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BBC World Service


Original football stories and interviews from around the globe.


World Football

A special bonus Afcon episode from More than the Score, the BBC World Service podcast that tells stories from beyond the scoresheet. Find more by searching for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

This year's Africa Cup of Nations, or Afcon, has been dominated by the continent's big teams. Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen helped Nigeria and Egypt reach the semi-finals, while the likes of Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mane will face off when hosts Morocco take on Senegal in the final.

With Africa's superstars seemingly in top form, can they keep it up at this summer's World Cup - and could an African nation finally go all the way, and win football's most famous prize?

The BBC's Lee James and John Bennett talk to African football experts Gary Al Smith and Maher Mezahi as Africa's biggest tournament nears its conclusion. Why have the stars shone at this year's Afcon, and does that bode well for the summer? How have Ghana and Cape Verde's World Cup chances been affected by missing out on Afcon? And with some of the continent's biggest names seemingly nearing the end of their international careers, who will step into their shoes?

Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

Bonus: More than the Score on Afcon

Lee James is joined by John Bennett, North African football expert Maher Mezahi and Moroccan football journalist Jalal Bounouar to provide immediate reaction to hosts Morocco beating Nigeria on penalties to reach Sunday's final.

Piers Edwards and the former South Africa captain Dean Furman reflect on Senegal's 1-0 semi-final victory over Egypt, including reaction from match-winner Sadio Mane and teammate Idrissa Gana Gueye. 

Timecodes:

00:14 - Immediate reaction to Morocco's victory over Nigeria
09:03 - Reaction to Senegal's victory over Egypt
15:49 - Sadio Mane interview
17:03 - Idrissa Gana Gueye interview

Afcon 2025: Morocco and Senegal reach the final

Delyth Lloyd is joined by former Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong, Mani Djazmi, John Bennett, Maher Mezahi and Ali Howorth to preview two blockbuster Afcon semi-finals. Hosts Morocco face Nigeria’s in-form Super Eagles; whilst its Salah vs Mané III, with Senegal playing Egypt.

Timecodes:
03:00 – 27:00 Nigeria v Morocco
27:30 – 30:00 Salah vs Mané Part 3
30:00 – 36:00 Egypt v Senegal
36:00 – 40:00 What impact would an Afcon win have on Salah’s legacy?
41:30 – Final Predictions

Afcon 2025: Previewing two heavyweight semi-final clashes

Lee James is joined by John Bennett and the former South Africa captain Dean Furman to reflect on a dominant 2-0 win for hosts Morocco against Cameroon in Rabat.

Isaac Fanin joins from Tangier to look back on Senegal's 1-0 victory over Mail.

Ian Williams sends us a dispatch from Agadir ahead Egypt's quarter-final against holders Ivory Coast, including hearing from Ivory Coast star Amad Diallo.

And Nigeria football expert Oluwashina Okeleji drops in from Marrakech to discuss Nigeria's preparations for their quarter-final against Algeria.

Timecodes:

00:30 - Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
05:21 - Algeria v Nigeria preview
08:01 - Mali 0-1 Senegal
12:02 - Egypt v Ivory Coast preview

Afcon 2025: Morocco and Senegal reach the semis

John Bennett and Isaac Fanin look ahead to the opening two quarter-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations.

John is joined by Cameroon journalist Ben Collins and North African football expert Patrick Juillard to look ahead to hosts Morocco against the five-time winners Cameroon in Rabat.

While in Tangier, Isaac speaks to Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet and Senegal journalist Djim Momar ahead of the clash between the neighbouring nations.

Timecodes:

00:45 - Cameroon focus with Ben Collins
03:44 - Could Cameroon's Christian Kofane be African football's next superstar?
05:38 - Senegal with focus with Djim Momar
07:59 - Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet interview
10:53 - Morocco focus with Patrick Juillard

Afcon 2025: A Clash of Lions and Sisters

A star-studded cast led by Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen switch to knockout fare from Saturday, when the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in Morocco. 

After 36 matches spread across six groups, the 16 survivors from 24 hopefuls clash in eight second-round matches over four days. Fit-again Hakimi is set to lead title favourites Morocco against Tanzania, Salah will captain Egypt against Benin and Osimhen-inspired Nigeria tackle Mozambique.

The BBC’s John Bennett is joined by African football expert Maher Mezahi and the former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani to look ahead to the last 16.

Afcon 2025: It’s knockout time

Delyth Lloyd is joined by Mani Djazmi, former Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker and former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong to reflect on Nigeria's dramatic 3-2 victory over Tunisia in their second Group C match in Fez.

Troost-Ekong provides insight on leading the Super Eagles to the AFCON final in 2024 and gives us the inside track on "fearless" Victor Osimhen and his role as a leader in the Nigeria dressing room after a tough upbringing in Lagos.

BBC Sport Africa's Rob Stevens also joins the pod from Tangier to reflect on Senegal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo and discuss whether either nation can challenge for the title.

Timecodes:

01:37 - Has the first week of the AFCON lived up to the expectations
04:40 - Nigeria fans react to 3-2 win over Tunisia
05:43 - Thoughts on Nigeria's win over Tunisia
09:05 - Focus on Nigeria's attacking firepower
10:59 - Victor Osimhen chat
18:17 - Will Nigeria rest players against Uganda?
19:14 - Tunisia favourites to join Nigeria from Group C in the last 16?
20:34 - Rob Stevens joins the pod to reflect on Senegal v DR Congo
22:37 - Can Senegal or DR Congo challenge for the title?
25:29 - Benin claim their first AFCON win
26:35 - Is this AFCON lacking the 'vibes'?
32:13 - Predictions after the first week

Afcon 2025: Can 'fearless' Victor Osimhen lead Nigeria to glory?

In this episode Moroccan football journalist Amine El Amri, the BBC’s John Bennett and the former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani discuss the opening week of the tournament. Including Gab’s reaction to his teams draw against Senegal, Benin’s first ever Afcon win at the sixteenth attempt and an injury update on Morocco’s inspirational captain Achraf Hakimi, who missed their opening win against Comoros.

Afcon 2025: Marvellous Mane and finally a win for Benin

Lee James is joined by John Bennett, former Nigeria international Seyi Olofinjana and former South Africa captain Dean Furman to reflect on Nigeria's 2-1 victory over Tanzania in their opening Group C match in Fez.

The panel also discuss whether talisman Victor Osimhen's histrionics overshadowed Nigeria's win and which of the big teams have impressed so far in the tournament.

Timecodes:

00:44 - Initial reflections on Nigeria's 2-1 win over Tanzania
04:51 - Thoughts on Victor Osimhen's performance
07:55 - Can Nigeria go all the way based on win over Tanzania?
10:18 - Encouraging performance from Tanzania
10:50 - Which big teams have impressed so far at the Afcon?
13:17 - South Africa v Egypt preview

Afcon 2025: Super Eagles fly high in Fez

Can Morocco justify their tag as favourites on home soil? Could Mohamed Salah win an elusive title with Egypt? Can Nigeria bounce back from World Cup playoff disappointment? Could Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane be key for Algeria and Senegal? Or can Ivory Coast make it back to back titles?

Former South Africa captain Dean Furman and the former Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker joins Lee James and John Bennett to preview the tournament to answer these questions and more in our Africa Cup of Nations preview.

They discuss who could go well at the African Cup of Nations, who could cause an upset and which players could shine at the tournament.

Timecodes:

04:45 - Interview with Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat
07:30 - Can Morocco win as favourites?
11:00 - Interview with former Zambia forward Kalusha Bwalya
15:25 - Will talk around Mohamed Salah be a distraction for Egypt?
18:00 - Are South Africa good enough to win?
23:00 - Interview with Nigeria’s Frank Onyeka
24:45 - Does Victor Osimhen need to prove he is one of the best players in Africa?
27:50 - Interview with former Tunisia captain Radhi Jaidi
31:10 - Senegal focus
33:30 - DR Congo focus
36:00 - Algeria focus
39:25 - Interview with Sudan’s Abo Eisa
40:30 - Ivory Coast focus
43:05 - Cameroon focus
45:50 - Prediction time - players of the tournament, surprise team and winners

GROUPS

Group A - Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B - Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C - Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D - Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E - Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equitorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F - Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

Afcon 2025: Meet the contenders for African football's biggest prize

Mani Djazmi and Maz Farookhi reflect on holders USA's opening game win over Vietnam in Auckland, including hearing from Meg Linehan, senior writer for The Athletic. 

And we speak to FIFA assistant referee Heba Saadiyeh, who is the first Palestinian to participate in either a men's or women's FIFA World Cup.

Photo: Lindsey Horan (L) of USA celebrates with teammate Megan Rapinoe (R) after scoring her team's third goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group E match between USA and Vietnam at Eden Park on July 22, 2023 in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand. (Credit: FIFA via Getty Images)

USA off to winning start and the history-making Palestinian

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