FIFA.com - News

Happy birthday to you!

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:47:00 GMT

FIFA.com is once again looking forward to another week of footballing birthdays, with two hot shots from Madrid in Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao alongside Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov in line for a celebration.

Kadir: Algeria will learn from 2010

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:39:00 GMT

FIFA.com spoke to Algeria midfielder Foued Kadir about the Desert Foxes' rejuvenation under new coach Vahid Halilhodzic, his experience at South Africa 2010 and ambitions for Brazil 2014.

January activity continues apace

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:44:00 GMT

With the transfer deadline fast approaching, FIFA.com rounds up this week's action in the global market, which has seen plenty of business on British shores.

Kaiserslautern sign Al-Nasr's Yahia

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:46:00 GMT

German strugglers Kaiserslautern have signed Algeria international centre-back Anthar Yahia, capped 52 times, from the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nasr.

Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire seek end to drought

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:41:00 GMT

With the CAF African Cup of Nations set to kick off on 21 January, both Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire have been pegged as hot favourites to win the title in the absence of such heavyweights as Egypt and South Africa.

Happy birthday to you!

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:30:00 GMT

In our regular feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names from Planet Football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week.

Japan rivals ponder Barça quandary

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:42:00 GMT

Stopping the Barcelona juggernaut could be the key challenge at this FIFA Club World Cup. Here, the likes of Neymar, Nadir Belhadj, Muricy Ramahlo and Jorge Fossati tell FIFA.com how they'd go about it.

Belhadj: Barça match is a celebration

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:31:00 GMT

Al-Sadd left-back Nadir Belhadj has said that meeting Barcelona in the semi-finals at Japan 2011 is cause for celebration, telling FIFA.com the Qatari club will prepare as best they can for the Spanish giants.

Neck and neck in Algeria, Ghana

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:39:00 GMT

Hearts of Oak and ES Setif moved into dead heats with rivals Asante Kotoko and USM Alger at the top of the tables in Ghana and Algeria respectively.

Unlikely Gabon lead trio to London

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:28:00 GMT

Surprise packages Gabon won the CAF U-23 Championship over the weekend to join Morocco and Egypt as African qualifiers for next year's Men’s Olympic Football Tournament.

Leaders on course in Algeria, Morocco

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:27:00 GMT

South Africa's pace-setting SuperSport United lost their first match of the season, but leaders in Algeria, Morocco and Ghana fared better over the weekend.

Muslim players asking scientists for help

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:11:00 GMT

A conference on Ramadan and Football on 25 and 26 November brought together scientists and physicians as well as players, to exchange their knowledge and experiences of fasting.

Happy birthday to you!

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 07:15:00 GMT

FIFA.com looks ahead to a star-studded week of footballing birthdays, including Belgian legend Jean-Marie Pfaff, the Altintop brothers, England captain John Terry and FIFA World Cup™-winner Bixente Lizarazu.

Stars illuminate Japan 2011 squads

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:30:00 GMT

The likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Humberto Suazo are among the high-profile players named in the final squads for the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2011.

Favourites stumble in North Africa

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:07:00 GMT

New African champions Esperance suffered their first domestic defeat in almost a year in Tunisia, while Algerian leaders USM Alger lost a narrow derby battle and new champions were crowned in Kenya and Madagascar.

African rivals reach for London tickets

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:28:00 GMT

Qualifying for the London 2012 men’s tournament reaches the final stage in Africa this weekend as eight teams meet in Morocco seeking to maintain their Olympic dreams.

Familiar names grab trophies

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:47:00 GMT

Titles were won in Côte d’Ivoire, Sudan and Zimbabwe by teams familiar with the top of the table, while the league race in Kenya is down to the final week with all to play for.

Trio of champs crowned in Africa

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:35:00 GMT

Champions clinched top spots from Angola to Mozambique to Zambia, as the Tunisian league got underway and Ghana's Hearts of Oak kept up their strong start.

Ramzy: Egypt are among the favourites

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:22:00 GMT

Legendary Egypt centre-back Hany Ramzy spoke with FIFA.com about coaching his country's U-23 side, their preparations for the final round of African qualifiers for London 2012, and their opponents in Group B.

Djebbour at home in Greece

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:31:00 GMT

Olympiakos centre-forward Rafik Djebbour has made quite an impression in his first few months with the Piraeus club, where he has cemented a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in Greek football.

Expectations thrown in African whirlwind

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:26:00 GMT

Nigeria and South Africa will join Egypt and Cameroon on the outside of the continental championship as they both stumbled at home, while the likes of Niger and Libya confirmed unlikely spots in the finals.

Toure brothers lift Côte d’Ivoire

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:36:00 GMT

Kolo and Yaya Toure both scored to seal a 2-1 win for Côte d’Ivoire over Burundi, completing their perfect run in 2012 CAF African Cup of Nations qualifying, while Rwanda were boosted by a 1-0 win over Benin.

All to play for on Africa’s final weekend

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:42:00 GMT

Qualifying for the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations concludes this weekend with big guns Nigeria and South Africa needing to make up ground to reach the finals, and a host of outsiders aiming to make a bit of history.

Leaders pull away in Angola, Mozambique

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:42:00 GMT

Liga Muculmana reconfirmed their title aspirations in Mozambique, the pair at the top in Angola pulled clear, while USM Alger lost their 100 per cent record in Algeria as FIFA.com reviews all the weekend club action across Africa.

Happy birthday to you!

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:12:00 GMT

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Careca are just two of the famous footballing names celebrating birthdays in the week ahead, as FIFA.com reveals in its customary Sunday feature.

Chiefs win derby, Dynamos close

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:18:00 GMT

Kaizer Chiefs beat arch-rivals and defending champions Orlando Pirates in South Africa, while Dynamos have climbed their way back into the title race in Zimbabwe.

Last four clubs set in Africa

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:55:00 GMT

Six-time champions Al Ahly were eliminated after a nerve-shattering home draw with Esperance, while Al Hilal and Wydad Casablanca edged into the semi-finals despite failing to win.

Moghreb, Sunshine reach semi-finals

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:39:00 GMT

Moghreb Fes and Sunshine Stars both booked their place in the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals after respective wins in Group B over Darig Club and JS Kabylie.

Draw not enough for eliminated Ahly

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 01:41:00 GMT

Esperance and Wydad Casablanca have reached the CAF Champions League semi-finals after the former drew 1-1 at Al Ahly to knock the record six-time winners out of the competition.

Titans set for Cairo clash

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:29:00 GMT

With three of the four semi-final spots still up for grabs, there are sure to be fireworks this weekend in the CAF Champions League, nowhere more so than in Egypt, where Al Ahly must beat in-form Esperance.

Enyimba qualify, Esperance edge closer

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 01:44:00 GMT

One of Africa’s Champions League semi-final spots has now been filled after Nigeria's representatives secured progression with an impressive 4-0 victory at the weekend.

Draw date for African qualifiers

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:04:00 GMT

The Confederation of African Football has confirmed that the draw for its final round of Men’s Olympic Football Tournament qualifiers will take place on 24 September.

Decisive fortnight awaits African clubs

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:31:00 GMT

The penultimate matchday of the CAF Champions League group stage takes place this weekend as Esperance and others try to qualify for the semi-finals before the drama of next week’s final encounters.

Duo qualify as final day looms

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:43:00 GMT

Senegal and Burkina Faso were the big winners over the weekend as the pair booked passage to the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, but seven groups remain up for grabs with one qualifying round to go.

Niger edge closer, Uganda stumble

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:35:00 GMT

Niger edged closer to qualifying for next year's CAF Africa Cup of Nations with a win over South Africa, while Uganda lost to Angola and Nigeria beat Madagascar.

Burkinabe through, Egypt crash out

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 21:26:00 GMT

Burkina Faso booked their place at the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, while defending champions Egypt crashed out to Sierra Leone.

Do or die weekend in Africa

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:57:00 GMT

With all but a handful of teams still in the running to reach the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the continent is set for what should be a dramatic few days of qualifiers this weekend.

Enyimba out in front, Group B stays even

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:50:00 GMT

Nigeria's Enyimba emerged from their away draw as leaders of Group A, while Egypt's Al Ahly were regretting the same result as three of the four Champions League matches ended scoreless over the weekend.

Happy birthday to you!

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 11:51:00 GMT

In our regular Sunday feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names from Planet Football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week.

African elite take to the road

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:17:00 GMT

The CAF Champions League continues this weekend with the Group A frontrunners facing away challenges as they seek passage to the last four, while Al Ahly continue their chase in Group B with a tricky trip to Algeria.

Dutch dethrone Spain, Uruguay rise

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:59:00 GMT

The Netherlands have ended Spain’s year-plus reign at the summit, while Uruguay overtook Brazil as South America’s highest-placed team and England climbed to fourth.

A's leaders OK, B a battle

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:20:00 GMT

Egyptian giants Al Ahly beat Mouloudia Alger to turn Group B of the CAF Champions League into a three horse race, while Enyimba and Al Hilal took full control of the other section.

Tunisian, Moroccan clubs rise to top

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:49:00 GMT

Wins for both Club Africain and Moghreb Fes saw them reach the top of the their respective groups in the CAF Confederation Cup, with InterClube and Sunshine Stars the sides they defeated.

Moteab brace lifts Ahly to victory

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:13:00 GMT

Al-Ahly's performance in the CAF Champions League group stage finally gained some traction yesterday after Emad Moteab scored a brace against Mouloudia Alger to get their first win of the round.

Key weekend for Africa's biggest clubs

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:54:00 GMT

As the CAF Champions League group stage reaches the half-way mark this weekend, Egyptian giants Al Ahly are looking to make up ground, while Wydad and Esperance will battle it out for the top spot in their group.

Coach admits weary Ahly face uphill struggle

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:15:00 GMT

Al Ahly coach Manuel Jose believes a seventh CAF Champions League crown may be beyond his team with the Portuguese mentor saying his ageing stars have faced an intense fixture schedule this year.

Rangers agree Bougherra fee

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:33:00 GMT

Rangers and Lekhwiya have agreed a fee off £1.7m for defender Madjid Bougherra, according to Gers manager Ally McCoist, with the Algerian international looking set to move to Qatar.

Big wins for Esperance and Enyimba

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:38:00 GMT

Esperance beat Egyptian giants Al Ahly in a North African derby with a goal from a new signing, while Enyimba claimed a precious away victory in Cameroon over the weekend.

Hard road ahead for African favourites

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:05:00 GMT

Continental giants Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire were handed tough-looking tasks on the path to Brazil 2014, while the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts South Africa have a regional derby on their hands against Botswana.

Sunshine Stars glow in Algeria

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 11:38:00 GMT

CAF Confederation Cup debutants Sunshine Stars stunned JS Kabylie 2-1 in Algeria, seeing the Nigerians lead Group B with six points.