May’s African football news in brief

The Ivory Coast Football Federation has said the Elephants’ preparations for next month’s African cup of Nations in Egypt will take place in two phases.

The first phase will take place in France with the provisional squad where they hope to play a friendly.

Their original plan to play The Gambia in Amiens on 7 June fell through with the Scorpions agreeing to play Morocco instead.

Coach Ibrahim Kamara will then name his 23-man squad for the finals and travel to Abu Dhabi for their second part of their preparations from 10 to 20 June.

In Abu Dhabi, Ivory Coast will play warm-up games against Uganda on 14 June and probably against Libya four days later before they fly out to Egypt.

The Algeria Football Federation has confirmed two friendlies for the Desert Foxes ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.

Algeria will face Burundi on 11 June and Mali five days later, both matches set to be played in Qatar.

The 1990 African champions will open their preparation camp on 8 June and spend 10 days in Qatar before flying out to Egypt on 18 June for the tournament.

Gor Mahia retained their Kenyan football league title with two matches remaining after drawing 1-1 with Vihiga United on Wednesday.

It was an 18th league title for Gor Mahia and a third in a row for the first Kenyan club to reach the Confederation Cup quarter-finals this year.

The club will now play in the African Champions League, when it begins again later this year.

Gor hold an unassailable 12 points lead over their closest rivals Bandari.

Wednesday 22 May:

The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has engaged former Fifa development officer, Ashford Mamelodi to head its newly introduced “Operation Time For Change” project.

Bfa president, Maclean Letshwiti, says the initiative is designed to change the way in which local football is administered.

Botswana have largely struggled on the international scene, with the national team, the Zebras, failing to kick-on since their first-and-only qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012.

Mamelodi is an accredited Fifa instructor and consultant and served as the world governing body’s development officer in charge of southern Africa for nearly two decades.

Moroccan club Raja Casablanca have signed DR Congo midfielder Fabrice Ngoma from AS Vita Club.

The 25-year-old, who has been named in DR Congo’s provisional squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, joins on a three-year contract from 1 July.

Raja are looking to strengthen their squad as they return to African Champions League action after a five-year absence.

Tuesday 21 May:

Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour says the club has persuaded Egypt’s Ministry of Interior will allow 60,000 fans to attend the second leg of the final of the Confederation Cup.

Originally just 30,000 supporters were going to be allowed in to see Sunday’s game at the Borg Al Arab stadium near Alexandria with Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane leading 1-0 from the first leg.

“We will start sell the tickets as soon as possible, I want to thank them (the Ministry of Interior) and the football federation too,” Masour said.

It matches the number of fans that saw Al Ahly face Tunisia’s Esperance at the same venue in the first leg of the Champions League.

Tunisia defender Syam Ben Youssef has retired from international football just a month before the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The 30-year-old, who played at the 2018 World Cup, said on social media “in my opinion my family and my club future are my priorities.”

Ben Youssef is currently playing in Turkey for Kasimpasa and he added that he would explain “the reasons that led me to make this decision” at a later date.

He earned a total of 47 caps for the Carthage Eagles since his debut in 2013.

Nigerian football is mourning the death of veteran Lobi Stars coach Solomon Ogbeide.

Ogbeide, who led the club to the 2018 Nigerian title and Champions League group stage, was taken to hospital on Monday, but was confirmed dead on arrival.

“The leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, its management and staff is still in shock following the sudden demise of one the brains of the game in the country, Coach Solomon Ogbeide,” The country’s football authority (NFF) wrote on social media.

“Our thoughts are with his family, @LobiStarsFC and the entire football family.”

He had previously managed local clubs Julius Berger, Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves before taking charge of Lobi Stars in 2017.