8th-14th June 2025: Top Picks in African Sport This Week

African sports saw a flurry of activity this week, with both future luminaries and football giants contributing to the drama. In the world of football, the much-anticipated FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on June 14th, and it is expected to bring a range of displays of skills and perseverance.

Check out some of the standout moments from African sports this week.

FIFA Club World Cup Kicks Off with African Flair

On June 14, Al Ahly of Egypt will begin their FIFA Club World Cup Group A campaign against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. Fans all over Africa are glued to their screen in high anticipation of the football match.

Al Ahly is not the only African team competing in the tournament, as it is joined by Espérance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Wydad AC. 

All four African teams have secured their spots, each guaranteed a base appearance fee of $9.55 million, with additional bonuses based on individual performance.

Comrades Marathon Celebrates Endurance Kings & Queens

On June 8, Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn were proclaimed the victors of the 98th Comrades Marathon, also known as The Ultimate Human Race, a strenuous 89.98-kilometre ultramarathon held in South Africa.

The two victors secured their victories in a tightly competitive run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Dijana claimed his third title, while Steyn took home her fourth. It is safe to refer to the winners as legends of the ultramarathon. 

FIFA Debuts Instant Offside Calls at Club World Cup

An advanced semi-automated offside technology will be used by Club World Cup officials to instruct them to stop play instantly if a player touches the ball more than 10 centimetres offside.

Reducing unnecessary delays is the goal of one of the most important efforts being implemented for the 32-team competition in the United States.

Instead of waiting for the technology to check positions and distances, as is the case with semi-automated offside (SAO) systems utilised in most major leagues, assistant referees will receive the signal quickly.

Hull City Secure Moroccan Midfielder Laalaoui

Reda Laalaoui, a midfielder, has joined Hull City for a four-year contract at an undisclosed cost from Moroccan team Fath Union Sport.

The Championship team's first summer acquisition is the 20-year-old Morocco Under-20 international.

Laalaoui expressed his profound excitement at joining the “historic team” and looks forward to bolstering their midfield.

Sergej Jakirovic, a Bosnian, was also named the Tigers' new head coach on Wednesday.

Spurs Eye Brentford's Mbeumo as Summer Transfer Target

Bryan Mbeumo, a striker for Brentford, is a target for Tottenham.

Mbeumo, a Cameroonian international, scored 20 goals for the Bees in the last Premier League campaign.

Manchester United made a proposal of £45 million and £10 million in add-ons for Mbeumo earlier this month.

However, the bid fell far short of Brentford's valuation, and the two teams were unable to come to an agreement.

City Activate £31m Release Clause for Algerian Full-Back Ait-Nouri

Rayan Ait-Nouri, a left-back for Wolves, has joined Manchester City for £31 million.

The 24-year-old Algerian defender is available for the Club World Cup group stage and has a contract that runs until 2030.

On June 18, City takes on Wydad AC of Morocco to start their campaign in the recently expanded tournament.

He is Wolves' second high-profile summer exit; Manchester United has agreed to pay £62.5 million to recruit Brazil forward Matheus Cunha.

Commenting on his transfer, Ait-Nouri noted that he is overjoyed to be joining “one of the biggest clubs in the world,” calling his move a dream come true.

He is also excited about working with the club's manager, Pep Guardiola and his coaching team, alongside a squad of world-class players.

Senegal Makes History as First African Nation to Defeat England

Cheikh Sabaly made history for the Senegal national football team on Tuesday by scoring the third goal for the visitors at the City Ground in a friendly match.

The team led by Pape Thiaw defeated England 3-1, marking the first time in 22 tries that an African nation had defeated the Three Lions.

After Harry Kane gave Thomas Tuchel's team an early lead in the friendly, Ismaila Sarr and Habib Diarra reversed the tide in the visitors' favour.

It is worth noting that Senegal has yet to taste defeat since 2024 after losing to Ivory Coast on penalties as defending champions at the AFCON round of 16 stage.

CECAFA Women’s Championship Begins in Tanzania

Five East and Central African countries, including reigning champions Uganda, will compete in the CECAFA Women's Championship in Dar es Salaam from June 12 to 22.

Tanzania will be hosting the tournament, which is in its sixth edition and also the fifth to be held since the tournament’s reintroduction in 2016.

The competition serves as a warm-up for the WAFCON qualifiers, which are a crucial and more competitive stage for women's football.