African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Ishicryptic]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year.

I don’t even know what to call the super eagles coach, I feel he is just looking for excuse for his loss. DR Congo didn’t use anything in the match, if they had used Vodoo, then why did they get to the stage of playing a penalty shootout? They should have just won the match easily. Also why did the DR Congo lose some penalties also, they should have scored all their penalties. It’s annoying to see our coach say things like this, since DR Congo made use of Vodoo, then he should have used it also, all we wanted from him was to make super eagles qualify for the World Cup, but he couldn’t achieve that for us.

Now that DR Congo, has qualified for the world cup let us see how far their voodoo will take them in the tournament, maybe they will use voodoo to win all their matches and lift the world cup, that is only when I can believe the super eagles coach. This problem with Africa, is that our leaders finds it very difficult to accept defeat, they will keep finding excuses for their failures. The super eagles lose to Congo, was a narrow miss, even the best teams lose in penalties, penalties are by luck it doesn't mean that the team didn't perform well.

[Adbitco]

Congratulations to Achraf Hakimi for winning the African best player of the year. He won the award ahead of Victor Osimhen and Mohammed Salah. There was never any doubt about Hakimi winning the award after having a glorious season with his team PSG last season.

After a successful season with his club side PSG and them sweeping and racking up all available trophies at their wake last season except just that if the CWac which they lost to Chelsea. He won all those trophies by being a pivotal and integral part of the team. Fully deserved as he beat the previous winner and and the Liverpool talisman to emerge the winner this edition.

[adultcrypto]

These were games that would have projected to the top with lots of point difference and they would have been first in the group but they chose to play around and started getting serious almost when it's over.

A huge question now to be answered is if we will learn from this? If we will be better in the next four years to actually be in the world cup? or if it will be another disappointing phase.

If you want to hear my answer, I think we will not, I am even afraid that we may be worse then if the corruption in the NFF is not addressed. We should be addressing the root cause of our failure which is the NFF and their incompetence now if we want to make the next qualification. Many players who can make a difference for us will no longer be interested in National duty because of how bad the system is.

The level of seriousness the Super Eagles showed this year is encouraging despite the failure to qualify for the world cup. If NFF knows what to do, they will not allow the gains that have been made go to waste. For the next four years, they should continue to put the team together, scout for more of our players both home and abroad and start calling for friendly matches to enable the boys play together and develop a playing culture. If they do this, I'm confident that we will not fail to qualify the next time because we have the resources and manpower to be in the world cup every time. They should not continue this pattern of late preparations when time is gone already.

[SatoPrincess]

Congratulations to Achraf Hakimi for winning the African best player of the year. He won the award ahead of Victor Osimhen and Mohammed Salah. There was never any doubt about Hakimi winning the award after having a glorious season with his team PSG last season.

Liverpool fans may feel that Salah got robbed but Salah hasn’t been very consistent this season and his form has obviously dropped. Gakpo has been more lethal in attack than Salah. Hakimi is not my favorite player of the trio but to be fair he deserves the award for being consistent through the season.
Congrats Hakimi! Speedy recovery.

[Finebone]

Congratulations to Achraf Hakimi for winning the African best player of the year. He won the award ahead of Victor Osimhen and Mohammed Salah. There was never any doubt about Hakimi winning the award after having a glorious season with his team PSG last season.

After a successful season with his club side PSG and them sweeping and racking up all available trophies at their wake last season except just that if the CWac which they lost to Chelsea. He won all those trophies by being a pivotal and integral part of the team. Fully deserved as he beat the previous winner and and the Liverpool talisman to emerge the winner this edition.

He is undeniable the most deserving of this award among the top three players that was short listed, and this winning by achraf hakimi will change the narrative of defenders not being recognized enough to win top individual awards especially in African football, and what buttress his chances of winning this year African best player was the treble he won last season, and how crucial he was to his team in all competitions, so it was really deserving, congratulation to him on this personal achievement.

[Oluwa-btc]

Congratulations to Achraf Hakimi for winning the African best player of the year. He won the award ahead of Victor Osimhen and Mohammed Salah. There was never any doubt about Hakimi winning the award after having a glorious season with his team PSG last season.

North Africans almost killed themselves the last time Ademola Lookman won it over him. I must say, this is well deserved, he worked for this and he has earned it. What Hakimi achieved with PSG was just too much to be ignored. Mo Salah did his very best but wasn't enough. And the Nigerian Football Federation? Just as Nigerian Legend John Mikel Obi has said in his podcast,  the absence of Nigeria in the upcoming fifa world cup competition is enough reason why they should disband the current members and heads in charge. We can not go into the African Cup of Nations with such corrupt leaders in charge. Completely pathetic.

[Hyphen(-)]

Congratulations to Achraf Hakimi for winning the African best player of the year. He won the award ahead of Victor Osimhen and Mohammed Salah. There was never any doubt about Hakimi winning the award after having a glorious season with his team PSG last season.

He deserve the award more than Osimhen and Moh Salah because he won the Champions League, he is nominated among the top ten Ballon D Or nominees, he is the best right back in the world right now and has helped his country Morocco to be the first African country to secure 2026 World Cup spot. He is playing well currently even though he is injured, he is a player many young talented players should look up to because of his dedication and hard work.

Once again, Congratulations to Achraf Hakimi, the best player in Africa right now.

[Adbitco]

He is undeniable the most deserving of this award among the top three players that was short listed, and this winning by achraf hakimi will change the narrative of defenders not being recognized enough to win top individual awards especially in African football, and what buttress his chances of winning this year African best player was the treble he won last season, and how crucial he was to his team in all competitions, so it was really deserving, congratulation to him on this personal achievement.

True, to even spice it up, his the first ever full back to win the award in the history of CAF and also the second person from Morocco to ever win it. His performance for PSG has been top notch and his being a major contributor to the success of PSG even in terms of goal. Sometimes I forget that Hakimi is even a defender. He attacks and defends, he does both effortlessly.

[Agbe]

Achraf Hakimi deserves the award ahead of others, so far this year's award has been a consensus from everybody, this is to show how outstanding the winner was in the year in preview. Hakimi was a key member of the PSG champions League winning squad which dominated the French league and the champions League last season and even played in the club world cup finals. Hakimi has shown consistency even this season before his injury and we can see that in way Morocco qualified for the world cup.

[Pjcr7]

I hate to bring this up here but I'm just worried. Few days ago we saw a friendly match between Angola Vs Argentina. At first Argentina refused the offer untill Angola enticed them with money, according to the news, Angola pledged some certain amounts of money for any conceded by Angola, can you imagine that. It was said that Angola's government while trying to negotiate with Argentina for the match to take place at Angola agreed to pay $6 million to Argentina for every goal they will score against Angola, but the irony is that Argentina will not pay them a dime if they concede against Angola. At the end of 90 minutes, Argentina scored 2 goals which means Angola will have to pay them $12 million. I'm asking now, of what benefit is this very match of importance to the people of Angola or am I missing out on something.

[Mr Reporter]

He is undeniable the most deserving of this award among the top three players that was short listed, and this winning by achraf hakimi will change the narrative of defenders not being recognized enough to win top individual awards especially in African football, and what buttress his chances of winning this year African best player was the treble he won last season, and how crucial he was to his team in all competitions, so it was really deserving, congratulation to him on this personal achievement.

True, to even spice it up, his the first ever full back to win the award in the history of CAF and also the second person from Morocco to ever win it. His performance for PSG has been top notch and his being a major contributor to the success of PSG even in terms of goal. Sometimes I forget that Hakimi is even a defender. He attacks and defends, he does both effortlessly.

I was honestly and absolutely shocked at the Hakimi’s game is which was a really highlighted reel – i even learn he’s the first full‑back to win the CAF Player of the Year since 1973 and only the second Moroccan after Mustapha Hadji (1998) to claim the prize  and this was really a great highlight that seasons.

I even found a record of that PSG he’s been unstoppable, score 11 goals and adding 16 assists in a treble‑winning season,

[Johnlomape]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year.

I don’t even know what to call the super eagles coach, I feel he is just looking for excuse for his loss. DR Congo didn’t use anything in the match, if they had used Vodoo, then why did they get to the stage of playing a penalty shootout? They should have just won the match easily. Also why did the DR Congo lose some penalties also, they should have scored all their penalties. It’s annoying to see our coach say things like this, since DR Congo made use of Vodoo, then he should have used it also, all we wanted from him was to make super eagles qualify for the World Cup, but he couldn’t achieve that for us.

Now that DR Congo, has qualified for the world cup let us see how far their voodoo will take them in the tournament, maybe they will use voodoo to win all their matches and lift the world cup, that is only when I can believe the super eagles coach. This problem with Africa, is that our leaders finds it very difficult to accept defeat, they will keep finding excuses for their failures. The super eagles lose to Congo, was a narrow miss, even the best teams lose in penalties, penalties are by luck it doesn't mean that the team didn't perform well.

You don't have to underestimate their power of vodoo and if you think that vodoo does not actually make way for them, you need to ask why they were able to defeat Nigeria. Since Nigeria does not qualify for the world cup, people has gone back to their places of work and how to they make money for themselves. Football is just sport and people loves it because of the entertainment aspect. Nigeria should get prepared for 2030 for another opportunity to participate in the world cup qualifier. Congratulations to Dr Congo for qualifying without bias.

[Issa56]

Now that DR Congo, has qualified for the world cup let us see how far their voodoo will take them in the tournament,

Did you even believe what the super eagles coach was saying? He was just looking for excuse, and that was what he was able to use. D.R Congo would have been in first position on the table in their group if they had made use of any spiritual power. Super eagles should stop saying that trash, I don’t even see anything special in what DR Congo played in the match that made our coach think they used spiritual power.

We all know penalty is luck, but I don’t even know why the super eagles couldn’t easily win DR CONGO in the match, the match wasn’t even suppose to get to the level playing penalty, super eagles have a better squad, I had confidence in them to win before the match started, but am just disappointed that super eagles couldn’t win DR Congo, that means they won’t be playing the next World Cup.

[Cookdata]

Liverpool fans may feel that Salah got robbed but Salah hasn’t been very consistent this season and his form has obviously dropped. Gakpo has been more lethal in attack than Salah. Hakimi is not my favorite player of the trio but to be fair he deserves the award for being consistent through the season.
Congrats Hakimi! Speedy recovery.

There are some sentiments you don't pay attention to and this is one of it. Osimhen try last season but how many troohies, it's only Turkish league and that's it. Salah gave it a short with Premier League. Hakimi had the same trophy by winning the French Ligue but the advantage he had was winning the Champions League with PSG, we are not going to close eye that we didn't see the goal he scored in the final, he was the first person to opened a goal in that match. There is no reaping here, it's a deserving award.

[9ja Amaka]

These were games that would have projected to the top with lots of point difference and they would have been first in the group but they chose to play around and started getting serious almost when it's over.

A huge question now to be answered is if we will learn from this? If we will be better in the next four years to actually be in the world cup? or if it will be another disappointing phase.

If you want to hear my answer, I think we will not, I am even afraid that we may be worse then if the corruption in the NFF is not addressed. We should be addressing the root cause of our failure which is the NFF and their incompetence now if we want to make the next qualification. Many players who can make a difference for us will no longer be interested in National duty because of how bad the system is.

The level of seriousness the Super Eagles showed this year is encouraging despite the failure to qualify for the world cup. If NFF knows what to do, they will not allow the gains that have been made go to waste. For the next four years, they should continue to put the team together, scout for more of our players both home and abroad and start calling for friendly matches to enable the boys play together and develop a playing culture. If they do this, I'm confident that we will not fail to qualify the next time because we have the resources and manpower to be in the world cup every time. They should not continue this pattern of late preparations when time is gone already.

If the super eagle want to qualify they should have done it a long time now, this is not the time they would want to prove that they are a better side. I was only supporting them thinking something good can come out of them but as usual they did not win Congo which means the Congo players are better than them. Hopefully in the nest four years they can qualify for the wolrd cup.

[GiftedMAN]

Congratulations to Achraf Hakimi for winning the African best player of the year. He won the award ahead of Victor Osimhen and Mohammed Salah. There was never any doubt about Hakimi winning the award after having a glorious season with his team PSG last season.

Liverpool fans may feel that Salah got robbed but Salah hasn’t been very consistent this season and his form has obviously dropped. Gakpo has been more lethal in attack than Salah. Hakimi is not my favorite player of the trio but to be fair he deserves the award for being consistent through the season.
Congrats Hakimi! Speedy recovery.

Mo Salah should know that he's performance has declined since last season and he can't compare his team achievements to that of PSG last season cause PSG was so fantastic in their performance the trophies they won is an evidence to prove that their players deserves to be awarded because they were so consistent with their performance last season. Hakimi truly deserve the award he's been injured and the other players now have the opportunity to outshine him so they they can get the record next season. Congratulations to Hakimi award well deserved.

[Adbitco]

I don't really understand what some Nigerians and the super Eagles coach is saying about DR Congo using voodoo in that match, which made them to qualify for the FIFA world cup competition for next year. but all I have to say here is that, wether DR Congo used voodoo or it was voodoo that use them nobody cares, DR Congo has qualified to participate in the upcoming FIFA world cup competition, and there is nothing anybody can do about that, so all this talks coming from some Nigerians, and the super Eagles coach is just fallacy, and it's high time they they  let it slide before things get out of hand. Let's stay cool and calm and wait for next year to come, let's see what DR Congo will play in the FIFA world cup competition, because it's not about qualifying while they can't even scale through the group stages of the competition.

DRC hasn't yet qualified for the WC, they only qualified as the country that will represent Africa in the Intercontinental play offs that will be coming up around March of next year. It's if they the scale through and win the matches, that's when they will qualify for the WC in July. Seriously, it's really a rigorous way, but it will be worth it if they finally get a ticket to the WC.

I've said these before now, the playoff opportunity is just a slim one when you look at it critically, the best option we had was to win through the qualifiers series which we lost, we should just take it in good faith and try our luck with the AFCON that will soon come up. Although Argentina went ahead to win the 2022 world cup after qualifying through playoff. But I don't even see DRC actually winning those countries at intercontinental playoff might sound a bit tricky.

Yeah, we wouldn't have been through the playoffs if only our men did the needful of qualifying straight from the group which was by simply ended first, we wouldn't have gone through the playoffs stress. I still think DRC still has a higher chance of qualifying, they pose a stronger team than the other continental opponents. I see them making that last slot and picking it up all the way to the world cup.

[Richbased]

Congratulations to Achraf Hakimi for winning the African best player of the year. He won the award ahead of Victor Osimhen and Mohammed Salah. There was never any doubt about Hakimi winning the award after having a glorious season with his team PSG last season.

This is indeed a well deserved award for the Morocco international. He had a very nice season and deserved to win. I would say that this award have been maintaining near integrity so far even though many would suppose that Victor Osimhen would win it. But based on club and international achievements, Hakimi remains the best option and has won.

Achraf Hakimi was presented as the favorite to win the African Men player of the year right from when PSG won the treble namely, the French cup, French ligue 1 and the Champions League. His exceptional performance made him win the heart of Africans so the award is well deserved. Victor Osimhen was very close to winning the award as well but Hakimi was still the better option. However, if Osimhen maintains consistency till next year, he can still win the Africa's prestigious awards again.

[nelson4lov]

Congratulations to Hakimi. Last season was the best of his career by far. I watched him play against my team (Liverpool) and against Arsenal. His contributions was pivotal to PSG winning the UCL last season. Truly deserved.

The league Oshimen is in right now kinda shadows spotlight on him. If galatasaray gets eliminated soon, no Europe coverage for him. Lookman and Salah haven't been at their best in recent times. Especially Salah

[SatoPrincess]

Congratulations to Hakimi. Last season was the best of his career by far. I watched him play against my team (Liverpool) and against Arsenal. His contributions was pivotal to PSG winning the UCL last season. Truly deserved.

The league Oshimen is in right now kinda shadows spotlight on him. If galatasaray gets eliminated soon, no Europe coverage for him. Lookman and Salah haven't been at their best in recent times. Especially Salah

I don’t know how Ademola Lookman made it into the discussion but yes Lookman has been a shadow of himself recently. Victor Osimhen will have to move to the La Liga or Premier League clubs if he wants the football career he deserves. It’s a pity that his talent is limited because the Turkish league isn’t exactly considered top tier. Osimhen has been linked to some big clubs recently, I hope he signs a deal soon.