Author: WAJ Reporter

The excitement for AFCON 2025, which kicks off in December, is just around the corner. As Africa’s biggest international tournament, the host nation Morocco is considered the main favorite. However, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, and last year’s champions Ivory Coast are also strong contenders. Some in-form teams also have the potential to win the cup. South Africa proved its strength this season by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 15 years. In the last AFCON, they were eliminated by Nigeria in the semifinals, but this year, they managed to top the group containing Nigeria in the World…

Since May 12, Lookman has not scored or assisted for either club or country, and both Atalanta and Nigeria are in need of him. The star of both teams, Lookman, was named the best African footballer in the world last season. Atalanta coach Ivan Juric has stated that Lookman needs to return to his best form to help the club recover from its recent slump. Despite facing relatively weaker opponents, Atalanta has scored only two goals in their last four matches. Lookman, meanwhile, has failed to score in six appearances this season and appears far from his form last year.…

The AfDB has approved a $73.31 million loan to strengthen science and technology education at the tertiary level in Kenya. This loan, provided by the African Development Fund, the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank Group, is expected to equip 19 public universities with modern laboratories, teaching equipment, and digital learning facilities. The funding will not be limited to these purposes; it will also support the establishment of three engineering centers of excellence. Additionally, a science and technology park will be created where students and researchers can turn their ideas into practical solutions. The project will provide scholarships…

Nvidia’s initiative differs from China’s investment moves. Unlike state-led investments, a private-sector led model will be adopted. Within this framework, Cassava will take responsibility for building and operating data centers specifically designed to support AI development in various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and financial technology (fintech). FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT The first phase of the project began in June 2025, with 3,000 Nvidia GPUs delivered to a data center built by Cassava in South Africa. By 2030, an additional 12,000 GPUs will be deployed across new facilities in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AND MEMORANDUM…

According to a statement from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), Egypt will face Nigeria on December 14 at Cairo Stadium in an international friendly match. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan personally requested the match, aiming to test his team against one of the continent’s strongest sides ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). As part of their preparations, Egypt will also participate in the UAE International Tournament, where they will play Uzbekistan on November 14. The competition will also feature Cape Verde and Iran, who will face each other a day earlier. The winners of both matches will meet in…

The lineup for the group stage of Africa’s biggest club competition, the CAF Champions League, has largely been determined. Except for the Pyramids–Ethiopia Insurance and RS Berkane–Al Ahli Tripoli fixtures, all second-round matches have been completed. Zambian side Power Dynamos managed to overcome Uganda’s Vipers. Sudanese club Al Hilal comfortably advanced past Kenya’s strong side Kenya Police, while Tanzania’s formidable team Young Africans easily defeated Silver Strikers. One of the biggest surprises of the round came when last season’s semifinalists, Orlando Pirates of South Africa, were eliminated on penalties by Congolese outfit FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo after the two legs ended…

Fully embracing artificial intelligence in Africa has become critically important for achieving the continent’s sustainable development goals. To make a leap forward in this area, the initiative “AI Language Models in Africa, By Africa, For Africa” was announced on Tuesday, October 21, during the Mobile World Congress held in Kigali, Rwanda. The initiative aims to develop continent-wide language models. It seeks to accurately represent African languages, cultures, and knowledge in the global digital future. ORANGE AND PARTNERSHIP ROLES Orange will take a leading role in this project alongside Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, and Vodacom. The company had previously…

Following Tottenham, Chelsea has also begun exploring a transfer for Nigerian young talent Sani Suleiman. After his impressive performances at the U-20 World Cup, the young player, who has attracted interest from clubs like PSG, Brentford, and Ajax, is currently playing for Slovakian side AS Trencin. Tottenham had previously conducted research on Suleiman and viewed the 19-year-old Nigerian star as a potential future transfer option. However, Chelsea entering the race could make the transfer more difficult to complete. Chelsea’s current management places great importance on investing in young players. For this reason, Suleiman’s transfer is considered likely to favor Chelsea.…

Ethiopian athlete Ruth Chepngetich, who broke the world record at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, has been handed a three-year ban for violating anti-doping rules. A sample taken on March 14 tested positive for a banned diuretic commonly used as a masking agent, Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). However, her previous results — including the world record — will remain valid. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) initially sought a four-year ban, but the 31-year-old athlete’s admission of the violation led to a one-year reduction in her sentence. While the minimum reporting threshold for HCTZ in urine is 20 nanograms per milliliter, Chepngetich’s sample contained…

Mohamed Salah once again started on the bench as Liverpool faced Eintracht Frankfurt. The Egyptian star had experienced a similar situation earlier in the season against Galatasaray. Following the Frankfurt match, he removed all mentions of Liverpool from his social media profiles, sparking widespread speculation and debate. Salah had extended his contract with Liverpool last season, but this year he has struggled to meet expectations, recording just 3 goals and 3 assists in 12 appearances. His dip in form has led to increasing criticism, while Liverpool’s first run of four consecutive defeats since 2014 has further intensified the pressure on…

South African athlete Rayno Nel finished in the top three in four out of five events at the 2025 World’s Strongest Man competition held in Sacramento. Crowned as the World’s Strongest Man, Nel achieved this remarkable feat in his debut appearance. With this victory, he also became the first African athlete ever to win the prestigious title. Nel had set his sights on the competition in 2023, after giving up on his dream of becoming a professional rugby player. Describing the road to becoming the world’s strongest man as extremely demanding, Nel explained that he trains for three hours on…

Burundi Hosts Gaming and Technology Fair TAG CON 2025 The first-ever fair focusing on technology, animation, and gaming was organized by Nuyu Agency. Participants had the opportunity to experience and observe Burundi’s emerging creative talents through competitive gaming tournaments, 2D and 3D animation workshops, quizzes, and interactive activities. Gamers, developers, and creators came together for tournaments, animation workshops, cosplay contests, and interactive technology demonstrations. The fair not only entertained participants but also inspired them. With gaming and digital innovation taking center stage, Burundi took an important step toward becoming a rising hub in East Africa’s gaming culture. It also laid…

Everton wants to strengthen their squad in the winter transfer window as they will be without key players during the Africa Cup of Nations. At the top of their list is Fenerbahçe’s midfielder Fred. Idrissa Gueye may be unavailable for a significant period due to the tournament. Senegal, considered one of the favorites, could reach the final. The later Senegal is eliminated, the bigger the disadvantage for Everton. This is why the club is expected to be persistent in the transfer market. However, the Turkish side does not want to let their players go easily. They are reportedly expecting a…

The initiative aims to prepare citizens for technology-driven sectors. Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, emphasized that African countries must no longer remain spectators in the technology sector and should take full ownership of their digital transformation. Speaking at the opening of the Mobex Africa Tech Expo and Innovation Conference 2025 held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, the Minister outlined the four pillars of Ghana’s digital agenda: Innovation, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Impact. He stated that this approach aims to position Ghana as a leader in digital development across the continent. GHANA PREPARES FOR…

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has decided to part ways with national team head coach Michael Nees. In an official statement, the federation said: “The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) wishes to inform all stakeholders and members of the public that the Executive Committee has resolved to terminate the contract of Mr. Michael Nees with immediate effect.” According to the statement, the German coach, who took charge of the team in September 2024, failed to deliver the expected results. Under his management, Zimbabwe played 16 matches, recording only two victories, both coming against Namibia last year. Zimbabwe finished the African FIFA…

The 10-man shortlist for the 2025 African Footballer of the Year Award has been announced. Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi, a key figure in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph, and Egyptian legend Mohamed Salah, last season’s Premier League top scorer and assist leader, are among the nominees. Victor Osimhen, who had a spectacular season with Galatasaray, also made the list. The Nigerian striker previously won the award in 2023. Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr were included for their crucial roles in helping Senegal qualify for the World Cup. Other nominees include DR Congo forward Fiston…