Virus-struck Raja cannot visit Egypt for semi-final

JOHANNESBURG: Moroccan club Raja Casablanca said Wednesday that they cannot travel to Egypt for a CAF Champions League semi-final against Zamalek this weekend after eight of the squad tested positive for coronavirus.

“The Moroccan authorities have withdrawn the special authorisation given to the club to travel outside the country,” an official told AFP.

Raja, who lost the first leg 1-0 at home last Sunday, were due to play the return match at the Cairo International Stadium this Saturday.

Here, AFP Sport rounds up football news from Africa.

Morocco

Four of the Raja team that started against Zamalek — defender Ilias Haddad, midfielders Omar Arjoune and Mouhcine Moutouali and forward Abdelilah Hafidi — are among those who tested positive.

Moroccan media also named midfielder Abderrahim Achchakir and forwards Anas Jabroun, Ayoub Nanah and Mohamed Zrida as the affected players.

Celebrations after Raja this month became Moroccan champions for the first time in seven years have been blamed for the Covid-19 outbreak.

Ghana

Ghanaian national team goalkeeper Richard Ofori has confirmed his transfer from Maritzburg United to fellow South African Premiership club Orlando Pirates.

The 26-year-old will compete with former South Africa shot-stopper Wayne Sandilands, who is 11 years older, to be first choice.

Ofori made 85 appearances for Pietermaritzburg-based United, conceding 80 goals and keeping 29 clean sheets.

Algeria

Manchester City winger and Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez has hailed coach Djamel Belmadi for “instilling a soul into our national team”.

“A big thank you to this gentleman. He is a magician and thanks to his vision Algeria have become a force to reckon with,” said the 2016 African Footballer of the Year.

Reigning African champions Algeria beat Nigeria and drew with Mexico this month to extend their unbeaten run to 20 matches since October 2018.

South Africa

Siphiwe Tshabalala, scorer of the first goal at the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa, has joined top-flight club AmaZulu at the age of 36.

The midfielder spent 11 years at Kaizer Chiefs and one season with Turkish club Erzurumspor before returning home to join the Durban club.

Desperate to shed their perennial tag of relegation candidates, AmaZulu have signed 10 players, including Tshabalala and Zambian forward Augustine Mulenga.

Burkina Faso

Retired Burkina Faso international defender Bakary Kone says he is poised to join Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.

He recently left Russian club Arsenal Tula in the twilight of a professional career that began in 2005 and also took him to France, Spain and Turkey.

The centre-back was a pivotal figure in the rise of Burkina Faso from African also-rans to a nation ranked 11th in the continent this month.

Egypt

Club president Mortada Mansour has rewarded the Zamalek squad with a $3,200 (2,800 euros) bonus each after a 1-0 away win over Raja Casablanca of Morocco in a CAF Champions League semi-final first leg.

“Each player will receive the same amount as a bonus if they win the return match,” promised the larger-than-life official.

Mansour added that a much bigger bonus will be offered if Zamalek go on to win the elite African club competition for the first time in 18 years.