20th - 26th July 2025: Top Picks in African Sport This Week

Summary

• Zimbabwe made history by winning the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup, securing a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup for the first time in 34 years, while Nigeria and Morocco advanced to the WAFCON final after dramatic semifinal wins.
• Transfer news highlights include Yoane Wissa leaving Brentford’s camp amid interest from Premier League clubs, and Senegal’s Papa Amadou Diallo joining Norwich from Metz for £4.3 million.
• Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended the club’s handling of Thomas Partey’s situation following multiple rape charges, stating full confidence in the club’s process.

Deep Dive!!

African sports have experienced yet another thrilling week. The football world continues to keep the transfers coming, WAFCON reaches its finals stage, Zimbabwe clinches the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup, and there's much more.

Sport Blot brings you some of the top sports news trends in Africa for the week. Check it out!

2025 Rugby Africa Cup Final & World Cup Triumph

Zimbabwe ended a 34-year wait to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia by defeating Namibia 30–28 in the Rugby Africa Cup final at Kampala's Mandela National Stadium. They were only the second African nation (after South Africa) to do so directly.

The game was hotly contested, with a halftime score of 16-16. Kudzai Mashawi and Brandon Mudzekenyedzi's tries helped Zimbabwe eventually pull away, while flyhalf Ian Prior scored more than 15 points with his boot to win Player of the Tournament.

The win ended Namibia's eight-tournament World Cup streak, but they earned a second shot in a playoff against the UAE on July 26.

Wissa Departs Brentford Pre-Season Camp Amid Transfer Speculation

Amid mounting doubts over his future, Brentford attacker Yoane Wissa has departed the team's preseason facility in Portugal.

The 28-year-old has returned to London from the Bees' training camp, according to BBC Sport. Wissa will now speak with Phil Giles, the director of football at Brentford, as three Premier League teams are interested in him.

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

All three teams are able to provide him European football for the upcoming season, and it is believed that personal terms may be agreed upon, especially with Tottenham or Newcastle, whose pursuit of Wissa has accelerated over the past 48 hours.

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

Super Falcons Dethrone Champions South Africa to Reach WAFCON Final

Nigeria defeated the reigning champions, South Africa, 2-1 with a thrilling stoppage-time goal to secure their spot in the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final on Saturday, July 26th.

The West Africans' hopes of winning a record-tying 10th continental title were preserved in the 94th minute when Michelle Alozie's pass from deep into the box escaped Banyana Banyana goalie Andile Dlamini.

Nigeria defeated the reigning champions, South Africa, 2-1 with a thrilling stoppage-time goal to secure their spot in the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final on Saturday.

In the final on Saturday in Rabat, they will now play the hosts, Morocco.

Atlas Lionesses Roar Into Wafcon Final After Penalty Drama

After defeating Ghana 4-2 in a penalty shootout at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, hosts Morocco will play Nigeria in the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final.

After ninety minutes, the score was tied at one, and neither team was able to break the tie in extra time.

Morocco had a spotless record from the penalty spot, so the pressure was too much for 18-year-old Comfort Yeboah, whose attempt was saved by the diving Khadija Er-Rmichi after Evelyn Badu missed Ghana's third chance.

Arsenal Defends Due Process in Handling Partey Situation

The manager of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, claims he is "100%" certain the team handled former midfielder Thomas Partey, who was being investigated by the police on several rape charges while he was a member of the team, in the proper manner.

Four days after leaving Arsenal on June 30 at the conclusion of his contract, the 32-year-old Ghanaian midfielder was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

According to a statement released by the Metropolitan Police on July 4, the acts are believed to have occurred in 2021 and 2022.

The charges involve three women: one woman with two counts of rape, another with three counts of rape, and a third with one count of sexual assault.

According to his attorney, Partey "welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name" and refutes the accusations.

Norwich Complete Signing of Senegalese Winger Diallo

Papa Amadou Diallo, a Senegalese international winger, has signed a four-year contract with Norwich from Metz of the French Ligue 2.

Diallo, who has seven national caps, played 28 games and scored seven goals as Metz advanced to the top flight of France the previous season.

The 21-year-old will wear the number 19 shirt after signing a £4.3 million contract.

Before joining Metz in February 2023, the winger played for Génération Foot in Ligue 1, Senegal's top division, where he started his professional career.