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August’s African football news in brief III

Cameroon’s Paul-Georges Ntep joined Wolfsburg in January 2017

African football stories in short for August including some of the transfers as new seasons begin around the world.

Monday 26 August:

Cameroon international Paul-Georges Ntep has joined Turkish Super Lig side Kayserispor on loan from German club Wolfsburg.

The 27-year-old’s deal includes an option for a permanent move at the end of the season.

Ntep struggled for regular first-team football in Germany, making 19 appearances for Wolfsburg, whom he joined in January 2017 from French club Rennes.

The winger spent the second-half of last season on loan at Rennes.

A former France youth international, he switched allegiance to Cameroon in 2018 and has been capped twice by the Indomitable Lions.

Sunday 25 August:

New Burkina Faso coach Kamou Malo has dropped his son, defender Patrick Malo, from a 27-man squad to face Morocco in a friendly on 6 September and then again four days later.

Malo, who recently terminated his contract with Asec Mimosas in Ivory Coast, has 20 caps, having made his international debut in a 4-1 defeat to Mali in a friendly in October 2015.

The 27-year-old featured thrice during Burkina Faso’s unsuccessful 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Bakary Kone, who has not played for his Russian club Arsenal Tula all season and club-less Préjuce Nakoulma also miss out.

Veteran captain Charles Kaboré, the Traoré brothers of Alain and Bertrand, Bryan Dabo, Jonathan Pitroipa and Aristide Bancé are all included.

Uncapped goalkeeper Kilian Nikiema of Dutch side ADO Den Haag and local-based defender Soumaila Ouattara of Rahimo have also received call-ups.

Algeria international Hillal Soudani

Algeria international Hillel Soudani has played his first official match after 10 months on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury.

The 31-year-old midfielder played 66 minutes for his Greek side Olympiakos in their 1-0 win over Asteras Tripolis on Saturday.

His last match before the injury was for his former club Nottingham Forestagainst Burton Albion in a League Cup game on 30 October 2018 and he was thrilled with his comeback, saying after “10 long months, happy to play again.”

Soudani missed out on a place in Algeria’s triumphant 2019 Africa Cup of Nations team in Egypt because of the injury.

He has made 49 appearances for the Desert Foxes, scoring 22 goals.

Former Eritrea Football Federation president and Fifa-accredited referee Tesfaye Gebreyesus has died at the age of 78 following a long illness.

As a referee, Tesfaye officiated at several high profile events including the 1984 Olympics, the 1978 World Cup and at six editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.

He was a Fifa and Caf referee instructor and was awarded a Medal of Honour by the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa in 2012.

After his retirement as a referee, Tesfaye became president of Eritrea’s Football Federation for eight years, and also served as president of the regional Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa).

The current Eritrea Federation president, Esayas Abraham, led the tributes to Tesfaye, describing his death as “sad news”.

Saturday 24 August:

Gabon international Serge Kevyn Angoue has moved to India to join top tier league side Mumbai FC.

The 25-year-old forward has signed a one-year contract as a free agent after he ended his contract with Libyan side Ittihad Tripoli in July.

He previously had spells with several Portuguese outfits including Maritimo.

Angoue has been capped eight times by Gabon including three matches at the 2017 African Cup of Nations on home soil.

Friday 23 August:

Lassana Coulibaly played for Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt

Mali midfielder Lassana Coulibaly has been sent on loan for a second consecutive season by French Ligue 1 club Angers.

The 23-year-old will spend next season at Belgian side Club Brugge, after spending the last one in Scotland at Rangers, where he made 19 Premier League appearances scoring a goal.

Coulibaly played in the last two Africa Cup of Nations finals for Mali and featured in all the four of their games at the recent tournament in Egypt.

Another Malian on the move is 18-year-old defensive midfielder Boubacar Traore, who has joined Ligue 1 club Metz on a five-year deal from AS Bamako.

He helped Mali win the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in February and then to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Poland, where he played five games and scored a goal.

Nigeria youth international Valentine Ozornwafor has been sent on loan by Turkish champions Galatasaray.

The 20-year-old defender, who moved to Turkey from two-time African champions Enyimba in June, will spend next season at Spanish second-tier side Almeria.

Ambitious Almeria have the option to sign the centre-back on a permanent deal for €1.85m euros, according to Galatasaray.

Ozornwafor played in the 2019 Under-20 World Cup for Nigeria and featured in two of their games at the tournament in Poland.

Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has moved to Italian Seria A club Hellas Verona on loan until the end of the season from Belgian side Club Brugge.

The 23-year-old, who is the younger brother of another Morocco international Nordin, had already made one appearance for Club Brugge this season.

Born in The Netherlands he represented the Dutch Under-15 and 17 national teams before switching allegiance to Morocco, for whom he has seven caps.

He was part of the Atlas Lions squad at last year’s World Cup in Russia but was not at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Thursday 22 August:

Egypt’s Ahmed Elmohamady provided a crucial assist in the Championship play-off final last season

Egypt international Ahmed Elmohamady has signed one-year extension to his contract with English Premier League side Aston Villa.

It will see the 31-year-old, who joined Villa in 2017, stay at the club until 2021.

Almohamady made over 40 appearances last season and has started both of Villa’s league games so far this season.

He was part of Egypt’s squad at the recent Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.

Senegal international Santy Ngom has moved to Ligue 2 club Caen on a three-year deal from French Ligue 1 side Nantes.

The 26-year old striker joined Nantes in 2017 but made only 13 league appearances for them scoring just once.

He spent the second half of last season on loan to Ligue 2 outfit Nancy, where he played 15 times in the league and scored two goals.

Born in France he committed his international future to Senegal last year and has made three appearances so far for the Teranga Lions.

Uganda striker Patrick Kaddu has joined Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane on a four-year deal.

The 23-year old spent the last two seasons with Kampala City Council Authority.

Kaddu helped Uganda to reach the last 16 of the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt featuring in three of the Cranes’ four games, including a goal against DR Congo.

Morocco defender Hamza Mendyl has returned to France on a season-long loan to Djion from German side Schalke

The Ligue 1 club also have the option to buy the 21-year-old at the end of the loan spell.

He struggled for playing time at the German club, partly due to disciplinary reasons and spent time training with the under-23 team, and played just nine times in the Bundlesliga.

His last appearance was on 31 March against Hannover 96 and subsequently missed out on the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.

He featured in 2017 Nations Cup n Gabon and was part of the Atlas Lions squad at last year’s World Cup in Russia.

Nigeria international defender Kingsley Madu has joined Danish club Odense BK on a one-year deal as a free agent.

“I’ve been handed a great opportunity here and I just want to give my best to the club,” Madu told BBC Sport.

The 23-year-old made 22 appearances for Belgian side Zulte Waregem after joining them from Slovakia’s AS Trencin in August 2016.

He spent the last six months of his Zulte Waregem’s deal at second-tier outfit KSV Roeselare.

The left-back represented Nigeria at the 2013 Under-20 World Cup and won bronze at the 2016 Olympics, before earning three senior caps with the Super Eagles.

Morocco Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa has resigned from his role as president of local club Renaissance Berkane.

Lekjaa, who is also a Confederation of African Football vice-president, had been Renaissance president for the last 10 years.

During his presidency the club returned to the top-flight in Morocco after a 25-year absence and won the 2018 Throne (FA) Cup as well as reaching the Confederation Cup final earlier this year.

Hakim Ben Abdellah, who was Lekjaa’s senior vice-president, has been appointed to succeed him for the next four years.

Wednesday 21 August:

Adolphe Teikeu helped Cameroon win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon

Qatari side Al-Sailiya have announced the signing of Morocco international Mbark Boussoufa on a free transfer.

“Mbark has signed a two-season contract after long negotiations with him,” Al-Sailiya announced.

The 35-year-old was a free agent after his six-month deal with Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia ended at the end of last season.

Boussoufa was part of Morocco’s squad at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt as the Atlas Lions reached the last 16 of the tournament.

Cameroon defender Adolphe Teikeu has returned to French club Sochaux after a stint at Ohod in Saudi Arabia.

The 29-year old has signed one-year contract with the Ligue 2 side with an option to extend it for another year.

He returns just over a year after he was sold to Ohod , for whom he featured for 27 times in the Saudi Arabian top tier league last season netting two goals.

Teikeu, who has 22 Cameroon caps and helped them win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, spent three season with Sochaux before his move to Ohod.

Sweden-born Hanna Boubezari says it will be an adventure to play for the Algeria’s women’s team after she was handed a maiden call-up by the North Africans.

The 20-year-old who has Algerian parents, has been included in the squad to face Nigeria in the second-round of their 2020 Olympics qualifiers later this month.

The midfielder who plays for Swedish top-tier side Kungsbacka DFF admitted she doesn’t know much about the team, but is excited about the opportunity.

“However, I’ve only spoken a little with the captain and to be honest I don’t know really know much about the Algeria team,” she said.

Algeria beat Chad 3-1 on aggregate to reach the second round and will host continental giants Nigeria in the first leg on 28 August, with the reverse fixture scheduled for Lagos on 3 September.

The winner will face Mali or Ivory Coast in the third round of the African qualifiers for the Tokyo Games.

Tuesday 20 August:

Ghana’s Godfred Donsah has played for Verona, Cagliari and Bologna in Italy

Belgian second-tier side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (RUSG) has said it will dispute the legitimacy of KV Kortrijk’s signing of Comoros international Faiz Selemani.

The top flight club announced Selemani’s signing on its website but RUSG’s chief executive officer Philippe Bormans insists his club did not give permission for an approach to be made.

“Our club obviously does not intend to stop there and is considering what further action studies it can take with the Pro League, URBSFA (the Belgium Football Association) and Fifa,” a statement from Bormans contiuned.

“It is inconceivable and disturbing that a person running a professional club, and is also part of the Pro League and the URBSFA, can engage in such doubtful practices. The image and credibility of Belgian football are once again being tarnushed.”

The 25-year-old impressed last season scoring 17 goals and was nominated alongside Percy Tau for the club’s player of the season award, which the South African won.

Selemani, who was born in France, has five caps so far for Comoros since his debut in 2017.

Saudi Arabia’s side Al-Fayha have announced the signing of Ghana international Samuel Owusu on a three-year deal from Serbian club Cukarick.

The 23-year-old winger also played for Radnik Surdulica in Serbia as well as Turkish side Genclerbirligi.

He played in all four of Ghana’s games at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, as the Black Stars reached the last 16 of the tournament.

Ghana international Godfred Donsah has been sent on a season long loan to Belgian top flight league side Circle Brugge from Italy’s Bologna.

The Belgian have an option to purchase the 23-year old midfielder, who struggled for playing time last season appearing only seven times for Bologna.

He represented Ghana at the 2015 Under-20 World cup in New Zealand as they reached the last 16.

His only appearance so far for the Black Stars was in a 1-1 draw with Egypt in November 2017 in a World Cup qualifier.

Liberia captain William Jebor has joined Pro-League side Fujairah n the United Arab Emirates.

The 27-year-old striker has been without a club since he left Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca by mutual consent at the end of the season, despite having two years left on his contract.

During his first stint with Wydad, on loan from Portugal’s Rio Ave, he was the league’s top scorer with 19 goals as he helped them win the 2017 title.

Jebor began his career in Liberia and has played in Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Portugal.

Monday 19 August:

Mohammed Ihattaren is part of PSV Eindhoven’s senior squad

PSV Eindhoven youngster Mohammed Ihattaren says he is yet to decide whether he wants to commit his international future to Netherlands or Morocco.

The 17-year-old was born in the Netherlands and has played for them at every level from under-15 to under-19 but is eligible to swap to Morocco at senior level through his parents.

He was named by Morocco’s new head coach Vahid Halilhodzic in his first Atlas Lions squad but Ihattaren is not ready to make a final decision on his international future.

“We’ll see. I just want to be important and also make an international name for myself. That would be nice in the Netherlands, but also in Morocco,” he explained.

“I owe a lot to the Netherlands. I’ll not forget that in my choice.”

Mauritania defender Sally Sarr has retired from international football at the age of 33.

He helped Mauritania to qualify for their first ever Africa Cup of Nations and was part of the Mourabitounes squad at the finals in Egypt.

Sarr, who plays for Swiss club Servette, says it is the right time for him to leave his national team.

“I hope one day to come back to help as a member of the technical staff, why not!?” the France-born player added.

Saturday 17 August:

Benfica’s Adel Taraabt returns to the Morocco squad under new coach Vahid Halihodzic

Morocco’s new head coach Vahid Halilhodzic has chosen his first Atlas Lions squad since being appointed in his new role.

Halilhodzic has named an extended list of 46 players for a 10-day training camp from 1 to 10 September 2019.

There are returns for Benfica’s Adel Taarabt and Real Betis defender Zouhair Fadal who both missed out on the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Abderaak Hamdallah, the top scorer in Saudi Arabia last season, is not among the list.

Morocco will play two friendlies, against Burkina Faso on 6 September and then Niger four days later.

Both matches will take place at the Marrakech Stadium.

Sellas Tetteh,confirmed as Sierra Leone’s new head coach by the FA last week, has named his assistant coaches – despite his appointment not being recognised by the country’s sports ministry.

He will be assisted by two former Sierra Leone internationals, Musa Kallon and Amidu Karim.

Musa is the eldest brother of the Sierra Leone legend Mohamed Kallon and Amidu Karim is the head coach of Kallon FC.

Both played for Sierra Leone at the 1996 Nations Cup in South Africa.

Serbian coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic

Serbian coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has left his position as coach of South African club Orlando Pirates.

The club confirmed he had vacated the post he had held for two years for reasons of “a personal nature.”

Orlando Pirates say Rhulani Mokwena will take on coaching responsibilities assisted by Fadlu Davids and Franck Plaine.

Micho, who is vastly experienced in coaching across Africa, returned to South Africa in 2017 after departing his role as head coach of Uganda’s national team.

DR Congo international Ngonda Muzinga has joined French Ligue 1 side Dijon on a two-year deal from AS Vita Club.

The 24-year-old, who has the option to sign for an additional year, spent five years at AS Vita Club

“What I liked about him is his athletic dimension and aggressiveness in one-on-one situation,” said Dijon coach Stéphane Jobard.

“He is a very powerful player who can cover spaces and make a strong contribution on the wing.”

Muzinga has 12 caps for his country and played three matches at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations as the Leopards exited the tournament in the round of 16.

Spanish La Liga side Deportivo Alaves have sent Ghana international Patrick Twumasi on a season long loan to Turkish top tier league side Gazisehir.

The 25-year-old forward struggled for playing time last season, appearing only 11 times in La Liga.

He spent nearly five seasons with the Kazakhstan top tier side Astana, winning the league with them on four occasions before moving to Alaves in July 2018.

Twumasi has been capped twice by Ghana.

Friday 16 August:

Egyptian top-flight side Smouha have signed Burkina Faso’s Mohamed Koffi and Libya’s Mohamed Al Tarhouni.

Koffi returns to Egypt after a six month stint with Saudi Arabian side Al Kawkab.

The 32-year old defender has spent much of his club career playing in Egypt having featured for Al Masry, Zamalek, Duhok and Petrojet.

Al Tarhouni joins from Al Ahly Tripoli and it will be the 28-year-old’s first stint outside of Libya having played for Tripoli’s Al Ittihad as well.

He plays regularly for the Libyan national team and has made 14 appearances for the Mediterranean Knights.

Ivory Coast forward Lacina Traore played for CFR Cluj between 2008 and 2011

Former Monaco and Everton forward Lacina Traore has rejoined Romanian club CFR Cluj after eight years.

The 29-year-old Ivory Coast striker has signed a two-year deal with the Romanian top-flight club, his last club was Hungary’s Ujpest.

CFR Cluj take on Slavia Prague of the Czech Republic for a place in the group stage of the European Champions League.

Traore who won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast spent three seasons in his first stint with CFR Cluj from 2008.

He has been capped 13 times by Ivory Coast and played at the 2013 and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Thursday 15 August:

Former Arsenal striker Christopher Wreh is now a coach in Liberia

German side Hoffenheim have signed Mali international Diadie Samassekou from Red Bull Salzburg, who have won the Austrian league for the last six seasons.

The 23-year-old defensive midfielder has signed a deal until 30 June 2024, becomes Hoffenheim’s seventh newcomer ahead of the Bundesliga campaign.

He was part of the Mali squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, playing three games, including the 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in the last 16.

Samassekou has 13 caps for Mali, having made his debut in a 5-2 win over Benin in a 2017 Nations Cup qualifier in 2016 in Bamako.

Cameroon international Pierre Ramses Akono has joined Belgian team Kas Eupen on a four-year deal.

The 19-year-old midfielder signs from Cameroonian division one side Eding Sport of Lekie.

Akono has attracted interest from several clubs across Europe spending the last month training with various teams .

He was part of Cameroon’s initial squad for the Africa Cup of Nations but was not one of the 23 that played in Egypt.

Morocco midfielder Adel Taarabt has extended his contract with Portuguese side Benfica until 2022.

The 30-year-old has been at Benfica since 2015, but was loaned to Italian side Genoa from January 2017 until the end of June 2018.

On his return to Portugal he spent time with Benfica’s B team before being restored to the first team at the end of last season.

“I think this renewal is a vote of confidence. I am very proud that the Club believes in me and I am very happy that we have reached an agreement to extend the contract, “he said.

Jeddah Club of Saudi Arabia have announced the signing of Gambia international goalkeeper Modou Jobe.

The Scorpions first choice keeper joins the second tier side as a free agent after the end of his two-year contract with Nigeria’s El Kanemi Warriors.

Jobe 30, joined his new teammates for pre-season in Cairo before being unveiled in Jeddah on Wednesday.

“I’m honoured and proud to join Jeddah Club,” said the former Real de Banjul captain on social media.

The Liberia Football Association (LFA) has appointed former Arsenal striker Christopher Wreh as head coach of the squad that will participate in the 2019 West African Football Union (Wafu) Nations Cup next month in Senegal.

The 44-year-old former Monaco and Birmingham striker took Liberia to the final of the 2018 Wafu Under-20 tournament, losing 2-1 to The Gambia in Monrovia in May.

Liberia will take on Morocco, who are the first guest side invited to a Wafu tournament on 29 September.

The Atlas Lions replaced Sierra Leone, who were serving a Fifa ban from global football when the draw was made in May.

The expanded tournament will feature 16 nations and kicks-off on 28 September with the final set for 13 October at the Stade Lat Dior in Thies.

The eight winners from the first round will progress to compete in the main cup competition with the losers feature in a second-tier plate event.

Wednesday 14 August:

Seydou Doumbia helped Ivory Coast win the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations

Ivory Coast international Seydou Doumbia has terminated his contract with Spanish club Girona by mutual consent.

The 31-year-old forward joined the Catalonia side last August from Portuguese outfit Sporting CP but struggled for playing time.

He featured in 17 out of Girona’s 38 La Liga appearances last season, scoring two goals, but could not help the club avoid relegation.

The former CSKA Moscow player was part of the Ivory Coast team that won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

DR Congo-born striker Silas Wamangituka has joined German second division club VfB Stuttgart on a five-year deal.

The promising 19-year-old, who had attracted interest from top clubs in France, joins from French second-tier side Paris FC on a deal until June 2024.

Five-time German champions Stuttgart finished 16th in the Bundesliga last season, losing to Union Berlin in the play-offs.

“I will do everything I can to play in the Bundesliga with Stuttgart,” Wamangituka told the club website.

Wamangituka started his football career in his homeland DR Congo before joining the youth side of French club Olympique Alès at the age of 17.

He switched to French second division Paris FC in summer 2018 and made his professional debut in August.

Hassan Wasswa played for Uganda’s Cranes at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt

Uganda international Hassan Wasswa has signed for Saudi Arabia outfit Jeddah Club.

The second division club confirmed that the player had arrived in Jeddah City and would train with the team on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old defensive midfielder was a key player for Uganda during the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt where he played in all four of the Cranes’ matches.

He has previously played for Al Shorta of Iraq, Al-Nejmeh of Lebanon and Tala’ea El Gaish in Egypt.

Liberia international Oscar Murphy Dorley has signed a four-year contract with Czech top tier side Slavia Prague.

The 21-year-old midfielder will move to his new club in January 2020 from his current Czech side, Slovan Liberec.

“I’m excited about the transfer. I think it is important for me to stay in Liberec and move to Slavia after the middle of the season. This is another step in my career and I am very happy for it,” the player said on Slavia Prague’s website. 

Oscar has 13 caps for Liberia, having made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Guinea in a 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier in Monrovia on 5 July 2015.

Oscar has also worn George Weah’s iconic number 14 shirt, which was retired during last September’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Nigeria in Monrovia.

Tuesday 13 August:

Lloyd Palun played for Gabon at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012, 2015 and 2017

Gabon international Lloyd Palun has returned to France to join Guingamp on a two-year deal as a free agent subject to medical tests.

The 30-year-old defender spent the last two seasons in Belgium playing for top-flight side Cercle Brugge featuring in 46 league matches including 22 last season.

Palun has previously had stints with several French clubs including Nice and Martiques, where he spent his youth career and later graduated to the senior team.

He has represented Gabon 39 times including his 10 matches at three Africa cup of Nations finals, 2012, 2015 and 2017 respectively.

BBC Sport Africa

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