AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY - News

Basketball Africa League 2025 Season: Kalahari Conference Day 2 Recap

4/9/2025

Rivers Hoopers and Al Ittihad Secure Hard-Fought Wins in Kalahari Conference
The second day of the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference saw thrilling action, with Egypt’s Al Ittihad securing a 72-69 victory over Mali’s Stade Malien and Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers edging past Morocco’s FUS Rabat 88-82. With both teams now sitting at 2-0, Al Ittihad and Rivers Hoopers lead the conference, while Stade Malien and FUS Rabat are still seeking their first victories in the competition.

ICC highlights power of cricket on International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

4/9/2025

As the world celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on Sunday 6 April, the International Cricket Council (ICC) casts light on some of the remarkable programmes that highlight the power of the sport globally to overcome barriers and cultivate positive social change.
On the theme of ‘Levelling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion’, a number of ongoing programmes taking place across ICC Member federations continue to be a catalyst for change, benefitting the lives of women and girls, refugees and other disadvantaged communities with cricket at its heart.
Here, we highlight three such programmes:

BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE 2025 SEASON TIPS OFF IN MOROCCO

4/9/2025

Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers beat Mali’s Stade Malien 81-60 and Egypt’s Al Ittihad defeated home team FUS Rabat 71-60 as the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season tipped off at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco yesterday.

Kelvin Amayo led the Hoopers in the season opener with 19 points, with Madut Akec adding 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Hoopers won the battle on the boards 49-43 and were more organized on the offensive end, finishing the game with 19 assists. Mahamane Coulibaly led Malien with 20 points while Mouhamed Doumbya finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Final two places up for grabs at ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier

4/9/2025

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is a few short months away and by 19 April, all eight teams will have confirmed their places at the tournament.
Hosts, India are ready to welcome the best and the brightest of women’s One Day International cricket as one of the six teams to have already qualified.
Defending champions Australia, secured their ticket to the 13th edition of the World Cup by finishing top of the ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) 2022-25.
The IWC 2022-25 saw ten nations compete with their ODI results across a three-year period totted up providing context to all ODI cricket played between these teams during that period.

YSL Beauty Taps Rüfüs Du Sol to Headline the YSL BEAUTY LOVE CLUB, a One-Night-Only Affair in Miami

4/9/2025

April 5th 2025, Miami: Last night, YSL Beauty turned up the heat on Miami's already blazing nightlife at the YSL BEAUTY LOVE CLUB. The electrifying energy was amplified by the iconic award-winning group, RÜFÜS DU SOL (DJ SET), as they spun “Innerbloom”, “Breathe”, “In the Moment” and “Lately” on the turntables to a star-studded crowd, embracing fearless self-expression.
Over 250 guests, including Nicole Richie, Lila Moss, Ryan Destiny, Omar Rudberg, Precious Lee and Dana Hourani, gathered from all over the world to celebrate the brand’s new era of disruptive Makeup Artistry – timed to the launch of new spring products: the just-launched YSL LOVESHINE LIP OIL PLUMPING GLOSS & viral star MAKE ME BLUSH POWDER BLUSH.

FIFA-WTO study estimates USD 47 billion economic output from FIFA Club World Cup™ and FIFA World Cup™ in the US

4/9/2025

Analyses reveal scale of socioeconomic impact of two major FIFA tournaments in the United States and around the world
FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and FIFA World Cup 2026™ to add 62 billion to global gross domestic product
Research predicts 290,000 jobs will be created in the US as a result of FIFA's flagship events

FIFA and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat have released two studies that showcase the significant socioeconomic impact the forthcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and FIFA World Cup 2026™ could have in the United States and globally.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025: Tournament draw sets stage, match schedule confirmed

4/9/2025

The draw for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025 has taken place -Tournament match schedule now confirmed following draw
-Guatemala vs Japan to kick off action on 1st May
Brazil and Italy, the two finalists in the last FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™, will collide in the first phase of Seychelles 2025, while two sections will feature three teams ranked among the planet’s top 12, following the conclusion of the tournament draw and the release of the match schedule .

FIFA receives confirmations of interest in hosting 2031 and 2035 editions of FIFA Women’s World Cup™

4/9/2025

Expression of interest from the U.S. Soccer Federation to jointly bid with other Member Associations from Concacaf to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2031™
Expression of interest from The Football Association, the Irish Football Association, The Scottish Football Association and The Football Association of Wales to jointly bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035™
FIFA Congress expected to appoint hosts following thorough bidding processes

The following member associations have confirmed their interest in hosting future editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup:

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier: Six players to watch

4/9/2025

The teams are gearing up for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier.
For some, the tournament marks the opportunity to return to the big stage while for others, it is a chance to make history and make a name for themselves.
Here are six players to look out for:

Lowe’s and Concacaf announce partnership for 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup

4/9/2025

Miami, FL (April 4, 2025) – Lowe’s is expanding its commitment to soccer by becoming the Official Home Improvement Retailer of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. The partnership cements Lowe’s presence within the region’s most prestigious club soccer tournament, providing a platform to engage with the sport’s diverse and passionate fanbase while reinforcing its dedication to the communities it serves.

With a shared vision for creating unique experiences that bring people together, this collaboration will help Lowe’s forge a deeper connection with soccer’s passionate and multicultural fan base. By strengthening its investment, Lowe’s continues to elevate soccer experiences across North America.

MATTHEW LEVY OAM FUNDS SUPPORT INITIATIVEFOR PARA ATHLETES

4/9/2025

Commonwealth Para athlete Matthew Levy OAM has donated AUD $15,000 to the Commonwealth Sport Foundation to support the GAPS Programme and its Athlete Voice initiative.

The Commonwealth Sport Foundation is pleased to announce a generous donation of AUD $15,000 from Commonwealth Para athlete Matthew Levy OAM. This donation will directly support the GAPS Programme and its Athlete Voice Initiative, empowering Para athletes to share their stories, overcome barriers, and make a lasting impact within their communities.

The donation will help fund the development of mentoring programmes and provide small grants for Athlete Voice projects. It is part of Matthew Levy’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusion and leadership among athletes with disabilities.

Australia make impressive debut in FIFA Women’s Futsal World Rankings – Armenia and Poland enter Men’s Top 20

4/9/2025

2025’s first edition of the FIFA Futsal World Rankings revealed after 183 women’s matches and 192 in the men’s game
Five new teams enter the women’s table following qualifying fixtures for the FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup Philippines 2025™
Brazil maintains the highest-ranked men’s and women’s teams

The first edition of the FIFA Futsal World Ranking for the year, which was published on Friday 4 April 2025, revealed some significant changes – in both tables – on the back of 183 women’s matches and 192 in the men’s game.

Sana Mir looks forward to competitive ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier on home soil

4/9/2025

There are few players who are better versed in navigating ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier events than Sana Mir and the former Pakistan skipper believes the next instalment could be the most competitive yet.
Sana helped Pakistan through three Qualifiers in her playing days, in 2008, 2011 and 2017, captaining her country in the latter two.
Pakistan are the hosts this year as they bid to claim one of the final two spots on offer for the showpiece in India later this year, and Sana is looking forward to seeing how it plays out in the coming weeks.

MLS NEXT Unveils Groundbreaking Quality of Play Rankings

4/9/2025

Pilot program with Taka is one-of-a-kind in global soccer and will rank MLS NEXT teams based on their quality of play in the U13 and U14 age groups
NEW YORK (Wednesday, April 2, 2025) – MLS NEXT today unveiled its groundbreaking Quality of Play rankings for the U13 and U14 age group, which will go beyond the traditional results of the game to focus on complete performance of individuals and teams. This pilot program will mark the first time that these age groups are ranked on this metric rather than the traditional win-draw-loss standings. The Quality of Play rankings are calculated via Taka’s analytical formula that evaluates game play and focuses on the caliber of a team’s offensive and defensive actions in a match.

Casillero del Diablo Introduces Limited-Edition Co-Branded Mexican National Team Bottles to Commemorate Second Year of U.S. Partnership

4/3/2025

New “Selección Red” Co-Branded Bottles Honor the Vibrant Culture of Mexico and Passionate Support behind the Mexican National Teams
NEW YORK (April 2, 2025) – In celebration of year two of the ongoing partnership between Casillero del Diablo and the Mexican National Teams in the United States, the winemaker is introducing a new limited-edition, co-branded “Selección Red” blend. Priced at $12.99, the semi-sweet wine was thoughtfully crafted and designed to honor the vibrant culture of Mexico, and is available at select retailers nationwide.

Casillero del Diablo, the leading wine brand in Mexico1 recently kicked off the second year of its multi-year partnership with the Federación Mexicana de Futbol (FMF) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the commercial arm and partner of the team’s annual United States “MexTour” and “MexTour W.” This builds on a successful first year of collaboration between Casillero del Diablo and the Mexican National Teams, at a time when soccer fandom continues to grow exponentially in the North America

Aliyyah Koloc to miss Jordan Baja following her accident at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

4/3/2025

Aliyyah Koloc will not participate in the upcoming Jordan Baja, scheduled for April 10-12, as she is not yet feeling one hundred percent fit following her crash at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge last month. This decision is purely precautionary, with her well-being remaining the top priority.

Philadelphia Union Forward Tai Baribo Named MLS Player of the Month for February/March 2025

4/3/2025

Baribo becomes first Union player to win Player of the Month since 2013
NEW YORK (Thursday, April 3, 2025) – Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo was voted the MLS Player of the Month for the months of February and March 2025.

Baribo leads MLS with six goals across the club’s first six matches of the 2025 season, while helping guide Philadelphia to 12 points (4-2-0) through the month of March. The Israeli international scored five goals across the club’s first two matches of the season, including the league’s only hat trick of the season against FC Cincinnati on Matchday 2, becoming the fourth player in MLS history to record at least five matches in a club’s first two games of a season. He joined Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández (2021), Ayo Akinola (2020), and Brian Ching (2006) in accomplishing the feat.

Spain Climbs to Second in Latest FIFA Rankings

4/3/2025

Argentina stay top of latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking™
Spain lead shake-up amongst podium pacesetters
Myanmar the biggest climbers by rank

A total of 245 international duels have been served up globally since the December 2024 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking™. Teams from Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America all featured in FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers, while Concacaf and UEFA sides battled it out in their respective Nations League competitions and contested friendly encounters.

Ticket packages for FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ featuring guaranteed access to FIFA World Cup 26™ tickets now on sale

4/3/2025

First-of-its-kind offer available on a first-come, first-served basis at FIFA.com/tickets
Fans have 25 days – or until limited availability runs out – to get their hands on exclusive ticket packages
Super Ticket Pack includes a guaranteed option to secure a coveted seat at the FIFA World Cup 26™ final

To celebrate a pair of monumental showcases of world-class soccer in the United States, FIFA is offering national and international fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the two most prestigious events in the men’s football calendar. By witnessing history in the making at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ – where 32 of the top clubs on the planet will compete for a brand-new trophy – fans can secure a guaranteed opportunity to purchase tickets for the FIFA World Cup 26™, the first 48-team edition of the global showpiece.

156 PLAYERS FROM RECORD 28 COUNTRIES TO COMPETE IN 2025 BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE SEASON TIPPING OFF APRIL 5 IN MOROCCO

4/3/2025

- Fans Can Watch Every Game Live on the NBA App, NBA.com, BAL.NBA.com and the BAL’s YouTube Channel; Games Will Reach Fans in 214 Countries and Territories in 17 Languages -

- BAL Will Honor NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo Throughout the Season -

DAKAR, SENEGAL AND RABAT, MOROCCO, April 3, 2025 – The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today announced that 156 players from a record 28 countries across five continents will compete in the league’s milestone fifth season, which will tip off on Saturday, April 5 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.*

In the season opener, 2023 third-place finisher Stade Malien (Mali) will face 2024 third-place finisher Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) at 4:00 p.m. GMT. In the second game, home team Fath Union Sport (FUS; Morocco) will take on first-time BAL participant Al Ittihad (Egypt) at 7:00 p.m. GMT. The complete season schedule is available at BAL.NBA.com/schedule.

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier – All you need to know

4/2/2025

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier in Pakistan gets underway on 9 April as six teams face off for the remaining two places in the ICC Women’s Cricket Cup 2025.
The successful pair will then compete in the eight-team main event later this year in India, alongside Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the hosts, as Australia look to defend the crown they won in 2022.
Here is all you need to know about the Qualifier.

AFRICA SPORTS VENTURES GROUP (ASVG) AND WOMEN SPORTS AFRICA NETWORK (WSAN) ANNOUNCE THE JOINT LAUNCH OF THE 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN WOMEN IN SPORTS WEBSITE AND NOMINATIONS FOR 2025 EDITION

4/1/2025

Nairobi, Kenya – April 1, 2025 – Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG) and Women Sports Africa Network (WSAN) are proud to announce the official launch of the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports website, www.50mia.com, a digital platform dedicated to honoring and celebrating the remarkable achievements of African women in the sports industry. The website will serve as the official hub for information, nominations, and public engagement for the 2025 Edition of the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports Awards, scheduled to take place on July 31, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. As part of this milestone launch, the nomination page is now live, inviting the public to submit names of women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in African sports across administration, business, media, technology, and athletics.

Sierra Leone Heroes Month 2025 – Sports Edition is Here!

4/1/2025

We’re thrilled to launch Year Two of Sierra Leone Heroes Month, celebrating the achievements of Sierra Leoneans and athletes of Sierra Leone descent who have left a lasting impact on the sports world. Kicking off with British-Sierra Leonean boxing legend John Conteh, we honor those who have or those who once dreamed of representing Sierra Leone but faced barriers, albeit they raised Sierra Leone's profile on the global stage. This edition shines a light on all of their legacies and the value of embracing our global sports icons.

Snehal Pradhan, Sana Mir and Bismah Maroof look forward to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier in Pakistan

4/1/2025

The strength in the depth of women’s cricket will be on full display at the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier in Pakistan.
ICC Manager - Women’s Cricket and former India international cricketer, Snehal Pradhan, is looking forward to the event in Pakistan where six teams will compete for two spots at the Women’s Cricket World Cup in India later this year.
Hosts Pakistan will be joined by ICC Full Members Bangladesh, Ireland and West Indies along with Associate Members Thailand and Scotland, for the Qualifier, and Pradhan believes that with the standard rising across the board, predicting who will come through qualifying is almost impossible.

Colorado Rapids Midfielder Djordje Mihailovic Voted MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 6

4/1/2025

NEW YORK (Monday, March 31, 2025) – Colorado Rapids midfielder Djordje Mihailovic was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 6 of the 2025 MLS season.

Mihailovic scored two goals in the span of three minutes, including the game-winning goal, as part of Colorado’s 2-0 victory over Charlotte FC on Saturday afternoon (Watch Mihailovic Discuss His Performance on MLS 360 Here ). Since joining Colorado in 2024, Mihailovic has produced 13 goals and 16 assists in just 35 MLS regular season appearances. With goals at 77:04 and 80:27, Mihailovic’s three-minute and 23-second brace was the fastest in MLS this season. In games where Mihailovic has produced multiple goal contributions, Colorado has a perfect 7-0-0 record in MLS play. With 11 points (3-1-2) to begin the season, the Rapids have produced their best start to a season since 2014, when they also went 3-1-2.