13th - 19th July 2025: Top Picks in African Sport This Week

Summary

• Bryan Mbeumo joins Manchester United in a record £65m deal from Brentford, marking the club’s third summer signing.
• Nigeria and Morocco Storm Into WAFCON Semis, dominating Zambia and Mali respectively with standout performances.
• Rugby Africa Cup Heats Up as Namibia and Zimbabwe book final spots amid a high-quality tournament in Uganda.
• African Stars in the Spotlight with Wissa attracting EPL interest, Diouf joining West Ham, and Chepngetich facing a doping ban.

Deep Dive!!

For African sports, what a week! The sporting spirit of the continent was evident in everything from the Rugby Africa Cup finals to thrilling AFCON drama. The football transfer window is also buzzing with African players taking the centre stage.

Here is an in-depth look at the tales that enthralled fans throughout Africa this week, with pride, passion, and unadulterated talent being highlighted.

Man Utd Seal £65m Mbeumo Signing from Brentford

Brentford finally accepted Manchester United's £65 million offer for Bryan Mbeumo.

The Cameroon international may get a club medical before Ruben Amorim's team departs for their preseason tour of the United States on Tuesday next week.

With the addition of left-back Diego Leon and forward Matheus Cunha, the 25-year-old winger is expected to be United's third summer acquisition.

At the beginning of June, United made their first bid, which was for a total of £55 million. Manchester United, determined to sign the footballer, sent in their second proposal at the end of the same month, but it was unsuccessful.

However, the Bees are happy with United's most recent offer, which is valued at £65 million up front and may increase to £70 million with £5 million in add-ons.

Mbeumo, who moved from Troyes to the Bees in 2019, will be Brentford's largest-ever sale.

Rugby Africa Cup Thriller in Kampala

Day Two of the Rugby Africa Cup at Namboole Stadium in Kampala was jam-packed with activity. Kenya lost to Zimbabwe 29–23. Namibia defeated Algeria by a commanding 21–7. Morocco shocked host Uganda by a score of 24–12. Also, Senegal defeated Côte d'Ivoire 28–3.

The stage is set for a championship match on July 19, as Namibia and Zimbabwe have secured the final berths. However, even the placement games are attracting significant attention. 

This was one of the best rugby tournaments in Africa in terms of coverage, with NBS Sport leading the way in terms of broadcast quality and engagement, which met worldwide standards.

ALSO READ: 6th - 12th July 2025: Top Picks in African Sport This Week

Nigeria Storm Into Wafcon Semis With Zambia Thrashing

Nigeria easily defeated Zambia 5-0 in Casablanca to advance to the semifinals of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

The record nine-time winners were anticipated to face a difficult fight from the Copper Queens, but they were blown away by an incredible performance that was highlighted by precision finishing.

Even though Zambia defeated Nigeria to place third in the 2022 finals, its strong attack tandem of Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, who both scored three goals in the group round, was unable to muster a single attempt on goal.

Nigeria, who have yet to give up a goal in this year's finals, will play Senegal or South Africa, the reigning champions, in the semi-finals on Tuesday at 16:00 GMT.

Atlas Lionesses Roar Into Wafcon Semis With Mali Masterclass

Morocco, the hosts, defeated Mali 3-1 in Rabat to secure their spot in the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) semi-finals.

Aissata Traore was able to grab a consolation goal for her Mali side after two goals from striker Ibtissam Jraidi and a goal from Kenza Chapelle.

As a result, the Atlas Lionesses have advanced to the WAFCON semi-final for the second time in a row. They will play either Ghana or Algeria in Rabat on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT. In the final four, they join Nigeria.

Bees Open Talks to Keep Star Forward Wissa at Club

Yoane Wissa has been approached by Brentford to begin contract negotiations, but it is believed that he would prefer to leave the team this summer.

In light of Bryan Mbeumo's anticipated move to Manchester United, the Bees are focusing on finding a solution for 20-goal forward Wissa's future.

The DR Congo international is attracting a lot of interest from teams including Newcastle, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest.

However, according to insiders, Wissa is not interested in discussing better terms at this time and has stated in private that he intends to look into other options.

It is known that settling on personal terms, especially with Tottenham or Newcastle, won't be a problem, and all three interested teams can provide him with European play for the upcoming season.

Axel Tuanzebe Files Lawsuit Against Former Club Manchester United

Axel Tuanzebe, a former Manchester United defender, is suing the club for allegedly providing careless medical advice.

Last week, the 27-year-old, who joined Burnley earlier this month, filed a lawsuit against United in the High Court.

It concerns an unidentified injury that occurred in July 2022 and is regarded as a high-value claim, meaning it is worth more than £1 million.

Prior to being loaned to Stoke in January 2023, where he made just five appearances, Tuanzebe missed 195 days of action during his final season with the team.

West Ham Complete £19m Signing of Senegal Star Diouf

El Hadji Malick Diouf, a Senegal defender, cost £19 million to sign with West Ham from Slavia Prague.

The 20-year-old, who has signed a long-term contract with the Hammers, is anticipated to arrive in Germany this week for the team's preseason training camp.

Diouf played a crucial role in Slavia Prague's victory in the Czech Premier Division the previous season.

Although "a lot of clubs" were interested in recruiting him, he claimed that West Ham "was a good plan for me" and was his first choice.

Ons Jabeur Takes Break From Tennis to Prioritise Wellbeing

Tennis player Ons Jabeur is taking a "step back" for her health.

The WTA declared on Thursday that the 30-year-old Tunisian was "the only player in the top 99 who has not entered next month's US Open" and that she had withdrawn from the upcoming Montreal Open.

Taking to her social media page, Jabeaur opened up about her struggles through injuries and several injuries. She noted that she has decided to take a step back from the beautiful sport to prioritise herself.

Jabeur has been as high as number two in the rankings but has now dropped to 71st.

Marathon World Record Holder Chepngetich Hit With Doping Ban

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has placed world record holder for the women's marathon, Ruth Chepngetich, on provisional suspension after she tested positive for a prohibited substance.

According to a statement from the AIU, the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) was found in a sample taken from Chepngetich, Kenya, on March 14.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rule forbids the use of HCTZ at any time, and it is used clinically to treat fluid retention and hypertension.

In October 2024, Chepngetich, 30, set a new world record by finishing the Chicago Marathon in two hours, nine minutes, and 56 seconds.