CASABLANCA-(MaraviPost)-Senegal and Democractic Republic of Congo played out a hard fought 1–1 draw in their AFCON 2025 Group D clash on 27 December 2025, proving that there was no easy passage for Senegal.
The first half was closely contested, with both teams approaching the match cautiously due to the high stakes involved. Chances were limited as each side focused on maintaining shape and discipline.
Senegal enjoyed more of the ball in the opening stages and attempted to dictate the tempo through controlled build up play. However, DR Congo stayed organised and frustrated their opponents with a solid defensive display.
Despite Senegal’s pressure, the Leopards stood firm and ensured the match remained goalless at halftime. Their resilience set the tone for what would become a highly competitive second half.
The breakthrough came after the restart when Cédric Bakambu struck to give DR Congo the lead. His goal caught Senegal off guard and underlined the Leopards’ ability to punish any lapse in concentration.
Bakambu’s opener shifted momentum in DR Congo’s favour and silenced Senegal’s dominance, sending a clear message that the Lions of Teranga would not have things their own way.
Forced to respond, Senegal raised the intensity and pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Their pressure eventually paid off when captain Sadio Mané found the back of the net.
Mané’s goal restored parity and injected fresh energy into the contest, setting up an open and tense final phase of the match.
Both sides created opportunities as the game opened up with Senegal hunting for a winner and DR Congo threatening on the counterattack.
DR Congo defended resolutely and held on to secure a valuable point.
The draw saw both Senegal and DR Congo move to four points each after two matches in Group D, keeping the qualification race wide open.
With one round of group games remaining, the result confirmed that at AFCON 2025 there are no easy matches and certainly no walkover for Senegal.
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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have wrapped up the 2025 TNM Super League season in second place with 66 points, just three points behind champions Mighty Wanderers.
The People’s Team concluded their campaign in style with a commanding 4–0 victory over Mzuzu City Hammers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday.
The final day encounter was crucial for both sides. Bullets entered the match level on 63 points with Silver Strikers and knew only a win would secure second place.
On the other hand, Mzuzu City Hammers were desperate for maximum points as they battled to escape relegation, having started the match on 28 points.
Bullets showed their intent early and took the lead in the 6th minute through Babatunde Adepoju. The striker fired home a powerful shot from inside the box after being teed up by Peter Banda.
The pressure continued, and in the 38th minute Chikumbutso Salima doubled Bullets’ advantage. Salima used his chest to connect with Wongani Lungu’s cross after the Hammers’ defence failed to clear their lines, making it 2–0.
Just before halftime, Babatunde struck again in the 43rd minute to score his 15th goal of the season. The forward finished clinically to put Bullets 3–0 up at the break, firmly in control of the match.
Bullets maintained their dominance in the second half and Salima completed the rout in the 90th minute with his second goal of the game, making it 4–0. The goal saw Salima also finish the season with 15 goals, equalling Babatunde’s tally.
At full time, Bullets celebrated a convincing win, with Chikumbutso Salima named Player of the Match. Babatunde Adepoju and Salima are both expected to be officially recognised as joint top goal scorers after ending the season with 15 goals each.
Speaking after the match, Bullets interm coach Gilbert Chirwa praised his players, saying they executed the game plan perfectly. He commended the team for displaying high quality football in their final outing of the season.
Mzuzu City Hammers head coach Elias Chilambo described the situation as painful after his side’s relegation was confirmed. He noted that despite a spirited fight in the second round, the damage was done in the first round where Hammers managed just seven points from 15 games.
Bullets finish the season with 66 points from 30 matches, while Mzuzu City Hammers end their campaign on 28 points from the same number of games, dropping out of the top flight league.
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CASABLANCA-(MaraviPost)-Benin breathed new life into their Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign after claiming their first three points with a narrow 1–0 victory over Botswana in a closely contested Group D encounter.
Coming into the match under pressure following an opening defeat, the Cheetahs knew a positive result was crucial to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
Benin showed greater urgency from the start, pressing high and moving the ball quickly as they looked to unsettle a disciplined Botswana side.
The breakthrough arrived in the 28th minute when Yohan Roche struck the decisive goal, calmly finishing inside the box to put Benin ahead.
Roche’s goal gave Benin confidence, allowing them to control the tempo for the remainder of the first half and head into the break with a deserved lead.
Botswana responded after halftime by pushing forward in search of an equaliser, increasing the intensity and committing more players into attack.
Despite Botswana’s improved performance, Benin’s defence remained compact and organised, frustrating their opponents and limiting clear scoring opportunities.
As the match entered its closing stages, Botswana applied late pressure but Benin showed composure, discipline and tight security at the back to protect their narrow advantage.
The final whistle confirmed a vital win for Benin, marking their first victory and first three points of the AFCON 2025 tournament.
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The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive committee has now completed two years at the helm of Malawian football under the presidency of Fleetwood Haiya, who was elected into office in 2023 on a reform driven manifesto titled “Transforming the Game.” the weekend sports mirror offers a timely opportunity to reflect on what has worked, what is still in progress and where questions remain.
Haiya came into office with bold promises centred on technical development, transparency, grassroots growth and the overall professionalisation of football administration.
Two years later, some of those pledges have materialised in visible and measurable ways, while others remain a work in progress.
One of the clearest successes of the Haiya administration has been in technical capacity building, particularly in refereeing. Regular referee training courses have been rolled out across the country, helping to improve officiating standards and creating a more consistent pool of match officials for domestic competitions.
This focus on referees directly aligns with Haiya’s manifesto, which emphasised strengthening coaching and officiating as the foundation of football development.
Observers note that while controversies still occur, the overall competence and confidence of referees has improved compared to previous seasons.
Another major milestone has been the revival and strengthening of women’s football through the reintroduction of the National Women’s Football League. This league has given female players consistent competition, exposure and structure that had long been missing.
The impact of this investment has been felt at national level, where the Malawi Women’s National Team, the Scorchers, has shown significant improvement. A stronger domestic league has translated into a deeper and more competitive national team pool.
Perhaps the most notable achievement for the Scorchers under Haiya’s leadership has been qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). This success did not come by accident but through deliberate planning and frequent international friendly matches.
The Haiya administration made a conscious effort to secure regular friendly games for the Scorchers, a move that boosted match fitness, tactical understanding and confidence. As a result, Malawi’s women now compete with belief against some of the continent’s strongest sides.
On the domestic front, the introduction of the NBS National Division League stands out as another key reform. The league provides a competitive bridge between regional football and the elite TNM Super League.
Through this structure, three teams earn promotion to the top flight league each season, enhancing competitiveness and giving ambitious clubs a clearer development pathway. This initiative reflects Haiya’s manifesto promise to strengthen league structures nationwide.
Grassroots and school football development was another pillar of the Haiya vision. Although progress here has been slower, partnerships with schools sports bodies and district structures have begun laying the groundwork for future talent identification and nurturing.
However, not all areas paint a rosy picture. The Malawi Men’s National Team, the Flames, remains a concern. Performances have been inconsistent, with the team oscillating between impressive wins and disappointing defeats.
When Haiya took office, the Flames were ranked 136th on the FIFA rankings. Two years on, the team has climbed to 126th, showing numerical improvement but still failing to convince consistently on the pitch.
Critics argue that while the ranking rise is positive, it does not fully reflect stability or long term progress. Tactical inconsistency, squad transitions and limited high quality international exposure continue to haunt the Flames.
Governance and transparency were central to Haiya’s campaign message.
While FAM has made efforts to improve accountability and communication, some stakeholders still call for greater public disclosure of finances and decision making processes.
Overall, the Haiya presidency presents a mixed but encouraging picture.
Women’s football, refereeing standards, and league restructuring stand out as success stories, while the Flames an remain unresolved challenge.
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CASABLANCA-(MaraviPost)-Egypt became the first nation to book a place in the last 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, according to CAF standings, following a hard-fought 1–0 victory over South Africa in a tense Group B encounter on Friday evening.
The Pharaohs leaned on Mohamed Salah’s first half penalty to secure all three points in a match marked by VAR drama and resolute defending.
The decisive moment arrived just before half time when VAR intervened after South Africa defender Khuliso Mudau was judged to have fouled Salah inside the penalty area.
The Liverpool forward stepped up confidently and converted from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Egypt the lead.
Egypt’s task became significantly tougher minutes later when right back Mohamed Hany was shown a second yellow card and sent off.
The dismissal forced the Pharaohs to reshuffle and adopt a more conservative approach for the remainder of the contest.
South Africa came out with renewed intensity in the second half, dominating possession and pinning Egypt deep in their own half.
Bafana Bafana moved the ball purposefully and attempted to stretch Egypt’s compact defensive block, creating pressure but failing to carve out a clear cut chance.
Despite playing with ten men, Egypt remained a threat on the counter attack with Salah and his teammates exploiting spaces whenever they appeared. Their backline stayed disciplined under sustained pressure, frustrating South Africa’s attacking efforts.
Late in the game, South Africa appealed for a penalty after another VAR review but the decision went against them, compounding their frustration as the clock ticked down.
Egypt’s goalkeeper and defenders showed composure in the closing moments to preserve their slender advantage.
At the final whistle, Egypt celebrated a vital victory that strengthened their grip on Group B with six points from two games and boosted confidence ahead of the knockout stages.
South Africa, it was a painful defeat, especially after a much improved second half performance that ultimately went unrewarded.
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Angola reaffirms its leadership in African youth sport
By: Edwin Mbewe ANGOLA—(Maravipost)-Angola has been recognized for its strategic role as an anchor for youth sports development in Africa.
The Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Sports Council Region 5, Stanley Motoya, revealed this when he attended the closing ceremony of the African Youth Games.
In his remarks, Stanley Motoya underlined Angola’s potential as one of Africa’s emerging sports powerhouses, commending the country’s organizational capacity, institutional commitment, and long-term vision demonstrated throughout the Games.
“Angola has clear conditions to assert itself as a giant in African sport. The work being carried out, particularly in strategic communication and the sports sector, confirms that the country should continue to play a central role in strengthening youth sport within Region 5 and across Africa,” he stated.
This recognition comes within the framework of strong cooperation between AUSC Region 5 and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Angola, led by Minister Rui Falcão Pinto de Andrade, whose leadership has prioritized youth sport as a driver of human development, regional integration, and sports diplomacy.
As a concrete sign of institutional confidence and strengthened regional partnership, Angola has accepted to host the AUSC Region 5 Annual Sports Gala scheduled for May—a flagship continental event celebrating athletes, leaders, and initiatives that elevate African sport.
The African Youth Games once again demonstrated that Region 5 continues to position itself as a hub of excellence, cooperation, and opportunity for Africa’s youth, with Angola playing a decisive role in this collective journey.
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