The Dawn of a New Era: Mosimane’s Silverware Quest Meets a Guinean Ac…

In what promises to be a defining afternoon for South African football, Pitso Mosimane officially kickstarts his highly anticipated second stint as Bafana Bafana head coach this Saturday at Orlando Stadium. Returning to the national hot seat with a wealth of continental club success, Mosimane is making his intentions crystal clear: merely qualifying for major tournaments is no longer enough. Building on the sturdy foundation laid by Hugo Broos, the legendary tactician has stated unequivocally that ending South Africa’s 30-year trophy drought is his primary target.

However, the opening chapter of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers presents a complex tactical puzzle, and Mosimane will need every ounce of his acumen to navigate a mounting defensive crisis. xsportfeed.quest

Shuffling the Defensive Deck

The biggest headache facing the Bafana technical team is a rapidly depleting backline. The national side was already reeling from the loss of premier defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi when another blow struck this week: Orlando Pirates stalwart Nkosinathi Sibisi was officially ruled out after missing consecutive training sessions.

This double setback forces Mosimane to rely on youthful exuberance over tested experience. Rising defensive talents like Ime Okon or Olwethu Makhanya are now staring down an immense responsibility, tasked with neutralizing one of European football’s most lethal forwards.

Stopping Serhou Guirassy

Guinea arrives in Johannesburg desperate to snap a frustrating four-game winless streak, but they carry a massive trump card in Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy. The talismanic forward is fresh off scoring two goals in a recent UEFA Champions League fixture against Villarreal CF, proving he brings world-class finishing and a formidable aerial presence to the pitch.

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Mosimane has openly admitted that shackling the Guinean target man is his technical team’s primary obsession. Fans at Orlando Stadium can expect Bafana Bafana’s defensive structure to be tailored explicitly toward cutting off supply lines from Guinea’s European-based midfield, which includes players stationed in Saudi Arabia, Poland, and Spain, ensuring Guirassy is starved of quality crosses and aerial deliveries.

Leaning on Continental Pedigree

To counter the Guinean threat and launch this new era on a winning note, Mosimane is banking on the immense pedigree of his Mamelodi Sundowns core. Citing their recent club triumphs against champions from across Africa and Asia, Mosimane believes that Bafana’s domestic stars possess the psychological edge and resilience required for high-stakes international football.

The objective tomorrow is straightforward but steep: manage the defensive casualties, neutralize a world-class striker, and take the first decisive step toward an elusive AFCON crown.

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Le Mali et le Cap-Vert lancent leur campagne dans les éliminatoires de la CAN 2027 ce vendredi. Les deux sélections se retrouvent au stade du 26-Mars de Bamako pour une affiche du groupe K qui s’annonce déjà importante. Le coup d’envoi est programmé à 19h GMT, soit 20h au Mali et 21h en France.

À domicile, les Aigles maliens auront l’ambition de débuter cette campagne par une victoire devant leur public. En face, le Cap-Vert voudra confirmer les progrès réalisés ces dernières années et profiter de cette première journée pour prendre des points précieux dans un groupe où figurent également le Rwanda et le Liberia.

Sur quelle chaîne suivre Mali – Cap-Vert ?

Dans la zone MENA, la rencontre sera diffusée en direct sur beIN SPORTS XTRA 1. En France, le match est annoncé sur beIN SPORTS MAX 5.

The post Mali – Cap-Vert : sur quelle chaîne TV suivre le match en direct ? appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

En Mauritanie, la société civile se mobilise pour l'application de la loi dite Karama, une loi censée protéger les femmes contre les violences sexuelles et les crimes. Elle avait été examinée en Conseil des ministres il y a plusieurs années, mais jamais adoptée par l'Assemblée nationale, notamment en raison de divergences sur certains dossiers, certaines de ses dispositions et leur conformité avec la charia.

Georgia vs Northern Ireland begins both teams’ UEFA Nations League 2026/27 campaigns on Friday, 25 September at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tbilisi. Follow SP Score for the Georgia vs Northern Ireland live score, confirmed lineups, match events and changing statistics as the game develops.

Georgia and Northern Ireland are in League B Group B2 alongside Hungary and Ukraine. The opener gives both teams an early opportunity to establish themselves in a competitive group before the schedule moves quickly into the second round of fixtures.

For more international and club football coverage, explore the SportPesa South Africa Soccer Blog.

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The Georgia vs Northern Ireland lineups will be confirmed closer to kick-off, so the final starting XIs should be checked through SP Score rather than treated as fixed in this preview.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill selected a 28-player squad for the opening Nations League fixtures. Daniel Ballard, Paddy McNair, Dion Charles, Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Conor Hazard returned to the group, while Alistair McCann, Brad Lyons and Conor Bradley were unavailable through injury when the squad was announced.

Georgia’s biggest attacking threat remains Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Northern Ireland have made clear that their preparation cannot focus on one player alone. Georgia’s ability to combine individual quality with quick attacking movement gives O’Neill’s side several problems to manage.

The senior Georgia vs Northern Ireland H2H record is unusually short. Before this Nations League campaign, the countries had met only once at full international level.

That meeting came in a friendly in Belfast in March 2008, when Northern Ireland won 4-1. The long gap between meetings means the result has limited value for judging the current teams, but it remains part of the fixture’s history.

The most useful Georgia vs Northern Ireland stats will change as the Nations League campaign develops, so current form, possession, shots, standings and match statistics are best followed through SP Score.

Georgia remained in League B after finishing third in their 2024/25 group, while Northern Ireland earned promotion after topping their League C group. That makes the opener a meeting between a Georgia side already familiar with League B and a Northern Ireland team stepping back up to the level.

After this match, Georgia host Ukraine on 28 September. Northern Ireland return home to face Hungary on the same date before travelling to play Ukraine. The teams meet again in Belfast on 5 October.

Georgia’s attack can be shaped by Kvaratskhelia’s ability to carry the ball, create chances and draw defenders out of position. Northern Ireland will need to control the spaces around him without losing their defensive structure elsewhere.

Northern Ireland’s approach under O’Neill has been built around organisation, intensity and a developing young squad. With several players under 25 in the current group, the challenge in Tbilisi will be to stay compact while still finding opportunities to attack when possession changes.

Set pieces, second balls and transitions could therefore become important. Georgia will want to use their technical quality at home, while Northern Ireland will look for disciplined spells without the ball and efficient use of their attacking moments.

A Georgia vs Northern Ireland prediction should consider the current matchup rather than rely heavily on the countries’ only previous meeting in 2008.

Georgia have home advantage and an established match-winner in Kvaratskhelia, while Northern Ireland arrive after earning promotion from League C and with a young squad that O’Neill believes is still developing. The opening stages should reveal whether Georgia can turn possession into clear chances or whether Northern Ireland can keep the contest compact.

Instead of fixing the match to one scoreline, the more useful factors are Georgia’s ability to create around Kvaratskhelia, Northern Ireland’s defensive organisation, set pieces and how both teams handle transitions.

The fixture is listed among the current SportPesa South Africa soccer markets. Market availability can change. 18+. Bet responsibly.

The Georgia vs Northern Ireland live score, confirmed starting XIs and in-game statistics will change throughout the match. SP Score is the live destination for those updates.

After the final whistle, the Georgia vs Northern Ireland results and completed match information can also be checked through SP Score, allowing this preview to remain useful without relying on a static score.

When is Georgia vs Northern Ireland?

Georgia vs Northern Ireland is scheduled for Friday, 25 September 2026.

Where is Georgia vs Northern Ireland being played?

The match will be played at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia.

What time is Georgia vs Northern Ireland?

Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 CET, 19:00 local time in Georgia and 18:00 SAST.

What group are Georgia and Northern Ireland in?

They are in UEFA Nations League B Group B2 with Hungary and Ukraine.

What is the Georgia vs Northern Ireland H2H record?

Before the 2026/27 Nations League campaign, the senior national teams had met once. Northern Ireland won the 2008 friendly 4-1.

Where can I follow Georgia vs Northern Ireland live?

Use SP Score for the live score, confirmed lineups, match events and changing statistics.

Where can I check the Georgia vs Northern Ireland result?

SP Score carries live and completed match information, including results and match statistics.

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Georgia vs Northern Ireland opens the two teams’ UEFA Nations League Group B2 campaigns in Tbilisi. Georgia bring home advantage and attacking quality, while Northern Ireland arrive in League B after promotion and with a young squad continuing to develop under Michael O’Neill.

The battle around Kvaratskhelia, Northern Ireland’s defensive organisation, set pieces and transitions are among the key areas to watch. For the confirmed lineups, live score, changing statistics and final result, follow SP Score as the match develops.

Fresh off her solid performance at the World Road Running Championships, Glenrose Xaba hopes to build on her form at the fourth leg of the Spar Grand Prix 10km series in Gqeberha on Saturday.

While defending champion Xaba and her in-form compatriot Tayla Kavanagh have won races in this year’s series, both athletes have also been diverted by their commitments to other events.

Therefore, national half-marathon champion Cacisile Sosibo holds the series lead after finishing in the top five at the previous three legs of the campaign in Cape Town, Durban and Tshwane.

Kavanagh, who won the Cape Town and Durban legs and was lying second in the overall standings, produced the race of her life last week to finish fourth in the women’s 5km race at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, setting a South African record of 14:51.

However, while she was lying second in the Grand Prix series, she was not in the start lists for the Gqeberha race and was not expected to participate at the final leg of the series in Joburg next week.

‘My preparations have gone well’

Xaba, who was third in the standings after winning in Tshwane and finishing second in Cape Town, was set to line up as the favourite in Gqeberha on Saturday after finishing 13th in the women’s half-marathon race at the World Road Running Championships in 1:07:49.

“I’m ready for Gqeberha and I’m looking forward to enjoying every kilometre. My preparations have gone well,” said Xaba, the SA 10km record holder, who was aiming to secure the overall Grand Prix series title for the fourth time in her career.

Despite the absence of Kavanagh, however, Xaba might not have things all her own way this weekend.

Other challengers included the likes of Ethiopian runner Selam Gebre (lying fourth in the series standings), along with Kyla Jacobs, Karabo Mailula, Karabo More, Zanthé Taljaard and Irvette van Zyl.