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Raja Casablanca fans enjoy the atmosphere before the Fifa Club World Cup Final match between FC Bayern Munchen v Raja Casablanca at Marrakech Stadium on December 21, 2013 in Marrakech, Morocco.  (Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

The brutal beauty of Morocco’s Soccer Ultras

Raja Casablanca’s fan clubs are well organised, politically active and occasionally violent

CAF President Ahmad Ahmad (centre) with Cosafa President Phillip Chiyangwa. (Darren Stewart/Gallo)

African football’s ‘new dawn’ turns to dusk in Ahmad’s hands

The Malagy administrator promised sweeping changes for the good of Africa when he became CAF president, but Ahmad’s rule has had its own controversies

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane (Steve Haag/Gallo)

Sundowns shake the foundations

A convincing win over Africa’s premier heavyweight gives them a push to rattle football on the continent

(Mohamed el-Shahed/AFP/Getty Images)

South Africa blames ‘politics’ for humiliating loss to Egypt

South African football officials said the 16-1 vote in favour of Egypt in Senegal on Tuesday was ‘political’ without offering insight

Janine van Wyk, Desiree Ellis and Emma Hendricks during the Banyana Banyana Arrival Press Conference at OR Tambo International Airport on December 02 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Desiree Ellis wins CAF Women’s Coach of the Year

She is the only person to win the COSAFA Women’s Championship as both player and coach

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South Africa loses out on right to host 2019 Afcon spectacle

Egypt and South Africa had emerged as the two front-runners to inherit hosting rights

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Sierra Leone disqualified from Afcon

Football’s world governing body Fifa had suspended the Sierra Leone Football Association in October due to ‘government interference’

While Sundowns have toughened up from constant African exposure, they struggled in Togo last year against rough opponents and will probably be happy to leave Malabo on level terms. (Lefty Shivambu/Gallo)

Contrasting challenges for former African champions

We assess how five former champions in action this week may fare as they set out in pursuit of the $2.5-million first prize

The Pretoria outfit came closest to breaking the deadlock midway through the second half when a headed scoring attempt rebounded off the crossbar. (Gallo)

Goal-shy Sundowns make shock CAF Champions League exit

Sundowns faced Horoya having failed to score in their last three matches in all competitions and once again flopped up front

Mean Dean: Dean Furman

Furman unruffled by adversity

Some fans aren’t happy with his no-frills style of play, but this hard slogger’s caps speak volumes

Local focus: Gavin Hunt has been accused of not caring about CAF games

Three SA clubs gun for CAF group stage

"Gavin Hunt tends to get hot under the collar when the media suggest he does not take pan-African club competitions seriously"

Space oddity: The Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg will have temporary seating to accommodate Fifa’s requirement for minimum capacities of 30 000.

Downs spark local clubs’ interest in things up north

"The incredible journey that took Mamelodi Sundowns to the summit of African football may have inspired a rethink and change of attitude"

Flying start: Phakamani Mahlambi of Wits and Thandani Khuboni of Aces during a premiership match last year. This week Mahlambi sealed his return with a goal against Ajax.

Empty seats mar vaunted PSL restart

There’s plenty of excitement on the field, but the poor attendance puts a dampener on things

“Behind the numbers are real feelings

Fikile Mbalula hands out R700 000 bonus to Mamelodi Sundowns

The Sports Minister has welcomed the African champions back home with a rather large cheque.

Mouthing off: Most medical schemes ignore the advice that if they provide adequately for oral health

Sundowns triumph to become second SA team to conquer Africa

Mamelodi Sundowns became only the second South African club to win the African Champions League, holding on for a 3-1 aggregate triumph over Zamalek

Broker: Mandla Mandela denies helping to set up Jacob Zuma’s meeting with the emir of Qatar. (Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters)

Pirates could outwit crafty Cairo giants

If Bucs play with attacking flair in Egypt on Sunday they could beat Al-Ahli.

A Pirates ‘win would have been a better’, says De Sa

Buccaneers coach Roger de Sa says a win would’ve been better than the draw between Pirates and Tunisia’s Esperance at the CAF Champions League.

Happy Jele (left) of Pirates goes up for the header in the box during the game. (Gallo)

Pirates score big, off to CAF semifinals

The Buccaneers, who secured a crushing 3-0 win over Egypt’s Al Ahly in their first-leg clash in Cairo, are set to play Tunisia’s Esperance.

Safa gives CAF a piece of its mind over Bafana exit

The SA Football Association has officially protested to the body overseeing the Africa Cup of Nations after Bafana’s controversial elimination.

Business as usual for suspended CAF pair

Amid widespread accusations of corruption, business as usual could be the unofficial Fifa motto — and the CAF has taken the maxim a step further.