Planet Sport Football Africa

This week we look ahead to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and hear from the coaches of two previous winner of the competition – South Africa and Zambia. We ask if Algeria can hold their nerve and win the tournament, and we speak to Zambia international Jacob Mulenga on how he has coped with the disappointment of long-term injury.

This week we focus on the issue of players changing nationality – as many national associations are on the lookout for players who are eligible to switch allegiance and play for them, we ask if it's fair, and if it's unpatriotic. And we take a look at Cameroon's chances at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

This week we look ahead to the new year in football, which includes the Africa Cup of Nations, the Women's World Cup, the Under-20 World Cup and the Under-17 World Cup. Also we look back at 2014 and hear from fans in Malawi on their highs and lows.

We review African football over the past twelve months including the performance of teams at the World Cup in Brazil and presenter Solomon Ashoms recalls a personal highlight from the World Cup in Rio, visiting the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking the city.

This week we take a look youth football in Africa and ask if the continent is serious enough in youth football. Nigeria have won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup four times, Ghana have won it twice, and have also won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, showing that there is great talent in Africa at youth level, but youth coaches of many African countries feel that they are not getting the support that they need. We hear from youth coaches in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Namibia.

This week we take a look at the 2014 Fifa Club World Cup, which and is currently taking place in Morocco. We look at the history of the tournament and we ask what the purpose of the competition is exactly. Also we assess Africa's chances and ask if anyone can beat Real Madrid.

This week we ask who is the best African player of 2014 and look at Yacine Brahimi of Algeria, Asamoah Gyan of Ghana and Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang. Also we speak to South Africa women's team striker Portia Modise, who reached the milestone of 100 international goals this year, and we ask whether former Chelsea boss Avram Grant will be successful in his new job as Ghana coach.

This week we take a look at lower division football around Africa. The Gambia's most popular tournament is in progress, the Zonals, which have massive community participation and huge crowds. We'll compare this with the popularity of other lower leagues around Africa and hear from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Cameroon and the UK on how popular lower league football is in those countries.

This week we look back at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as holders Nigeria missed out after a 2-2 draw with South Africa, and seven-time champions Egypt also failed to qualify. There was better news for Cameroon after missing out on the past 2 editions, and we hear that fans in Cameroon are happy that the tournament has been moved to neighbouring Equatorial Guinea. And in the EPL we look at the fallout between fans and players at Tottenham, with Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor involved in the storm.

This week we look ahead to the final two rounds of games in qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, and we hear from Ivory Coast, where fans are wondering why their team is struggling in their campaign. Also, we look at the contingent of African players at English club Stoke City, including Victor Moses and Mame Biriam Diouf.

This week we ask what makes a good role model, as we look at the complicated private life of the late South Africa captain Senzo Meyiwa. Meyiwa made a lot of people proud and was a role model to many, but was involved in scandals in his private life. Is it important, and what makes a footballer to be a good role model?

This week we focus on Ivory Coast great Dider Drogba, who has made his Chelsea comeback a successful one with three goals in three different competitions in the space of a week. Drogba is now 36 years old, how great a legend is he?And we talk about the tragic death of South Africa captain Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot by burglars in Johannesburg.

This week we talk about women's football, as the 2014 African Women's Championship ends this weekend in Namibia. It's the most prestigious prize for women on the continent, but there have been small crowds for most of the games, so we ask what can be done to boost the popularity of women's football in Africa, and we look at the situation for the women's game in Europe and the USA.

This week we look back at the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations played over the past week, and we hear from angry fans in Malawi. We have an interview with Kenya star Victor Wanyama and find out more about his club, Southampton.

This week we look ahead to this weekend's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde are among the teams who are off to great starts, while Nigeria desperately need points as they face Sudan. And with the EPL taking a break this weekend we catch up with how the African stars are performing so far in the world's most popular league, with Yaya Toure having finally hit form.

This week we focus on Cameroon, who are one of Africa's all-time footballing giants but have become a disappointing side. After an impressive start to their 2015 Nations Cup qualifying campaign are better times ahead? Also we have an interview with Nigeria's Sone Aluko, who tells us what it's like to be back in the Super Eagles squad and gives his views on the shock home defeat to Congo. And our European football expert Stuart Weir tells us about Aluko's club, Hull City.

This week we analyse Caf's decision to award forthcoming editions of the Nations Cup to Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Guinea. We have the second part of our interview with Nigeria and Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, and with players such as Demba Ba and Majid Waris having moved to Turkey, we ask what the Turkish league has to offer.

This week we look ahead to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, with two teams from DR Congo in the last four. We analyse the state of the Ivory Coast national team, following their humiliating 4-1 defeat to Cameroon in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, and Nigeria and Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi speaks about his faith.

This week, we focus on the opening games in the group qualifying stage for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, with Cameroon and Senegal among the teams that have impressed. Also we look at some more of the transfers involving African players in Europe, including Alex Song's move to West Ham.

SUMMARY: This week, with the start of the group qualifying stage for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations we take a look at how things might go for the 28 teams involved. And with the transfer window having closed in Europe we look at some of the moves involving African players, including Salomon Kalou, and Samuel Eto'o.