CAF President expresses confidence in East Africa's plans to host AFCON 2027

Four South African clubs participating in continental competitions this season have determined their opponents in the next rounds of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates will continue their campaigns in the Champions League, while Kaizer Chiefs and Durban City have found out who they will face in the next stage of the Confederation Cup.

Sundowns received an opponent from Angola—Viliete, and Pirates will meet a team from Namibia—African Stars. In the Confederation Cup, Chiefs will play against a team from Zambia—Red Arrows, and Durban City will play Port Louis from Mauritius.

For Durban City, this match was a continuation of an impressive progression to the next round. Coach Khalil Ben Youssef expressed satisfaction with how his team handled the two-legged tie against Ruinzo.

Ben Youssef noted: 'It was a good two-legged performance on our part. We knew what we had to do after the first match, and the players did well in both games.'

The coach particularly praised the players' ability to adapt to unfamiliar conditions in the second match. He added: 'Coming here always presents a different challenge. You need to adapt to the conditions, the environment, and the game itself, and I think the players managed that well.'

Ben Youssef also emphasized that Durban City was not just set to defend the advantage gained in the first match. He stated: 'We came here not to sit back and defend the result of the first match. We wanted to play, we wanted to score a goal, and we wanted to win the game, and we did that.'

The match was not without tense moments, as Ruinzo managed to equalize after Durban City took a dominant position.

Khalil Ben Youssef commented on the situation when the team was leading 2-0: 'When we were leading 2-0, we were in a strong position, but when they scored, we had to remain calm. I think the players showed good character to manage the game and see it through.'

Durban City is experiencing continental football at this level for the first time, and Ben Youssef believes that every round brings valuable experience to the club. He noted: 'For the club, this is new experience. We learn with every game and every round, and it is important that we continue to improve along the way.'

The coach quickly shifted focus to the next task after securing qualification. He concluded: 'We are happy to advance, but this is what we expected from ourselves. Now we need to recover, go home, and prepare for the next challenge.'

The President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Et'o, insists that leaders of African football must have the opportunity to speak out openly and defend the continent's interests, especially following a new wave of criticism directed against it.

Et'o's comments came after several European media outlets reported that he had become the subject of a complaint regarding alleged financial mismanagement during a friendly match between Cameroon and Russia, which took place in Moscow in October 2023. Et'o rejected these reports, calling their timing and similarity signs of a coordinated campaign against him.

This dispute arose against the backdrop of Et'o's recent public support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is under pressure ahead of the upcoming FIFA election congress. Et'o called on African football associations to unite around the head of the world football body.

He suggested that his stance might have provoked the latest criticism, adding that some commentators felt uncomfortable with the African football leader openly defending his beliefs. Et'o also questioned what he termed double standards in discussions about democracy and freedom of expression.

"We have the right to speak. We have the right to defend our interests. We have the right to think independently and make decisions regarding our football," stated Et'o.