Latest African News and Stories

Oscar Piastri took pole at Zandvoort by 0.012s over McLaren teammate Lando Norris in a tense Dutch Grand Prix qualifying. Max Verstappen starts third for Red Bull. Isack Hadjar impressed with P4 for Racing Bulls, while George Russell qualified fifth and Lewis Hamilton seventh for Ferrari. The session ran at 14:00 BST (15:00 CEST), with 10 races left in a tight title fight.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard says the entire squad is backing Max Dowman, pointing to a strong dressing-room culture that helps young players settle and shine. The captain’s small gestures, including urging the youngster to celebrate with fans after winning a penalty, underline his mentorship. Dowman has impressed in pre-season and shown he can handle pressure.

Racist abuse aimed at Real Sociedad players Takefusa Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea during a match at Valencia's Mestalla stadium has led both clubs to condemn the incident. The clubs reported the abuse, caught on video, to LaLiga and called for strict disciplinary action as authorities begin investigating the case.

Newcastle United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in a pre-season friendly, struggling to create chances and extending their winless run. Standouts included Sean Longstaff's tireless display, while Fabian Schär faltered in defense. The result raises new concerns for Eddie Howe ahead of the Premier League season.

Tanzania kicked off their CHAN 2024 campaign with a commanding 2-0 win over Burkina Faso, marking their first-ever opening victory in the tournament. Goals from Abdul Sopu and Mohamed Hussein lifted the Taifa Stars, while Burkina Faso struggled to threaten. Group B now sees Tanzania take an early lead over Burundi and the Central African Republic.

Manchester United supporters saw more football-related arrests than any other club's fans in the 2024-25 season. Arrests decreased overall, but persistent issues remain, with West Ham topping banning order lists and Aston Villa facing a sharp rise in incidents.

Manchester United have signed 18-year-old Paraguayan defender Diego Leon from Cerro Porteño. Despite his age, Leon has made a mark with 33 senior appearances and four goals. His strong debut in a friendly has fans hopeful, and he will receive support as he integrates into the squad under Ruben Amorim, aiming to join the team for the US pre-season tour.

Duhan van der Merwe’s hat-trick led the British and Irish Lions to a stunning 48-0 win over the Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV in Adelaide. With eight tries on the board, the Lions showed off their attacking firepower, putting them in prime form ahead of the Test series against Australia.

Black Belt Magazine puts the spotlight on 'Enter the Fire' as its top action pick for Black Belt Movie Weekend. The film’s brutal fight choreography and free Pluto TV streaming make it a treat for action fans. This selection shows the magazine’s support for movies focused on martial arts skill.

Charles Leclerc blazed through FP2 in Melbourne, leading ahead of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. While Leclerc found impressive speed, Hamilton and Verstappen struggled for confidence and pace. A close call in the pit lane and Bearman's absence added drama, as the F1 field gears up for a tight qualifying battle.

Germany's Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko knocked out England's top duo, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, 8-4 in a shocking World Cup of Darts upset. Key checkouts from Pietreczko sealed victory, pushing Germany to the quarterfinals. Wales and the Netherlands also advanced after decisive wins.

Merab Dvalishvili held onto his UFC bantamweight title by submitting Sean O'Malley in the third round at UFC 316 in Newark. Dvalishvili's non-stop pressure, wrestling, and improved grappling left O'Malley unable to mount a comeback. Kayla Harrison took the women's bantamweight belt, and Amanda Nunes teased a return to challenge the new champion.