northern, Central and Southern were anticipated to compete.

The body’s President James Chiutsi stated,”We regret to inform you that the games, initially scheduled for January 3rd, have been postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions.

“The decision was made after a careful consideration of safely issues and consultation with stakeholders”. explains Chiutsi.

The Weather forecast indicates that the current conditions are likely to persist until January 11, and it would be challenging for the athletes to do their training and compete safely.

MPC further said, the safety and accessibility of spectators and other stakeholders cannot be guaranteed.

For this Malawi Paralympic Committe is working to identify a new date for the games and will advise as soon as possible.

The road networks especially in the Northern corridor has been damaged due to the heavy rains being experienced in the country.

The athletes will compete in the following sports: athletics, para-powerlifting, and sitting volleyball.

The committee also announced a demonstration sport activity by young athletes below the age of ten, performing under the Before Sport After Sport initiative that the MPC rolled out in October this year.

According to MPC President James Chiutsi, the games aim to recruit new athletes and provide an opportunity for experienced athletes to participate without going through regional qualifiers.

Top athletes who participated in the regional games in Namibia and the Paralympic Games in Paris will automatically qualify for the national team.

“The games will also be used to select athletes for the national teams that will participate in the regional games in Mozambique next year and the Para-Games in Los Angeles in 2028,” said Chiutsi.

The committee has disclosed that it has received MK20 million in support from the Malawi government for the games.

K2 Transformers has also offered accommodation and logistics support.

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