FIFA.com - News

Benni the hero, drama in Morocco

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:22:00 GMT

Benni McCarthy's two goals were the difference as Pirates won the South African title again, while in Morocco it will be one match for all the spoils on the league's final weekend.

Wilmots named interim Belgium coach

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:21:00 GMT

Following the exit of Georges Leekens, Marc Wilmots has assumed the Belgium reins on an interim basis, while Eric Gerets has ruled himself out of the running to land the post on a permanent deal.

Taarabt: I’ll do all I can to keep QPR up

Sat, 12 May 2012 10:16:00 GMT

As Queens Park Rangers' Premier League survival goes down to the wire, FIFA.com speaks with their Moroccan Adel Taarabt on their first season back in the top flight, his temperament and playing for his country.

Final shot at group glory in Africa

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:35:00 GMT

Sixteen teams will be whittled down to eight over the next few pressure-packed days as the CAF Champions League heads into the group stage finale with much on the line.

To the wire in Algeria, Morocco

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:11:00 GMT

Raja Casablanca fell off the pace in Morocco, leaving two unlikely teams to fight it out for the title, while in Algeria six sides are still with a shout.

Tunisians romp as Ahly crash

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:57:00 GMT

Holders Esperance and their Tunisian compatriots Etoile du Sahel claimed overwhelming victories in their CAF Champions League Round of 16 ties, while Egypt's Al Ahly fell to a late goal at Stade Malien.

Blatter inaugurates two Goal projects in Morocco

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:11:00 GMT

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter inaugurated two artificial pitches at Morocco's National Football Centre in Mâamora as part of the Goal Project.

Egyptian giants lead away charge

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:10:00 GMT

Zamalek and Al Ahly are on the road this weekend in the first leg of the CAF Champions League Round of 16, the final round before the group stage begins.

Respect the watchword at Wembley

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:27:00 GMT

Following Tuesday's draws for the Olympic Football Tournaments London 2012, FIFA.com was on hand at Wembley to gauge the reaction of coaches and representatives from the countries taking part.

Olympic hopefuls line up

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews a host of fascinating groups across the Men's and Women's Olympic Football Tournaments following Tuesday's draw at Wembley Stadium in London.

Draw shows the road to London gold

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:48:00 GMT

Wembley Stadium provided the setting for the group draw of the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments London 2012 on Tuesday 24 April. FIFA.com has all details and reaction to the draw.

Plot thickens in South Africa, Morocco

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:35:00 GMT

The weekend saw Orlando Pirates' title charge stall in South Africa, a new leader claim top spot in Morocco, the frontrunners stumble in Kenya, while a new but familiar king is set to be crowned in Ghana.

FIFA President to visit Morocco and Algeria

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:07:00 GMT

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter is to visit Morocco and Algeria from 29 April-2 May. There, he will unveil Goal and other projects, and meet dignitaries from the two countries.

Labyad calls for permanent Cocu role

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:34:00 GMT

Following their 3-0 win in the KNVB Beker final yesterday, PSV Eindhoven starlet Zakaria Labyad has said he hopes Phillip Cocu is installed as the permanent coach, and hinting it could decide his own future too.

15 teams find their way to London

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:33:00 GMT

After a frenetic period of qualifying for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament 2012, which has seen 15 teams confirm their place in London, FIFA.com reviews all the action ahead of the competition draw on 24 April.

Surprise leaders make their case

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:38:00 GMT

Nigerian giants Enyimba stumbled to a draw over the weekend, which allowed Enugu Rangers to take top spot, a position also shared by unlikely contenders in Tunisia and Morocco.

Kotoko steer clear, FUS stumble

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:26:00 GMT

Asante Kotoko extended their lead 10 points with nine matches left in the Ghanaian championship, while FUS Rabat are holding on in Morocco. FIFA.com reviews the weekend's domestic action in Africa.

Draws aplenty and one major surprise

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:44:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews the weekend action in the CAF Champions League, where eight of 15 matches ended in draws and Berekum Chelsea of Ghana produced the stand-out result of the round.

Black Leopards charge continues

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:16:00 GMT

Black Leopards continued to defy the odds in the CAF Confederation Cup after a 4-2 win over St Eloi Lupopo left the South Africans with a shot at the last-16, while Kallon FC and Royal Leopard had to settle for draws.

African big boys make their entrance

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:02:00 GMT

FIFA.com previews the 2012 CAF Champions League in Africa, which kicks off in earnest this weekend with the continent's 13 top-seeded teams entering the fray.

Dream weekend for McCarthy, Rivaldo

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:30:00 GMT

It was a return to glory days in Africa as 34-year-old Benni McCarthy bagged a brace in a thrilling South African derby and Rivaldo scored a hat-trick a month ahead of his 40th birthday.

Belhanda: We’ll get it right with time

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 07:16:00 GMT

Montpellier and Morocco star Younes Belhanda believes that too much was expected of the Atlas Lions at the 2012 CAF Cup of Nations and that more patience is required to help the team reach its potential.

Ghana get Basetsana, Kenya stun Zambia

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:01:00 GMT

The qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup continued in Africa as Ghana set up a crunch clash with South Africa in the next round and Kenya overturned a deficit in the second leg against Zambia.

Rivaldo debuts, Côte d’Ivoire kicks off

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:47:00 GMT

Former Brazilian star and FIFA World Cup™ winner Rivaldo made his debut in Angola with a loss, while things started well for ASEC Abidjan.

Senegalese, South African champs fall

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:39:00 GMT

Orlando Pirates and US Ouakam were eliminated in the preliminary stage of Africa's biggest club competition, while Egypt's Zamalek led the charge through to the Round of 32.

Good weekend for familiar faces

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:06:00 GMT

Benni McCarthy scored a stunning late winner to give Orlando Pirates a boost in South Africa's chasing group, while Asante Kotoko continue to zero in on their first Ghanaian title in four years.

Morocco's Maghreb lift African Super Cup

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:54:00 GMT

Moroccan club Maghreb Fes have sprung another surprise at a CAF event by beating Esperance on penalties in the final of the CAF African Super Cup.

Zambian joy ends emotional tournament

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:26:00 GMT

Zambia's remarkable penalty shoot-out victory over favourites Côte d’Ivoire capped three superb weeks of football in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea as Africa's elite sought continental glory.

New faces lighting up Cup of Nations

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:33:00 GMT

After ten days of action, the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations has already provided a host of shock results and exciting new stars. Here are a half-dozen breakout names from Africa’s showpiece championship.

Gabon stay perfect, Morocco deny Niger

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:42:00 GMT

Co-hosts Gabon continue to impress on home soil with their win over Tunisia confirming top spot and a 100 per cent record, while the penultimate round of group matches also saw Niger denied a first-ever point by Morocco.

Morocco win to wrap up Cup

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:07:00 GMT

Morocco denied Niger a first ever CAF Africa Cup of Nations point with a 1-0 win in a meaningless closing Group C tie today.

Gerets: We can get better

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:11:00 GMT

Despite seeing his side crash out of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco coach Eric Gerets is confident that the team can improve in the future, a suggestion backed up by captain Houssine Kharja.

Gabon into quarters with Morocco win

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:23:00 GMT

Gabon made it into the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a classic and dramatic 3-2 win over fancied Morocco today.

Gerets: We need more head, less heart

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:08:00 GMT

Experienced Morocco coach Eric Gerets admits his team let the pressure get to them in their opening loss to rivals Tunisia, but he says the Atlas Lions are well-placed to bounce back.

Haggui, Trabelsi discuss Tunisia mission

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:34:00 GMT

Captain Karim Haggui and coach Sami Trabelsi have discussed Tunisia’s 2-1 defeat of Morocco and hopes of becoming African champions.

Gabon, Tunisia, put points on the board

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:30:00 GMT

Hosts Gabon gave debutants Niger a baptism of fire and Tunisia inflicted more misery on Morocco on day three at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations as matches took place in the Gabonese capital for the first time.

Morocco, Tunisia gear up for 2004 repeat

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:25:00 GMT

Morocco and Tunisia are prepared to begin their 2012 CAD Africa Cup of Nations campaigns in a re-run of the 2004 final, with the two favourites for Group C qualification hoping for the perfect start.

Gabon coach revels in debut excitement

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:13:00 GMT

Monday heralds Gabon's first game as co-host of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, but coach Gernot Rohr is gearing up for his first ever taste of the tournament, and found it difficult to contain his excitement.

Who will win the Cup of Nations?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:53:00 GMT

FIFA.com wants to know which country you think will win the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2012

Gerets: Anything can happen at CAN

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:41:00 GMT

Morocco coach Eric Gerets has said he is completely in the dark as to what to expect from his team's CAF Africa Cup of Nations opener against Tunisia.

A showpiece rich on talent and thrills

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:45:00 GMT

Despite the absence of some of the continent’s biggest names, the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off this weekend, promises to throw up more than a few surprises and thrills.

The Cup of Nations in numbers

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:54:00 GMT

First played over 50 years ago, the CAF Africa Cup of Nations is one of the world's most colourful and competitive tournaments. Here we look at 13 facts that you may not know about the continental finals.

Morocco raring for CAN return

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:56:00 GMT

After a disappointing campaign in 2008 and failure to qualify for the previous edition, Morocco are set to begin this year’s African finals as one of the teams to beat.

Casablanca, more than a movie

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:42:00 GMT

Wydad Athletic Club is one of Morocco’s most cherished and successful teams, having won the national league championship a record 17 times.

Players to watch in 2012

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:40:00 GMT

From Thiago Alcantara through Ross Barkley to Julian Draxler, FIFA.com casts an eye over some of football's most exciting emerging talents, for whom 2012 promises to be a landmark year.

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.

Wins for surprise leaders in Morocco, Egypt

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:46:00 GMT

There were victories for FUS Rabat and Haras El Hedood in Morocco and Egypt, while the two giants of Ghanaian football ended the weekend tied at the top of the table.

Happy birthday to you!

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:14:00 GMT

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

Reform road map speeds up

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:54:00 GMT

The FIFA Executive Committee took advantage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2011 currently being played in Japan to stage its last meeting of the year in Tokyo.

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.