NEWS
Simba, Al Hilal draw in build-up encounter
The visiting Al Hilal have forced Simba SC to a 1-1 draw in a friendly match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
Lilibo Maccabi gave the Sudanese side the lead after 45 minutes, but Simba SC fought back to level matters after 81 minutes through Habibu Kyombo.
The two teams used the friendly match ahead of the start of the group stage of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League. Florent Ibenge, the Al Hilal head coach said the build-up was a good test for his team before they travl to face Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.
“We are happy that we have managed to camp and play three build-up matches in Tanzania and this has helped us prepare better,” added Ibenge. Al Hilal played to a 1-1 draw against Namungo FC, and beat Azam FC 1-0 in the other friendly matches they played in Tanzania.
Simba’s new Brazilian coach Roberto Oliviera ‘Robertinho’ was also happy with the friendly match which gave him chance to try out some options. “This has been a good match because we played against a team which is also in the group stage of the Champions League,” added the Simba coach.
Simba SC will travel to Guinea to face Horoya this weekend in a Group C match of the CAF Champions League. The other teams in the group include; Raja CA (Morocco) and Uganda’s Vipers SC.
Al Hilal are in Group B alongside former winners Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) and Cameroon’s Cotton Sport. Al Merriekh from Sudan are the other team from the CECAFA region that play in the group stage. .
Africa’s top male referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been selected to officiate the the Union of European Football Associations – UEFA Super Cup final in August, 2026.
“We’re pleased to share that Somali referee Omar Artan will officiate the highly anticipated match between PSG and Aston Villa in Salzburg,” said the statement from UEFA.
The development comes after the Somali referee was selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026, but was denied entry into US early this week and returned back home.
The European soccer body UEFA said Artan will referee the math on August 12th game between the Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, the Europa League winner. The game will be in Salzburg, Austria.
The European Soccer body said the decision to appoint Artan to officiate the UEFA Super Cup match has been made in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between UEFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to encourage cooperation in many areas, including refereeing. “UEFA and CAF are united by a shared commitment to developing football at all levels and promoting the core values of unity, equality and non-discrimination,” said UEFA on their website.
On Wednesday Artan received a hero’s welcome back in Mogadishu, and also met the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The Harambee Stars of Kenya have settled for a 1-1 draw against Lesotho in an International friendly match played on Thursday in Pretoria, South Africa.
Frank Odhiambo gave Kenya the lead after 14 minutes at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
The two teams continued to create some decent scoring opportunities, but failed to convert them.
After recess the Lesotho team re-organised themselves and leveled matters through Thabo Makhele. The match ended 1-1 and the two teams will face-off again on June 7th at the same Stadium.
Ethiopia will also be in action against Malawi on June 6th at the Addis Ababa Stadium, and the second match to be played after three days.
The other teams from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda had their scheduled matches in Morocco cancelled due to sanitary and public health considerations.
The teams are using the FIFA Window to play International friendly matches as they prepare ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers.
Gor Mahia FC have been crowned 2025/2026 FKF Premier League champions.
Handled by coach Charles Akonnor, the Gor Mahia side lost their last match 1-0 to Nairobi United at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The defeat did not spoil the party as the giants lifted their 22nd League title and were crowned at the same Stadium. “We are vey happy that after a tough season we emerged champions. I thank the team and management for the efforts,” added coach Akonnor.
Gor Mahia FC completed the League with 69 points from 34 matches played, while second placed AFC Leopards collected 64 points, and Kenya Police FC in third place with 55 points.
K’Ogalo will receive KSh15 million (approximately $116,000) in prize money and return to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League next season.
The Sudan Football Association (SFA) has organized two Football development workshops in the capital Khartoum.
The development comes after over two years of non activity because of the civil war that started in 2023.
Besides the referees and assessors workshop taking place, the Elite League is also on-going.
Ali Ahmed, the Head of Referees at the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) is conducting the two week workshop for referees and assessors at the Sudan Football Association (SFA) Technical Centre.
“We are very happy to have these workshops back in Sudan because Football contributes a big role in peace and integration here. CECAFA is also proud to support Sudan in Football development,” added Ahmed.
Osama Atta Elmanan Hassan, the SFA Vice President says they are glad to have Football back to Khartoum and also organize Football development workshops.
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