Author: WAJ Reporter

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) finals will feature 16 teams starting from 2026. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the expansion, increasing the number of participating teams from 12 to 16. Originally launched in 1998, the tournament was held with eight teams until 2018. In 2022, the number was raised to 12. This latest change highlights the growing importance and recognition of women’s football across Africa. Even this year, the total prize pool increased by 45%, reaching $3.45 million. The champion team earned a $1 million reward. CAF President Patrice Motsepe commented on the developments,…

South Africa defeated Argentina to win the Rugby Championship, securing back-to-back titles for the first time in their history. They finished the tournament with four wins and two losses. Head coach Rassie Erasmus wasn’t afraid to use his depth, fielding 47 different players throughout the competition. This approach not only expanded the player pool but also allowed for greater rotation during matches. After losing two of their first three games, the team came under pressure. However, by winning their next three matches, they proved that last year’s championship was no coincidence. Twenty-three-year-old Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu set a national record by scoring…

The Carling Knockout Cup has officially begun in South Africa. Featuring 16 teams and played in a single-elimination format, the tournament’s round of 16 matches will be completed over today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Today’s opening clash will see Durban City face Polokwane. Tomorrow, Orlando Pirates will take on Siwelele FC, ORBIT College will meet TS Galaxy, Golden Arrows will battle Sekhukhune, and Mamelodi Sundowns will face Marumo Gallants. On Sunday, defending champions Magesi will square off against AmaZulu, Kaizer Chiefs will play Stellenbosch, and Richards Bay FC will clash with Chippa United. Earlier this season, Orlando Pirates lifted the MTN8…

UEFA and Gavi are working together to harness the power of football to raise awareness about vaccines in Africa. Through the Goal Getters program, supported by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its member associations, youth tournaments will be used to teach children about the role of vaccines in preventing deadly diseases. The campaign kicked off on Thursday at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba, Eswatini’s capital. Around 400 children aged 10-14 temporarily paused their participation in the national phase of the CAF African Schools Football Championship to attend a groundbreaking vaccine awareness workshop. The program aims to provide…

Experts are warning South Africans to be cautious when sending voice notes via WhatsApp. The warning comes from Andrew Bourne, Regional Manager at Zoho Corporation Africa. Speaking to CapeTalk, Bourne highlighted that cybercriminals can steal voice biometrics. Bourne emphasized that silent calls are one of the easiest ways to capture a person’s voice. “When you pick up the phone and say ‘hello, hello, hello’ and there’s no one on the other end, it may not just be a dropped call. Criminal organizations could actually be collecting data,” he said. Simply saying “hello” can provide enough material to create a convincing…

US-based data center operator ChillMine and Netherlands-based energy company AAAS Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a new data center in Botswana. The new facility will be designed to serve global hyperscale companies, artificial intelligence (AI) computing, and energy-intensive computing operations. GROWING DEMAND IN SOUTHERN AFRICA The data center is being built in response to the increasing demand for economically sustainable and reliable data infrastructure in Southern Africa. The facility will be part of an Energy Hub and Industrial Park project near Palapye. SOLAR ENERGY AND BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS The project will also feature a 250-MEGAWATT (MW)…

Victor Osimhen, who fired his team to victory with a goal against Liverpool, is at the center of speculation over whether he will be fit to feature for Nigeria in their crucial World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic. Ahead of the Istanbul derby against Beşiktaş, doubts over the striker’s fitness grew after he missed training on Thursday. The 26-year-old forward had also been absent in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa, with his recovery taking longer than initially expected. Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has yet to announce his squad and is anxiously awaiting positive updates. With just…

Namibia and Zimbabwe have secured their places in the 2026 T20 World Cup after reaching the final of the African qualifying tournament. Namibia defeated Tanzania by 63 runs in the semi-final, while Zimbabwe comfortably beat Kenya by seven wickets. This marks Namibia’s fourth consecutive qualification for the tournament, whereas Kenya last appeared in the finals back in 2022. The final between the two teams will be played on Saturday, but regardless of the result, both sides have already booked their tickets to the World Cup. Namibia failed to progress beyond the group stage in the 2022 and 2024 tournaments. However,…

The teams advancing to the Round of 16 in the U20 World Cup in Chile are starting to take shape. Among the three African nations remaining in the tournament, Morocco became the first team to secure a place in the Round of 16 by defeating Brazil 2-1. Gessime Yassine was the standout player of the match, providing two assists and earning the man of the match award. Morocco’s goals were scored by Othmane Maamma and Yassir Zabiri, while Brazil’s lone goal came from Iago Teodoro via a penalty. Later tonight, South Africa will face New Caledonia, and Nigeria will play…

Ethiopia’s State Minister of Planning and Development, Seyoum Mekonnen, stated that the convergence of biological and digital domains can play a key role in overcoming food security challenges. He also highlighted that Africa possesses over 60% of the world’s arable land, yet its low level of food imports presents a paradox. Speaking at the Pan-African conference on “Food and Agriculture” organized by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) in Addis Ababa, Mekonnen emphasized the urgent need for a fundamental transformation of Africa’s food systems. He stressed that this transformation can be achieved through digital technology. Seyoum noted that…

South African proptech startup AIRE is bringing artificial intelligence and automation into the real estate sector. The company delivers this integration through four main systems. First, with its AI-based platform AIRE Software, the startup can produce feasibility and “Highest and Best Use” (HBU) studies within just five days. Traditionally, such studies take four to six weeks, but AIRE Software reduces this timeline significantly. In addition, AIRE Consulting provides advisory services such as market research, financial modeling, planning support, and portfolio strategy. Through AIRE Valuations, the company offers independent and standards-compliant valuation services based on local knowledge and market data, supporting…

Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey, who plays for Fulham, has stated that he loves his national team’s fans and admires the incredible passion with which they support the team. Born in Italy and having moved to England at a young age, Bassey was eligible to represent three different national teams. However, he chose Nigeria, and that decision has proven to be the right one. Last season, Bassey was named Fulham’s Player of the Season, earning praise for his performances. Having also played for big clubs like Ajax and Rangers, the versatile defender has gathered valuable experience. In a conversation with his…

Chelsea are preparing to reach an agreement with 16-year-old Nigerian talent Abduljelil Kamaldeen. After failing to make a fast start to the season, Chelsea have shifted their transfer policy towards young prospects. Investments are being made both for the first team and the academy. For this reason, Chelsea are closely following the U20 World Cup. Despite being only 16 years old, Kamaldeen has already had the chance to feature in this tournament. He is even expected to start in tomorrow’s match against Saudi Arabia. The young player can operate both as a number 10 and a left winger. Due to…

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations of Ghana, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), delivered the opening speech at the 2025 Africa Internet Summit. The event coincides with the 30th anniversary of Ghana’s Internet connectivity. In his speech, Minister George outlined the progress Ghana has made over the past three decades. He highlighted key milestones such as the establishment of the Ghana Internet Exchange in 2005, the deployment of submarine cable infrastructure, and the strengthening of mobile broadband networks across the country. The Minister emphasized that the real success lies in human capital, stating: “The real success is not…

The Ministry of Technology and Science of Zambia hosted Czech Republic Ambassador Jiří Kyrian. During the meeting, methods to deepen technological cooperation between the two countries were discussed. The discussions also covered the Tech4Zambia Forum, scheduled to take place on 7 October 2025 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka. The forum aims to bring together representatives from government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to expand dialogue on technology and innovation. Additionally, plans for a 2026 visit to Prague and the European Space Agency were discussed, along with ongoing initiatives under the SLIM Project. Ambassador Kyrian highlighted the growing…

In last night’s Galatasaray–Liverpool clash, Victor Osimhen scored the only goal of the match to secure victory for his team. With 10 goals in 18 appearances, the Nigerian star became the all-time top Nigerian scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League. After the final whistle, Osimhen was seen with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. The pair exchanged shirts in the mixed zone, a gesture that summed up the mutual respect between the two players. Osimhen also achieved an impressive record against Premier League clubs. In five Champions League appearances against English sides, he has scored four goals. Speaking…