News - AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY

IOC Athletes’ Commission welcomes five new members

12/4/2025

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, has appointed five new members of the IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC), ensuring that the AC reaches its full composition in time for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The five Olympians are: Soraya Aghaei Haji Agha (IRI, badminton), Husein Alireza (KSA, rowing), Cheick Sallah Cissé (CIV, taekwondo), Olufunke Oshonaike (NGR, table tennis) and Mariana Pajón (COL, cycling). The appointments were made in consultation with IOC AC Chair Emma Terho.

FIFA and Boggi Milano join forces to supply formalwear at FIFA World Cup™ and FIFA Women’s World Cup™

12/4/2025

FIFA is pleased to announce a prestigious four-year partnership with Boggi Milano, which becomes the Official Formalwear Outfitter and Official Licensee of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino will unveil the new formalwear at what promises to be a spectacular Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place in Washington DC at 12:00 noon local time this Friday, 5 December and will determine the pathway to glory for the 48 teams taking part in the tournament set to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States between 11 June and 19 July next year.

Legendary multi-sport line-up to assist Rio Ferdinand at the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™

12/4/2025

The Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will transform Washington DC into the epicentre of global sport on Friday, 5 December 2025, when the eyes of the world turn to the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Blending sport, entertainment and spectacle like never before, the show will reveal the group-stage matchups for the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup™, marking the beginning of a new era for the world’s game.

PANAM SPORTS AWARDS 2025: THE CONTINENT CHOOSES THE BEST JUNIOR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

12/2/2025

From December 2 to 21, voting for the 2025 Panam Sports Awards will take place on the website www.panamsports.org, to recognize the best junior athletes of this year in seven categories.
Meet the nominated athletes and teams, and vote for your favorites at the following link. PANAM SPORTS JUNIOR AWARDS 2025
A new edition of the Panam Sports Awards will take place at the end of this year. It will be in digital format, through a vote on the official website of the Pan American Sports Organization (www.panamsports.org) beginning today, December 2.
On this occasion, and within the framework of the ASU 2025 Junior Pan American Games held this year, the best junior athletes in the Americas who shone in Paraguay will be recognized. Many of them even triumphed in world-class competitions after the event in Asunción.

FIFA Player Impact Programme empowers women’s footballers to drive positive social change

12/2/2025

It began in Paris in August, with 14 of the world’s most influential female footballers; a cohort of talent invited to take part in the inaugural FIFA Player Impact Programme, a pilot project with a simple and fundamental objective: to empower professional footballers to leverage their platforms, voices, and resources for positive social change.
From FIFA Women’s World Cup™ winners and legends to some of the best players in the women’s game, the programme allowed players to design and lead their own social impact initiatives.
Drawing on their personal experiences both on and off the pitch, the players have focused on causes they care about – from supporting female leaders or single mums, to expanding girls’ football academies.

Bid books submitted for 2031 and 2035 editions of FIFA Women’s World Cup™

12/2/2025

Following the launch of the bidding processes for the 2031 and 2035 instalments of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and the subsequent submission of the bidding agreements, FIFA has received the following bid books ahead of the 28 November deadline:
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2031™

Joint submission from U.S. Soccer Federation, Mexican Football Association, Costa Rican Football Association and Jamaica Football Federation

Inter Miami CF to Host Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2025 MLS Cup Presented by Audi

12/2/2025

NEW YORK (Saturday, November 29, 2025) – Inter Miami CF advanced to their first MLS Cup Presented by Audi in club history and will host the league’s championship match on Saturday, December 6 at 2:30 p.m. ET (MLS Season Pass and Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes, TSN, RDS) against the Western Conference Champion Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Inter Miami CF defeated New York City FC, 5-1, in the Eastern Conference Final and will host MLS Cup at Chase Stadium, where they went 11-3-3 during the 2025 regular season. Vancouver Whitecaps FC's impressive season under first-year head coach Jesper Sørensen continued with a 3-1 away win over San Diego FC in the Western Conference Final, setting up their first-ever MLS Cup appearance.

The World Skateboarding Tour concludes 2025 calendar with spectacular finale in Japan!

12/2/2025

Local hero Sora Shirai comes from behind to snatch victory in Men's Street, while compatriot Ibuki Matsumoto sheds tears upon winning her first tour stop in front of home crowd.184 skateboarders from 45 nations descended upon Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu for this season closer for the World Skateboarding Tour.
The World Skateboarding Tour is the globe’s largest skateboarding event series.
Each year, the WST traverses the planet pitting the best skateboarders in the world against one another to gain vital points for the World Skateboarding Ranking, which determines eligibility to go forward and compete in LA28.

USA win double at the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2025

12/2/2025

LEÓN (Mexico) - Both men’s and women’s USA teams took home the win at the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2025 on November 30.

Both finals ended up being a repeat of last year, the United States taking on Puerto Rico on the men’s side and Canada on the women’s side.

It was Deja Vu for the American men who earned back-to-back AmeriCup wins after a 21 - 15 victory over familiar foes. Cameron Forte led the charge in the battle, scoring 8 points through his physicality and paving the way for the result. The win would extend their dominance in the competition, marking a fourth victory in five iterations of the tournament.

Glasgow 2026 Launches £250,000 Commonwealth Games Festival Fund For Communities

12/2/2025

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games has today announced its Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund, committing £250,000 for organisations, community groups and individuals to be part of next summer’s Glasgow 2026 Festival, which will surround the UK’s biggest sporting event in 2026.

Developed and delivered with Glasgow Life and made possible thanks to funding from Commonwealth Sport, the Glasgow 2026 Festival will feature altogether brilliant creative projects, family-friendly events and community activities, creating opportunities for people to gather, celebrate sporting endeavour and explore the culture, creativity and heritage of communities around the Commonwealth.

ASVG & LTFS MANAGEMENT LAUNCHES “LEGENDS TRACK & FIELD RADIO” — A NEW GLOBAL AUDIO PLATFORM DEDICATED TO ATHLETICS

12/1/2025

December 1, 2025,*— The Management at Legends Track & Field Series a Sports Property of the Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) and Partners is proud to announce the official launch of Legends Track & Field Radio, a premier global audio platform dedicated exclusively to the world of track and field. The inaugural broadcast aired today, December 1st, 2025, marking a significant milestone in athletics media and storytelling.
Legends Track & Field Radio is designed to bring fans closer to the heartbeat of the sport through expert coverage, insightful features, and historical reflections that celebrate both today’s stars and the giants who built the sport.

NBA AFRICA ANNOUNCES 10 FINALISTS FOR SECOND TRIPLE-DOUBLE ACCELERATOR DEMO DAY

11/25/2025

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, Nov. 25, 2025 – NBA Africa today announced the 10 startup companies from five African countries that have been selected as finalists as part of the second edition of NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator, which the league launched last year to support the continent’s technology ecosystem and the next generation of African entrepreneurs. The 10 finalists will pitch their products to a panel of international industry leaders at a Demo Day at Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday, Dec. 5.

How Did South Africa Turn a Title Defence into a Double Celebration in Nairobi?

11/16/2025

NAIROBI, Kenya – Today, South Africa have retained their Africa Women’s Sevens title by beating hosts and rivals Kenya 22-0 in a pulsating final on Sunday, 16 November 2025 — the perfect icing on the cake after they had already achieved one of their two major tournament goals earlier in the day.

By simply reaching the final, the Springbok Women Sevens had secured qualification for next season’s HSBC SVNS Series Division Three, as Kenya entered the tournament with their Division Two ticket already confirmed.

Sunday’s triumph at the RFUEA Ground also served as a measure of revenge for South Africa, who were stunned 17-14 by Kenya in a play-off tournament in Los Angeles in May, a defeat that denied them promotion to Division Two. This year’s final was a repeat of the 2024 showdown in Ghana, but with a very different outcome.

Barcelona to Honor Lionel Messi With Statue at Newly Renovated Camp Nou

11/14/2025

November 13, 2025 — Barcelona, Spain - FC Barcelona is preparing to immortalize one of football’s greatest icons, Lionel Messi, with a statue at the newly renovated Camp Nou, club president Joan Laporta confirmed on Thursday. The tribute comes just days after Messi made an emotional return to the Catalan capital, visiting the revamped stadium for the first time since his departure in 2021.

Messi, now 38 and playing with Inter Miami, toured the stadium on Sunday and shared a heartfelt message on social media, expressing hope to one day “return — and not just to say goodbye as a player.” His visit stirred powerful emotions among fans and club leadership alike.

MLS to Align Calendar with Top Leagues Around the World

11/14/2025

NEW YORK / PALM BEACH, FL (Nov. 13, 2025) – Major League Soccer today announced a shift in its competition calendar, aligning the league’s schedule with the world’s top soccer leagues. Beginning in the summer of 2027, MLS will adopt a summer-to-spring season format, marking one of the most significant developments in the league’s history. MLS is continuing to work with the MLSPA to finalize agreement on a transition plan.

In conjunction with this transition, MLS will introduce a new regular season format that blends elements of the global game with North American sports traditions. The league will also review potential adjustments to its Audi MLS Cup Playoffs format as part of an ongoing evaluation process but has not yet finalized any changes.

Star power: Scottish icon Sam Heughan joins the Glasgow 2026 team

11/14/2025

Award-winning actor Sam Heughan is set to bring star power to the Commonwealth Games as Glasgow 2026’s first celebrity ambassador. The Outlander actor has officially joined his latest clan and features in a new TV advert for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

As anticipation for next year’s biggest sporting event in the UK is building, with tens of thousands of fans snapping up tickets when they were released last month, Sam kicks off his own obsession with Glasgow 2026 in an advert that captures the power of major sporting events to turn a nation into superfans.

Africa’s Top Women’s Teams Battle for SVNS Series Qualification in Nairobi

11/14/2025

Captains of the Africa Women’s Sevens teams: Ivette Sawadogo (Burkina Faso), Touré Awa (Côte d’Ivoire), Rufaro Tagarira (Zimbabwe), Veronica Lungu (Zambia), Sahondra Malala Sarindra (Madagascar), Sheila Chajira (Kenya), Nadine Roos (South Africa), Agnes Nakuya (Uganda), Lamia Mlawah (Tunisia), Paulina Mensah (Ghana), Naika Dewulf (Mauritius), and Hala Koura (Egypt) at Kenya International Conference Center (Left to Right)

NAIROBI, Kenya – As the 2025 Africa Women’s Sevens kicks off tomorrow, Nairobi becomes the stage for one of the most consequential tournaments in recent years, where teams know there is far more on the line than the honour of being crowned continental champions.

Beyond attempting to dethrone defending champions South Africa this weekend, teams are also vying for a coveted place in the remodelled HSBC SVNS Series — the elite global circuit overseen by World Rugby.

Major League Soccer is Coming to Apple TV Starting in 2026

11/14/2025

NEW YORK, N.Y., November 13, 2025 – Major League Soccer (MLS) and Apple today announced that beginning in 2026, all MLS matches will be available to stream for Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost.

Starting next season, fans can watch every regular-season match, the annual Leagues Cup tournament, the MLS All-Star Game, the Michelob Ultra Campeones Cup, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and more — all included with an Apple TV subscription*. The standalone MLS Season Pass subscription on the Apple TV app will conclude at the end of the 2025 season.

Nominees for Marta and Puskás prizes revealed

11/14/2025

The shortlists for the FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award have today been revealed, with voting under way to determine which goals will be crowned as the most outstanding at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ 2025.
The two prestigious awards celebrate the best goals scored between 11 August 2024 and 2 August 2025 (inclusive), with fans and experts to decide who should take home the women’s and men’s prizes.
The lists of nominated goals, which were compiled by FIFA in conjunction with football stakeholders, are now available to view and vote on at FIFA.com .
As was the case last year, the winners of the two awards will be determined by an equal 50% split between fan votes and those cast by a panel of FIFA Legends.

Castrol Partners with Mexican National Teams in the U.S. in Lead Up To Global Soccer’s Biggest Moment

11/14/2025

NEW YORK (Nov. 13, 2025) – Castrol today announced a new multi-year sponsorship with The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol (FMF) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the commercial arm and partner of Mexico’s U.S. Tour for more than two decades. Through this agreement, Castrol joins as the official motor oil and lubricant of the Mexican Men’s and Women’s National Teams in the U.S., complementing its existing sponsorships with the NBA, WNBA, and NASCAR.

As one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, Castrol will connect with the unique culture of the Mexican National Teams and their massive U.S. fanbase. Castrol’s activation begins in 2025 with the Mexican Men’s National Team’s match against Paraguay (Nov. 18 in San Antonio, Texas) where the brand will be featured prominently through LED signage, in-stadium displays, and fan experiences. The sponsorship will build on this momentum, extending into 2026 with a comprehensive program of promotions, retailer activations, and media activities.

Faith Kipyegon Honored Among Africa’s 50 Most Influential Women in Sports

11/12/2025

Nairobi, Kenya – November 2025 — Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) has proudly announced Faith Kipyegon, Kenya’s golden girl and one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history, as one of the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports for 2025.
In a year that once again redefined excellence, Faith Kipyegon continued to etch her name in sporting immortality — shattering multiple world records and pushing the limits of human endurance. Her spectacular performance at the Nike event in Paris on June 26th, where she came within striking distance of running the first sub-4-minute mile by a woman, captivated the world. The feat, previewed in a Prime Video docuseries, underscored her unmatched determination and global appeal.

Zambia’s Barbra Banda Named Among Africa’s 50 Most Influential Women in Sports

11/12/2025

Lusaka, Zambia – November 2025 — Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) has proudly announced Barbra Banda, Zambia’s soccer sensation and global football icon, as one of the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports for 2025.
Following a year of spectacular achievements, Barbra Banda continues to shine as one of the brightest stars in world football. The Orlando Pride forward and captain of the Zambian Women’s National Team made history by claiming both the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year and the CAF African Player of the Year titles in 2025 — a rare double that cements her place among the greatest athletes Africa has ever produced.

Victor Osimhen Crowned October 2025 African Athlete of the Month

11/11/2025

November 11, 2025 – Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) proudly announces Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s prolific Super Eagles striker, as the African Athlete of the Month for October 2025 following his dazzling performance during the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin on October 14.

Osimhen’s scintillating hat-trick in Nigeria’s commanding 4–0 victory not only secured the Super Eagles’ place in the World Cup playoffs but also reaffirmed his reputation as one of the world’s most formidable forwards. His leadership, clinical finishing, and unmatched athleticism continue to make him a source of pride for African football fans across the globe.

From Grassroots to Game Day: Egypt’s Debut at the 2025 Africa Women’s Sevens

11/10/2025

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – This week, Egypt’s women’s team will mark their debut at the 2025 Africa Women’s Sevens tournament in Nairobi on November 15 and 16.

The beauty of rugby lies in its unique ethos — a game built on respect, teamwork, and community. Those very values are now finding a new home in Egypt, where the sport is still in its early stages but growing fast.

“Rugby’s values resonate strongly with Egyptian culture, which deeply emphasises community, loyalty, pride, and responsibility,” says Menna Sedky, an official of the Egyptian Rugby Football Union (ERFU). “Egyptians already show immense devotion to their national teams, and rugby’s team-first mentality offers a powerful new channel for that passion.”

InBudget announced as Official Cost Planning and Budgeting Software Provider for Glasgow 2026

11/10/2025

InBudget will support financial planning and reporting for the biggest multi-sport event in the UK next year as the Official Cost Planning and Budgeting Software Provider for Glasgow 2026, building on their involvement since the development of the concept.

InBudget’s intelligent event management platform will support Glasgow 2026 in redefining how major events are planned and delivered, helping to ensure greater efficiency and fiscal responsibility.

Running from 23 July to 2 August, the Games will bring together 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories to compete across 10 sports and six Para sports, with more than 215 gold medals to be awarded in over 50 medal sessions.