Author: WAJ Reporter

South Africa has begun preparations to host the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games. For this reason, the country plans to enter into a “continuous dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Following a cabinet meeting on November 12, it was stated that this dialogue process represents the “critical preliminary and exploratory phase” necessary to advance South Africa’s hosting ambitions. Additionally, the statement read, “The Cabinet is confident in South Africa’s readiness to host the Olympics given the country’s existing infrastructure.” Having hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup and made a significant impact on football fans, South Africa will organize the…

Beşiktaş star Wilfred Ndidi will be unavailable for Sunday’s match against DR Congo. The experienced midfielder, who orchestrated Nigeria’s play with great composure, was forced to commit a tactical foul in the 6th minute and received a yellow card for it. The situation was highly dangerous, and Ndidi earned praise from fans for his intervention. However, according to World Cup Qualifier rules, any player who receives two yellow cards must serve a one-match suspension. Ndidi had already picked up a yellow card in Nigeria’s match against Rwanda in March. With the caution he received in this game, he is now…

Napoli’s Cameroonian midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was injured while on duty with his national team. Although initial assessments suggested that Napoli did not expect a serious problem, recent tests indicate that the player is likely to be sidelined for 3–4 months. Napoli is also dealing with similar injuries to attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku. Neither player is expected to return before the new year. Anguissa, who has been in incredible form this season, managed to score four goals and provide two assists in 15 appearances despite playing in a central midfield role. His absence is expected…

Gabon and Cameroon have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. In the African qualifiers, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Tunisia secured their places in the World Cup by finishing first in their respective groups. The four best second-placed teams — Gabon, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon — were given a second chance to qualify. Following today’s matches, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo advanced to the next round. In the day’s first match, Nigeria and Gabon created several chances but failed to score for much of the…

Galatasaray, competing in the Champions League, aims to strengthen their squad and take a more competitive stance. To achieve this, the club is reportedly considering making an official offer to Ademola Lookman, a national teammate of the team’s star, Victor Osimhen. Lookman, recently named Africa’s best player, is reportedly very receptive to the move. His ties with Italian giant Atalanta have ended, making the Nigerian forward open to joining the yellow-reds. Lookman is a highly skilled player who would bolster Galatasaray’s attack. However, he has missed several training sessions due to ongoing issues with Atalanta, which could affect his current…

The nine teams that will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup were determined during the group stages. However, the best runners-up from the group stage—Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—still have another chance. After playing against each other, one more team will earn the right to qualify for the World Cup. Today, the matches Nigeria vs. Gabon and Cameroon vs. DR Congo will take place. Both games saw dramatic changes in the final moments. The Nigerian national team had decided not to train on Tuesday due to unpaid bonuses dating back to 2019. However, team captain…

Thanks to submarine cable technology, global companies are effectively competing to connect millions, perhaps even billions, of users in Africa to the internet. Google, Microsoft, and Amazon play a significant role in financing these cables. The world’s longest submarine cable system, 2Africa, is a prime example. Built through a partnership between Meta, Orange, Vodafone Group, and China Mobile, the cable connects Europe, Africa, and the United Kingdom. PROJECT WATERWORTH AND CONTINENTAL CONNECTIVITY In the near future, Meta’s Project Waterworth will establish a new 50,000 km system linking the U.S., Brazil, South Africa, and India. Such projects are concretely strengthening the…

Ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, host nation Morocco has launched an e-visa application called “Yalla” to make travel easier for football fans across the continent. Developed in collaboration with the Moroccan authorities and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the initiative aims to remove barriers for supporters wishing to back their national teams during Africa’s biggest sporting event. Through this new system, fans will be able to obtain electronic visas free of charge. To enter stadiums, supporters will also be required to have a Fan ID. Both the e-visa and Fan ID applications can be submitted directly…

Former Nigeria national team goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi is set to pursue a career in coaching in the next chapter of his life. The 39-year-old has been appointed as a goalkeeper coach at Future of Africa, a newly promoted team in the Gauteng Development League (GDL). Akpeyi had been a free agent since 2023. During his playing career, he obtained a CAF D Coaching Licence and had been preparing for life after football. Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers to have represented the Nigeria national team, Akpeyi began his club career with Gabros International and Heartland FC in Nigeria. He…

Africa Tech Festival Kicks Off. Held in Cape Town, South Africa, the festival brought together innovators, policymakers, and investors from across the continent to discuss how to build a more inclusive digital future for Africa. During the opening ceremony, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, emphasized the importance of establishing strong digital foundations across the continent. Malatsi said: “If Africa is to benefit from the next wave of innovation, especially in artificial intelligence, we must get three things right at scale: affordable connectivity and devices, reliable digital public infrastructure, and practical digital literacy that meets people…

Suzuki has sponsored this year’s AFCON and next year’s Women’s AFCON. Having signed a significant agreement with CAF, Suzuki has also been elevated to Official Global Partner status for the 2026/27 season, covering the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup. Suzuki plans to use this agreement to increase brand awareness across the continent. From CAF’s perspective, this deal can be seen as an important step toward attracting similar sponsors in the future, given the rising interest in African football in recent years. African football is developing day by day and is gaining more global viewers. This year’s AFCON is expected…

Google and Cassava Technologies Launch Strategic Partnership to Expand AI Access in Africa Google has joined this partnership through its Gemini AI platform, aiming to address two critical challenges limiting AI adoption in the region: high data costs and limited access to advanced AI tools. Through this collaboration, the Gemini app will be available to users without consuming their mobile data. The companies also aim to create a future where students, teachers, and parents can learn and create in more personalized and engaging ways using AI. With Gemini, students will be able to study complex topics, explore coding, and develop…

In the World Cup play-off, Nigeria will face a crucial match against Gabon tomorrow. However, ahead of this decisive clash, the players have refused to attend training due to unpaid bonuses spanning nearly two years. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) attempted to intervene in the crisis and took swift action, but their efforts have so far been unsuccessful, as the players rejected the federation’s proposal. The situation has since escalated, prompting the National Sports Commission under the Ministry of Sports to step in to seek a resolution. Discussions were held with the players, but no concrete agreement was reached. Another…

South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, has announced that he plans to retire after the 2026 World Cup. The 73-year-old experienced coach, who still has the AFCON and World Cup ahead of him, revealed that he will step away from football in July, saying: “I wanted to go to America even more than the players. For me, it’s something emotional. I played in a World Cup at the end of my career, and now I’ll be there again as a coach. After that, I’ll stop, spend time with my family, and enjoy the next 20 years with my grandchildren.” Broos…

Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi spoke confidently ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifying playoff matches. He stated that Nigeria has an edge over their rivals in this mini-tournament, which will feature Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria. Ndidi said, “The strength of the team lies in our pace in transition, creativity on the wings, and a solid central spine. “We also have players who can come on and make a difference. When we play together and maintain intensity, we are very dangerous.” He added, “We respect every opponent. Playoff matches are decided by fine margins, not names. Our…

Morocco and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) have taken steps to strengthen cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. ICESCO Director General Dr. Salim bin Mohamed Al-Malik was received at the headquarters of the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform in Rabat. During the meeting, both sides discussed enhancing collaboration between Morocco and ICESCO in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and the training and development of digital skills. They also explored joint initiatives aimed at promoting innovation, building capacity in digital careers, and supporting inclusive access to digital technologies. One…