July 27th - 2nd August 2025: Top Picks in African Sport This Week

Brief Summary

• Nigeria’s Super Falcons won their 10th WAFCON title after a dramatic comeback against Morocco, earning each player $100,000 and a new home from President Tinubu.
• D’Tigress advanced to the AfroBasket semifinals, extending their unbeaten run to 27 games with a dominant win over Cameroon in Abidjan.
• CHAN 2025 preparations heat up with a newly redesigned trophy unveiled ahead of the East African co-hosted tournament starting August 2.

Deep Dive!!

The buzz in the African sports scene this week was electrifying, especially with the CHAN 2024 competitions set to kick off soon and the Super Falcons lifting their 10th WAFCON title. 

There’s a lot of excitement to watch out for in the world of basketball with the 2025 Afrobasket Women underway in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

This week, we look into the biggest stories from July 27 to August 2, 2025, covering highlights in football, basketball, cycling, and more. Let’s break it all down!

Nigeria Clinches 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)

At Rabat's Olympic Stadium, the Super Falcons pulled off an incredible comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3–2. With game-changing replacements like Jennifer Echegini and Rinsola Babajide, Nigeria overcame a 2-0 deficit after 24 minutes, and Esther Okoronkwo was voted MVP of the final. 

Nigeria's continental domination is strengthened by this triumph under coach Justine Madugu, and women's football in Africa is once again proud.

Nigeria's Super Falcons Get $100,000 Bonus Each After Historic Win

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu promised the women's national football team financial rewards and presents after praising them for winning the recent Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at a lavish celebration.

Tinubu, who hosted them at the presidential residence at Aso Rock on Monday, said that each player would receive $100,000 (£75,000) in addition to a three-bedroom flat.

Although the 24-woman team applauded upon hearing the news, previous criticism has pointed out that awards promised by Nigerian governments have not been awarded.

Nigeria's Super Falcons, as the squad is nicknamed, won their 10th Wafcon championship on Saturday after defeating hosts Morocco 3-2 in an incredible comeback in the second half.

African Nations Championship (CHAN) Preparations Ramping Up, Redesigned Trophy

The 2025 CHAN tournament, which begins on August 2, 2025, is being co-hosted by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. With CECAFA mini-tournaments in progress and anticipation growing throughout East Africa, teams are beginning their final preparations.

Ahead of the themed PAMOJA 2024 tournament, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has formally presented a new trophy for the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The sleek, contemporary design uses silver and gold accents to represent the tournament's increasing popularity and distinction.

The trophy's striking hallmark of the championship's pan-African identity is a central map of Africa surrounded by 54 engraved lines, each representing a CAF member association.

Nigeria's D'Tigress Overpower Cameroon, Reach Afrobasket Final Four

Nigeria’s D’Tigress stormed into the 2025 Women’s AfroBasket semifinals with a dominant 83-47 win over Cameroon in Abidjan, extending their unbeaten African run to 27 games since 2015. 

Despite a slow 4-0 start, the defending champions took control early, leading 41-29 at halftime and delivering a crushing 25-2 third-quarter run to seal the match. They now aim for a record fifth straight title, facing Senegal in Saturday’s semifinal clash.

Aubameyang Returns to Marseille Just One Year After Exit

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a former striker for Chelsea and Arsenal, has returned to Marseille on a free transfer one year after departing the French club.

The 36-year-old departed Marseille earlier this month on a free transfer after joining Al-Qadsiah of the Saudi Pro League last summer.

According to reports, Aubameyang has committed to the Ligue 1 team till 2027.

Last season, Al-Qadsiah finished fourth in the league and advanced to the King's Cup final due to the Gabon international's 21 goals and three assists in 36 games across all competitions.

Aubameyang returns to Marseille after playing in 51 games during his first stint in 2023–24, scoring 30 goals and dishing out 11 assists.

He has made five moves since departing Arsenal in February 2022.

ALSO READ: Meet the Teams: Profiles of African Nations Competing at CHAN 2024

Kim Le Court Pienaar Makes Historic Milestone at Tour de France Femmes

On July 30, Kim Le Court, a cyclist from Mauritius, became the first African rider to win a stage in the Tour de France Femmes, taking home stage 5.

In addition, she took home the yellow jersey, leading the field by eighteen seconds going into the mountains.

Barcelona Strike Sponsorship Deal With DR Congo

Barcelona players will wear "DR Congo - Heart of Africa" on the back of their training shirts beginning next season, after the top Spanish football side reached a four-year agreement with the central African country.

The club has not revealed the amount it would receive, but it is rumoured that the collaboration will cost the Democratic Republic of Congo 44 million euros ($50 million; £38 million).

The agreement calls for an "immersive exhibition... to showcase the cultural diversity and sporting tradition" of DR Congo to be held in Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium.

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

World Athletics Implements Genetic Testing for Female Classification

According to the governing organisation World Athletics, athletes who wish to participate in the female division for world ranking events starting in September will need to complete a one-time DNA test.

The World Athletics Championships, which will be held in Tokyo from September 13–21, will be subject to the new rules, which go into effect on September 1st.

A cheek swab or blood test can be used to check for the SRY gene, which is found on the Y chromosome and results in the development of male traits. The athlete can compete in the female category if the Y chromosome test comes back negative.

They can compete in non-world ranking tournaments in the female category or in a different category if the results are favourable.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime test that will be supervised by participating federations.