AFP Africa

An explosion ripped through a mosque in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri and killed at least seven worshippers Wednesday, witnesses and security sources told AFP.No armed groups immediately claimed responsibility for what anti-jihadist militia leader Babakura Kolo said was a suspected bombing.Maiduguri is the capital of Borno state, home to a years-long insurgency by …

Nigeria mosque bombing kills at least sevenWed, 24 Dec 2025 19:50:08 GMT Read More »

The decision by African football bosses to change the Africa Cup of Nations from a biennial competition to a tournament held every four years has been met with a mixed reaction on the continent with some seeing it as simply caving in to pressure from European clubs and FIFA.Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice …

A lack of respect? African football bows to pressure with AFCON changeWed, 24 Dec 2025 18:23:08 GMT Read More »

Captain Riyad Mahrez scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.Mahrez got the opener after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans who made up the vast majority of the 16,115 crowd …

Mahrez leads Algeria to AFCON cruise against SudanWed, 24 Dec 2025 17:07:56 GMT Read More »

Turkish authorities on Wednesday found the cockpit voice recorder and black box from a private jet that crashed killing the head of Libya’s armed forces and his four aides.The Falcon 50 aircraft requested an emergency landing because of electrical failure minutes after it took off from the Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday, but contact was …

Black box recovered from Libyan general’s crashed planeWed, 24 Dec 2025 14:43:53 GMT Read More »

Nicolas Jackson scored twice as much-fancied Senegal began their Africa Cup of Nations bid with a convincing 3-0 win over Botswana on Tuesday, while Nigeria’s Super Eagles made harder work of their opening match against Tanzania before claiming a 2-1 victory.Elsewhere there were also wins for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tunisia as the …

Contenders Senegal, Nigeria start Cup of Nations campaigns with winsTue, 23 Dec 2025 22:10:36 GMT Read More »

Russian private military contractors in the Central African Republic told AFP they took any threats to the upcoming elections in the volatile country “extremely seriously” and were ready to “repel any provocations”.The resource-rich former French colony is the last bastion of paramilitary group Wagner, which has established itself as one of the CAR government’s main …

Russian paramilitaries in CAR say take election threat ‘extremely seriously’Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:11:23 GMT Read More »

The Democratic Republic of Congo edged out Benin 1-0 in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, with Theo Bongonda scoring the only goal of the Group D clash.Bongonda, of Spartak Moscow, pounced to score on 16 minutes at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat after the Benin defence left a …

DR Congo beat Benin to kick off Cup of Nations bidTue, 23 Dec 2025 14:32:48 GMT Read More »

Russian private military contractors in the Central African Republic told AFP they took any threats to the upcoming elections in the volatile country “extremely seriously” and were ready to “repel any provocations”.The resource-rich former French colony is the last bastion of paramilitary group Wagner, which has established itself as one of the CAR government’s main …

Russian paramilitaries in CAR say take election threat ‘extremely seriously’Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:27:50 GMT Read More »

A mural depicting Vladimir Putin and fatigue-clad Russian paramilitary fighters has appeared in the Central African Republic ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections as the country seeks to recover from decades of violence.The Russian embassy in Bangui called the work of a local artist that also features President Faustin-Archange Touadera and CAR military officers “a …

Wagner stronghold in CAR holds the line despite Kremlin shakeupTue, 23 Dec 2025 13:08:22 GMT Read More »

South Africa’s two-time World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi will return to the Stormers in July 2026, the Cape Town-based franchise announced on Tuesday. The Springboks’ first black Test captain began his career with Stormers before moving to the Durban-based Sharks in 2020. After a mediocre season with Racing 92 in the French Top 14 and with …

Springbok captain Kolisi to rejoin StormersTue, 23 Dec 2025 12:51:23 GMT Read More »