With increasing expectations and pressure to be at the top of their game, individual sportspeople are hit the hardest when it comes to mental health issues. Is there more support now than before?



By Nick Said



Mental health in sports has become a hot topic after some high-profile incidents in recent years in which competitors at the very top of their game have taken a step back in order to safeguard their own well-being.



It begs the question, are we putting sportspeople under increasing pressure with our demands as fans over their performance, or have these issues always been there and it is simply a case of individuals being more willing to talk about, and confront, their fears?



Rugby players Michael Hooper and Sbu Nkosi, swimmer Michael Phelps, gymnast Simone Biles, and tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams, among many others, have all admitted to mental health issues in the last few years.



Their troubles are the tip of the iceberg, but instead of enduring their inner struggles, they have chosen to speak out and take a step back from their sport.



Dr Jannie Botha is a world-renowned psychologist who has worked with a number of sports teams and individuals to help them deal with the scrutiny of being in the public eye and always under pressure to perform.



He has been contracted by South African Rugby and the Blue Bulls, local soccer sides Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well golfers, and Olympic medal-winning athletes and swimmers.



“People are now more open when it comes to speaking about how they feel,” Botha tells FORBES AFRICA.



“In the past they had to simply survive in their ‘bubble’ and the environment they were in, where they were mentally not well but couldn’t do anything about it.



“They were seen as such heroes that they felt they couldn’t show emotion. A ‘cowboys don’t cry’ kind of thing. But that was the past, it has changed a lot.”



Dr Botha believes individual sportspeople are hit the hardest, often without the support around them to see them through the tough times.



In a team environment there is often a shoulder to cry on.



“There is a difference. In an individual sport, my mental capacity is my own support. In a team environment, my mental capacity is my teammates’ support,” he says.



“You can hide it much longer in a team situation and endure it for much longer with teammates around you.



“You can function much longer in a team sport because your team carries you, but for individuals, there is not that support, so it is more severe.”



Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka has been one of the most high-profile individuals to speak out in recent times, saying she struggled with constantly being in the media glare.



“I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and have had a really hard time coping with that,” she said last year.



“It was important to me to be public because I think it gives me clarity. Just saying out loud that I’ll take a break and I’ll come back when I am truly in love with the sport and I know what I want to do here; it gave me time to reset myself.”



Hooper, one of the leading stars in rugby and long time captain of the Australian national team, quit the side abruptly while on tour in Argentina last year, saying he needed a break from the sport just hours before he was due to play.



“I’ve been playing the game for a long time, had some great changes in my life and there were a lot of things running through my head showing up in Argentina, and Argentina wasn’t the place where I needed to (be to) sort these things out,” Hooper later said.



“I wanted to be around family. I wanted to be in a place where I could put the time in to those things that I needed to put in. As a younger man, I viewed asking for help as, I guess, a bit of a weakness. You want to feel like you have it all worked out and I certainly didn’t.”



Hooper returned to the side months later, but Dr Botha says the player’s feelings are typical.



“The problem is that because in a sense they believe they live in a bubble, which the media creates for them, they struggle to function in normal life. That bubble gives them a bit of security, even if it is false.”



Dr Botha adds that with players expected to perform weekly in what has turned into a 12-month season, both in individual and team sports, that pressure builds.



“The expectations (from fans) have not changed, even though the seasons have got longer,” he says. “They are playing all year round now and the public does not see that, they just want performance week after week. It has changed the dynamics completely.”



South Africa had its own recent case of a player withdrawing from the public eye when Bulls wing Sbu Nkosi went missing for three weeks, leading to such alarm that a missing person case was opened with the police.



He was eventually found at the home of his father in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province and said it had been a build-up of mental pressure over time that saw him take his leave of absence and cut himself off from the world.



“It’s just been a whole lot of mental pressure. It’s been building up for a couple of years now,” he told Sport24. “I was just trying to keep myself calm. That’s been a battle. I’m at a point where I need to prioritize the person before the rugby player.



“I just needed time. I’ve basically been curled up in a ball with my dad, and he’s been managing my mental state daily. 



“I’ve had plenty teammates and I can tell you, not everyone is okay. It’s a tough environment.” But Dr Botha does believe that sportspeople are at least receiving more support than a decade ago. “There is much more awareness, I can see that in the last 10 years,” he says. “Especially in team sports, there is much more focus on helping people in need. Most of the big teams have psychologists working for them now and that is a big positive.”

Shot of a muscular young man wearing headphones while exercising outdoors

Off-Field Battles: How Do African Sports Stars Handle Mental Health Issues

Focus is now quickly switching to the African nations taking part in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Key to Banyana Banyana’s chances is livewire goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.



By Nick Said



The recent World Cup in Qatar has been a massive boost for African football and provided a newfound respect for the game on the continent from a skeptical watching world. Morocco’s historic run to the semifinals was coupled with victory for Tunisia over France, and Cameroon against Brazil, results that stunned fans across the globe. Focus will quickly now switch to the African nations who will take part in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that will be staged in Australia and New Zealand, where South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria and Morocco will carry the hopes of the continent. 



For Banyana Banyana, it is a second successive visit to the global showpiece competition, having debuted in France in 2019, where they were placed on a steep learning curve but will have taken much from that experience into this latest edition.



They have a bit of a horror draw in the group stage though. Sweden were runners-up at the 2003 World Cup and have won bronze on three other occasions, including last time out in France.



They have also won the silver medal at the last two Olympic Games.



Italy are ranked number 17 in the world and were quarterfinalists four years ago, though perhaps Banyana midfielder Refiloe Jane, who has been based in that country for the last few years, will be able to add some insight.



Argentina are appearing at a fourth World Cup but have yet to get past the group stages, so may be the team Banyana should target. They are ranked 29 in the world, still well ahead of South Africa’s 54.



Key to Banyana’s chances is livewire goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, 30, now a veteran of the side having made her debut back in 2011.



“Our group is a very tough one, but we are also a tough team to beat,” she tells FORBES AFRICA confidently. “We are fighting for women’s football in Africa.”



Dlamini was a star as South Africa won the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, a maiden continental gold medal, and says this is a team very much on the up.



“We told ourselves we wanted to win the Afcon and we did that. We are in a good space mentally, even if we know it is going to be a tough World Cup. Those three teams have a whole lot more experience in their squad with players who play professionally day in and day out.



“We haven’t had a professional league in our country, but our mentality is in the right space and we do the extra work needed to pick up a little bit [more quality]. One thing I can promise, it is not going to be easy for anyone in the group.”



Dlamini understands that it is not just about competing for a trophy at the World Cup. Especially in Africa, it means so much more.



“We will perform to the best of our abilities because we know there is that girl child watching and saying, ‘I want to be a Banyana player one day’. We are going to the World Cup to show that child what is possible.



“We know this is true, because being at the World Cup in 2019 changed not only how aspiring soccer players saw us, but also brands. We saw sponsors come forward and want to be involved in women’s football.



“Being seen there encourages that young girl or boy from the hood to say, ‘it is possible.



If Andile has done it, then so can I. Even without the best facilities or equipment, I can do it’. We want to show those young children that football can change your life.”



Banyana will be based in Wellington in New Zealand during the pool phase and open their campaign against Sweden on July 23.



“Performing at that huge stage encourages you as a footballer,” Dlamini says. “You don’t want to disappoint those people who have always supported you. I take motivation from that.”

Women’s International Friendly: South Africa v Brazil

All Set To Goal: Africa At Women’s World Cup

Blood and bruises, sweat and fury. Mixed martial arts is gaining popularity in South Africa with home-grown talent fighting to find their place in the continent and beyond.



By Paula Slier Additional reporting by Khaka Ngcofe



For many people, cage-fighting throws up images of gladiators tearing into one another with spears and other weapons. Branded ‘the ultimate fight’, it brings together a range of martial arts.



Introduced to Africa 18 years ago by South African Brad Bloch, fondly referred to as the Godfather of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), this no-holds-barred is a full-contact combat sport. It involves much more than just stepping into a cage.



“People have different skill-sets,” says Bloch, “whether it’s kung fu, karate, boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, sunbi, or whatever. You can’t just have one skill-set in order to fight this fight”.



Dating back to the ancient Greeks, when unarmed combat was first introduced into the Olympic Games in 648 BCE, cage-fighting has always been regarded as the most extreme combat sport. It recently resurfaced in the early 2000s in the United States when an American reality television series, The Ultimate Fighter, gained huge popularity. The show featured daily preparations of fighters and their interactions with each other while they lived under the same roof. It was instrumental to the survival and expansion of the sport into mainstream.



However, for all those who support MMA, there are just as many critics who argue the sport gives fighters much more liberty than professional boxers or judoka. And that’s despite the fact that it has been scientifically proven that a cage is safer than a boxing ring.



“If you’re fighting and get taken down to the ground, the cage supports you,” points out Bloch.



“Your head drops down correctly and rolls down on the surface of the cage. Whereas if you’re in a boxing ring and your head hits the ground, it can sometimes bounce and cause great whiplash. In a cage, you also fall onto the canvas and there’s no chance you can fall outside the cage. In a boxing ring, many people have fallen out of the ring and that’s extremely unsafe.”



Today, MMA is legal in almost all countries around the globe but still some African, European and Asian countries prohibit it.



It remains a hot topic of debate.



“We introduced the sport into Africa through South Africa and had to meet certain conditions to legalize it,” explains Bloch.



“We had to have a big brother company overseas. Since then the growth has been exponential, not only on a professional, but also on an amateur level. Fighters can compete, get their provincial colors and represent their country at the world championship.”



Considered the fastest-growing sport in the world with an estimated 449 million followers, according to International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMF), the global body for MMA, there are only 19 African countries who have legalized it. They include, amongst others, Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia and Zambia.



Audiences are very diverse, often made up of women, men and families.



“I actually think the women shout louder than the men,” laughs Bloch.



“The number of female competitors is growing at a rapid rate globally and is becoming the big thing right now. Women are already referees so there’s no reason why they can’t also fight.”



South African-born Cassandra Le Roux, 25, is a case in point. A six-time undefeated South African champion, she was the All African Champion in 2018 and came third at the world championships in the same year.



A full-time MMA coach and trainer, she was a dancer for a few years before transitioning into the world of MMA.



“I fell in love with the technical side of things. It’s basically educated violence in a nutshell. Although I got into it for self-defence, it didn’t take long before I wanted to experience it as a sport.”



Bloch coached her, encouraging her from an early age to turn competitive.



“At first my mom was like ‘no’, and Brad was like ‘there’s a fight this weekend, you can join’. I was like ‘yeah, but you’re telling my mom’… Only after she saw me locked in the cage was she like ‘you can defend yourself and it makes you happy, so go for it’!” Le Roux was around 14 years old at the time – “super young”, she admits – and because there were so few girls competing, she remembers “it wasn’t a very long fight”. 


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“Most people ask me ‘did you feel that shot?’ And I’m like, ‘no, not really’. Sometimes we go in with some sort of injury and don’t feel like being there at all. But while you’re fighting, and for maybe like an hour afterwards, your adrenaline is so high, it feels like you’re on another planet. At the same time, you’re so calm.”



Le Roux trains a lot with men who she says appreciate and encourage the women fighters. But still, fewer females sign up compared to men.



“Every time you look, there are new people in the gym who want to compete or just train. Sometimes they train and then they fall in love with the sport and they end up competing. Most females start the training but use it more for self-defence than to compete.”



For Le Roux, her sights are firmly on the international stage.



“As long as my body can keep up with my mind, because my mind powers my body to be honest. I hope my body will hold out because I’ve had some injuries over the years.”



Le Roux’s mother, Deidre, has come a long way since her initial misgivings about the sport. She’s now her daughter’s greatest supporter, promoting not only her and other fighters, but also arranging fights across South Africa.



“We try and put on a fight every two months. We’ve got a lot of athletes from Africa who come and fight with us. So the caliber is really high,” she says.



“There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes – the venue, the cage, the medics, doctor, ambulance, two helicopters on standby, medals, paperwork, that kind of thing. It can take six, seven weeks to organize one event. Since Covid ended, there’s been such a response from fighters that we’re having to turn a lot of them away. We can’t have more than 20 fights at an event.”



Most of the fighters call Deidre “Mama D” for her dedication in ensuring that their weight is on track and that they fight only against people in the same weight category. “We have protocols through which we match fighters. They have to be exactly the same weight and you cannot put a development fighter who has never fought anyone before, against somebody who’s had eight fights. The safety precautions are hectic and the rules are the rules.



Before a fight, we have a briefing where all the fighters and coaches go through the rules again. We are extra careful – a fighter’s safety comes first. If a fighter doesn’t know the rules, he or she will not be allowed to fight.”


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<figure class="alignright size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="603" height="402" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MMA-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-57743" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MMA-3.png 603w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MMA-3-300x200.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 603px) 100vw, 603px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo Supplied</figcaption></figure></div>


Her soft spot is for the women and children.



“We start the babies from five years old until 17. But the five-year-olds, I just want to eat them up because they tear my heart strings apart. I would so like to see their numbers triple. MMA makes people very humble and respectful. Of course you get the odd diva here and there but they’re soon put in their place. I would encourage this sport for parents because it teaches children good values,” adds Deidre.



For founder Bloch, the dream is for cage-fighting to grow exponentially in Africa and for homegrown talent to find its place on the continent.



“I specifically mention Africa because a lot of our champions leave to go fight in America,” he says.



“Africa right now doesn’t have the facilities to train fighters properly and our standards are not high enough for them to compete at a world level. But we have the potential and I predict that soon the sport will explode in Africa.”

MMA 1

South Africa’s Fight Clubs: The Growing Market for Mixed Martial Arts

Flora Duffy, gold medallist in the women’s triathlon at the last Olympics in Tokyo, is determined to repeat the feat again next year. 



The mountains that surround Stellenbosch are a veritable paradise for sportspeople, offering the perfect challenge for both serious and recreational trainers.



And there is no shortage of takers. Any day, and throughout the daylight hours, the roads around the town heading up either the Drakenstein, Jonkershoek, Simonsberg or Stellenbosch mountains are filled with cyclists and runners.



For part of the year, among their number is Flora Duffy, gold medallist in the women’s triathlon at the last Olympics in Tokyo and determined to repeat the feat again next year.



The name of the 35-year-old might not immediately jump out at followers of South African sport and there is a good reason why.



Duffy hails from Bermuda, as far as you can get from the Cape winelands on the tip of the southern African continent. The tiny island lies some 1,000km off the US into the Atlantic and is a British overseas territory, renowned more for its pink beaches and the semi-formal knee length short pants.



She is royalty on the island; their only ever gold medallist and most famous sports person.



She ran to glory in the rain, having swum churning seas, and cycled in the wet before surging away from the field in Tokyo for a triumph that was decades in the making. Duffy has been an aspiring triathlete from before her 10th birthday and was competing at her fourth Olympics, having first gone to Beijing in 2008 at the age of 21.



She had paid her dues on the international triathlon circuit, winning the first of four world championships in 2016, and meeting fellow triathlete, South African Dan Hugo, who had success also on the world tour. The two married in 2017, and he has since become her coach and manager and hence the Stellenbosch connection.



“Stellenbosch has played a very big role in my preparations every single year. This is my 10th summer here,” Duffy tells FORBES AFRICA at her home in the quiet suburbs, where she starts her pre-season training which this year is very much focused on the defence of her Olympic title in just over 12 months’ time.



“A lot of people locally have really helped me, whether it&#8217;s to train with me or to help with a bit of coaching medically. Yeah, I have a really great team here. So when I come back in December/January, I can slot right back in and I have this community that&#8217;s very supportive.



“And yeah, there were are crucial people that have played important roles on my journey, building up towards Tokyo. So when I came back here, after Tokyo, there was some very meaningful people that I wanted to show the medal to and celebrate with,” says Duffy, engaging, affable and welcoming when FORBES AFRICA comes to visit.



The Olympic medal might have been a dream from early but Duffy admits the reaction to it – particularly on her island – was way more than she anticipated.



“I couldn&#8217;t believe how much. I planned so much about the race in Tokyo and performing my best to win. I never thought about the after and what it would mean to so many people in Bermuda, I just did not think of that all through,” he explains.



“So my world felt like it changed in an instant. And it was incredible to see the response and see how meaningful and how impactful winning Bermuda’s first-ever gold medal was to everyone back home. It was incredibly special and it felt like it was more than just this sport. And I think that&#8217;s a really powerful place to be.



“In some ways, being Olympic champion does change your life. But then I think my daily life is still the same thing. At the beginning of the season, I&#8217;m quite unfit. I turn up to training and I get hammered in the pool. And I&#8217;m like, ‘oh yeah, I am the Olympic champion but I&#8217;m also just a normal human in a way’.”



But Duffy wants to be anything but normal come July next year in Paris when she defends her gold.



“After winning in Tokyo, the start of the 2022 season was pretty tricky for me because I think for the first time I was sort of hit with, ‘well, why am I doing this? What now, I&#8217;ve achieved my biggest goal?’ And here I’m still training. So I really had to rethink it and kind of reframe why I&#8217;m still doing it.



“But then there&#8217;s this other part of me that obviously loves the Olympics, I&#8217;m still doing well, I&#8217;m still enjoying it for the most part. And being in Tokyo, everything went perfectly from a race point of view. But I didn&#8217;t have my friends, my family, my sponsors, that sort of Olympic experience, because of all the COVID protocols that were in place,” Duffy adds.



“So that&#8217;s really a big motivation, to go back to Paris and to have everyone there, almost regardless of the outcome, just to see it as sort of a celebration of my career, getting to race at the Olympics, as a defending champion in front of everybody.”

IMG_5443

From Being Bermuda’s First-Ever Olympic Triathlete Champion To Celebrating Success In A South African Wine Town

Morocco’s historic semifinal feat has paved the way for the continent to compete on the highest level and win.



By Nick Said 



The World Cup in Qatar may have been controversial for all sorts of reasons away from football, but there are few who will deny it was the greatest spectacle we have yet seen on the pitch.



There was excitement and drama aplenty, not least from Africa’s five representatives who generally all excelled, even though Morocco’s historic run to the semifinals saw them as the stand-out performers.



Never before had an African team got past the quarterfinals, and victories over Belgium, Spain and Portugal – all teams ranked in the global top 10 – captured the imagination of fans across the world.



So what does this mean for the future of the game in Africa? The continent has already received a boost with the news that they will have a guaranteed nine places – possibly 10 via the playoffs – at the expanded 48-team finals that will be staged in USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026.



“It shows the rich potential we have,” former Bafana Bafana defender David Nyathi, who played all three games for South Africa at the 1998 World Cup in France, tells FORBES AFRICA. “We have always had this potential, but have been let down by a lack of organization in the past. My sense is that teams are becoming more professional and this is closing the gap with the (traditional) major nations. 



“In terms of talent, it is there, right across Africa. It just needs to be harnessed properly and then we can achieve great things. I have no doubt.



“Morocco showed that if you play with good organization, confidence and the belief that you can win, then all things are possible. They were excellent through the World Cup.”



President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr Patrice Motsepe, says the tournament in Qatar should be a launchpad for African teams to excel on the global stage and believes there are many more with the potential to repeat Morocco’s semifinal feat… or even go one better. 



“I will never accept that an African nation cannot compete at the highest level in the world,” Motsepe says. “Morocco has opened the door and made us proud. I am confident that in the next World Cup (in 2026), an African nation will go further. 



“The main objective is for an African nation to lift the trophy. We have to believe. We have all done things in our lives that at the times appeared very difficult. But we achieved. 



“I believe there are 10 nations in Africa right now that can compete on the highest level and win. Maybe even 15. We have to encourage every single one of the 54 nations in Africa (to grow). The future of African football is extremely bright.”



But Motsepe has a rider. Football can only flourish in a country when there is support from government, as was the case in Morocco where major investment drives were made to improve facilities and develop talent. It has paid off handsomely.



“There are so many countries in Africa that do not invest (in their football). Some governments, the support is not what it should be,” he admits. “The success of Morocco is not by coincidence. Many African countries should learn from them and be inspired by their investment. 



“I want to encourage heads of state to do the same. Football gives us dignity… we don’t have the technology many western countries have; they have invested over many years. But we will get there.” Aside from Morocco’s record run, Cameroon claimed a first ever World Cup win for Africa against Brazil, Tunisia beat old foes France and Ghana pulled off an excellent win against South Korea. 



Senegal reached the last 16 for the second time as they too showed their potential. It was the first World Cup tournament where all five African competitors won at least one game.

Portugal v Morocco: Group B – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

What The World Cup Means For The Game’s Future In Africa

South Africa has produced some top talent in hockey, but it has also been held back in recent years. A lot more needs to be done but the team’s former coach, Garreth Ewing, left behind a stable ship, one where he worked hard to improve the culture within the team environment.



By Nick Said



South Africa’s 11th place finish at the recent 2023 Men&#8217;s FIH Hockey World Cup was perhaps below the ambitions of the team but should be measured against the realities the sport faces in a country where it is under-funded yet still manages to punch above its weight.



The side suffered two narrow pool stage losses to Argentina (0-1) and France (1-2) before a blow-out 2-9 defeat to Australia. That was followed by a 6-3 success against Malaysia and a 2-5 loss to India. All of those nations are positioned above South Africa in the global rankings, with three in the top seven, so the results also have to be taken in that context.



Hockey has a long and storied history in South Africa and the country has produced some top talent, but it has also been held back in recent years by a lack of funding and questionable administration that sees many players fighting between their passion for the game and the need to earn a living.



“The reality is we need to spend more time on the training ground. We are learning in competition, which is not ideal because there is no safety net,” former South Africa coach Garreth Ewing told FORBES AFRICA.



“The best-case scenario is to spend more time together playing games that are not in competition so we can build that experience base.



“For that to happen, it means more access to players, which in turn means supporting those players financially so they can spend time away from their jobs without the financial insecurity that would come with that.



“In an ideal world we would be together 10 months a year, but that is not realistic.”



Ewing stepped down suddenly in November last year, citing “an accumulation of events, interactions, conversations and situations over a span of months (which) were starting to impact on me, both personally and professionally.”



While Ewing, who led South Africa to the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games last year, did not go into specifics; it is clear that the burden of leading a national team in a highly competitive environment where resources are scarce is not an easy one.



“In many respects resigning was an act of self-care, nevertheless it was a sad decision, and something that will sit with me for a long time.”



But he left behind a stable ship, one where he worked hard to improve the culture within the team environment.



“We are always playing catch-up, that is our reality,” Ewing said. “But as a team, we (were) in a healthy position in terms of exposure of players and building experience in our core group.



“We (had) done some strong work culturally as a team as well and we are much more resilient and a more open environment for everybody,” he added.

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, Men’s – Pool B: USA v South Africa

South Africa’s Hockey History And Road Ahead

The National Basketball Association (NBA) draft is always an exciting time of the year when teams in the greatest league on earth get to refresh their squads with the best young talent available. FORBES AFRICA takes a look at the eight players who were part of this season’s draft, some of who have gone straight to their new franchises, while others will earn experience elsewhere with the long-term goal in mind. 



By Nick Said 



Africa has a deep-rooted legacy in the NBA and provided star names in the past such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Manute Bol and Luol Deng. This year, we got to see a new crop of players with ties to the continent, who have set their sights on fame and glory on the court. Here they are: 



Christian Koloko  Draft: Selected 33rd overall by the Toronto Raptors 


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Koloko became the first Cameroonian selected in the NBA draft since Toronto’s Pascal Siakam in 2016 and is the third highest drafted player from the Central African country of all time behind the latter and Joel Embiid, who was third in 2014.  Born in Douala, the 22-year-old was spotted at the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa talent scouting camp in Senegal in 2017, and was taken to the United States where he played for Birmingham High School, despite speaking no English.  The center later featured for the University of Arizona before being drafted by Toronto.  



Yannick Nzosa  Draft: Selected 54th overall by the Washington Wizards 


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1239215594.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57343" width="625" height="417" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1239215594.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1239215594-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1239215594-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px" /><figcaption> (Photo by Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Nzosa was only 18 when he was drafted by Washington Wizards, who have sent him to Spanish side Real Betis to get experience in the 2022/23 season. Soccer was his first love and he started as a goalkeeper given his tremendous height, before being spotted by the coach of a local basketball club in Kinshasa.  He attempted to go to an academy in Spain as a 13-year-old, but was denied a visa, and instead went to Stella Azzurra Roma, though he later was controversially taken to Spain by his mentor Joe Lolonga without the Italian club’s permission.   He made his debut for his new side Unicaja at the age of 16 and was an instant hit, even if injury has slowed his progress recently. 



  Ousmane Dieng  Draft: Selected 11th overall by the New York Knicks 


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1446348654.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57347" width="556" height="371" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1446348654.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1446348654-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1446348654-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 556px) 100vw, 556px" /><figcaption>(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Dieng’s family are from Senegal, though the shooting guard was born in France and has had a circular route to the NBA.  He moved to New Zealand Breakers in 2021 and competed in the National Basketball League (NBL). While there he joined the league’s Next Stars program which specifically looks to develop NBA draft prospects. It worked as he was snapped by the New York Knicks ahead of the 2022/23 season, though he was immediately traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is still only 19. 



 &nbsp;



Khalifa Diop  Draft: Selected 39th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers 


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1246319180.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57345" width="508" height="338" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1246319180.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1246319180-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1246319180-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px" /><figcaption>Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


The 20-year-old from Guereo, Senegal, is another who has been making a name in Spain, where he plays for Gran Canaria. He was drafted for the Cleveland Cavaliers but has been sent back to Gran Canaria to gain experience during the 2022/23 season. The center, who stands at an impressive 2.11 meters tall, first rose to prominence in the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) game at the NBA All-Star match in 2019.    Ochai Agbaji  Draft: Selected 14th overall by the Washington Wizards 


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<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1454282748.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57348" width="582" height="386" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1454282748.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1454282748-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1454282748-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 582px) 100vw, 582px" /><figcaption> (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Agbaji&#8217;s father, Olofu, moved from Nigeria to the United States when he was 17 in order to play basketball for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, though initially he encouraged his son to play soccer.  But when Ochai grew nine inches in a single year it became clear he had all the attributes to be a top baller and was a star for the University of Kansas.  The shooting guard was selected in the draft by the Washington Wizards, but they traded him to Utah Jazz in September before the season started. There he plays alongside fellow Nigerian Udoka Azubuike.     Mark Williams  Draft: Selected 15th overall by the Charlotte Hornets 



Center Williams was selected by Charlotte Hornets in the draft but is spending the season with their affiliate side Greensboro Swarm. He is an alumnus of Duke University and starred for them, catching the eye of a number of teams around the country. Williams’ older sister Elizabeth is a star of the Women’s NBA and his parents are both doctors who emigrated from Nigeria. 



  Moussa Diabate  Draft: Selected 43rd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers 


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1428443282.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57346" width="641" height="427" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1428443282.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1428443282-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1428443282-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 641px) 100vw, 641px" /><figcaption>(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Diabate’s parents are from Mali and Guinea, and he was snapped by Los Angeles Clippers in the draft after shining for the University of Michigan. He has been sent to affiliate club Ontario Clippers, where he will spend the 2022/23 season as he makes his way in the game. Diabate was part of the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) game at the NBA All-Star match in 2020. 



  Ismaël Kamagate  Draft: Selected 46th overall by the Detroit Pistons 



Kamagate will play the 2022/23 season with Paris Basketball having been loaned back to them by his new NBA employers Denver Nuggets.  In a snapshot of how complex things can get in the NBA, Detroit Pistons selected the 21-year-old in the draft having scouted him in the French league, where he has been a star. But they immediately traded him to Portland Trail Blazers, who then traded Kamagate again to the Denver Nuggets, who have now sent him to Paris. Born to Ivorian parents, he was named best defender in the French competition in 2022.

Basketball dribble

Tall Talent: Africa’s Basketball Stars

BY MARK GLEESON


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244513639-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57259" width="511" height="340" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244513639-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244513639-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244513639-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244513639-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244513639-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 511px) 100vw, 511px" /><figcaption>(Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Taiwo Awoniyi: The Nigerian got his dream move back to England’s Premier League with newly promoted Nottingham Forest after his previous spell as a teenager at Liverpool did not see him achieve the breakthrough he craved. Now mentally tougher after a spell in the Bundesliga with Union Berlin, Awoniyi is expected to become the lead striker in the Super Eagles line-up.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244021892-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57258" width="317" height="423" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244021892-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244021892-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244021892-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244021892-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244021892-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px" /><figcaption> (Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Calvin Bassey: Despite growing up in London, the Nigerian fullback has had to take a roundabout route in his career in a bid to try and play in the world’s richest league. He hails from a troubled neighborhood and says football was his way out, making a breakthrough first at Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers and now catching the eye at Ajax Amsterdam, putting him on course for a return to England.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243044805-1024x900.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57256" width="488" height="429" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243044805-1024x900.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243044805-300x264.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243044805-768x675.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243044805-1536x1350.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243044805-2048x1800.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px" /><figcaption>(Photo by David Horton &#8211; CameraSport via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Patson Daka: At club level, Daka is already playing among the best in the world in the Premier League but it is now with the Zambian national team that he is set to prove his ability. Zambia are in desperate need of revival and Daka is the man to lead them back to past glories as they will have qualifying for the next Africa Cup of Nations finals top of their agenda for 2023.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1379130229-761x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57261" width="376" height="506" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1379130229-761x1024.jpg 761w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1379130229-223x300.jpg 223w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1379130229-768x1033.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1379130229-1142x1536.jpg 1142w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1379130229-1522x2048.jpg 1522w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1379130229-scaled.jpg 1903w" sizes="(max-width: 376px) 100vw, 376px" /><figcaption>(Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Ibrahima Koné: The imposing center forward from Mali has already drawn comparisons with Belgium’s goalscoring ace Romelu Lukaku, given his muscular frame and strength on the ball. He has played a leading role in helping unfashionable Lorient emerge among the French league frontrunners this season and caught the eye of the bigger clubs.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1433139412-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57263" width="362" height="543" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1433139412-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1433139412-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1433139412-768x1151.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1433139412-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1433139412-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1433139412.jpg 1388w" sizes="(max-width: 362px) 100vw, 362px" /><figcaption> (Photo by Ben Gal/Orange Pictures/BSR Agency/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Mohammed Kudus: The Ghanaian has overcome serious injury to bed down a place at Ajax Amsterdam, where this season he has been successfully converted into a center forward on occasion and scored in the Champions League. His versatility marks him out for a transfer to one of the clubs in the big five European leagues as his Dutch team are famous for selling their most exciting players.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1431872453-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57262" width="385" height="513" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1431872453-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1431872453-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1431872453-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1431872453-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1431872453-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 385px) 100vw, 385px" /><figcaption> (Photo by Joris Verwijst/Orange Pictures/BSR Agency/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Reinildo: Mozambique is the country that produced African greats like Eusebio and Mario Coluna but it has been generations since they have given the game another superstar. Fullback Reinildo might just be that man, having already won France’s Ligue 1 with Lille and now chasing Champions League glory with Atletico Madrid of Spain, who bought him last season in an expensive move.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243091479-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57257" width="585" height="390" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243091479-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243091479-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243091479-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243091479-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1243091479-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px" /><figcaption>(Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Ibrahim Sangaré: There is always a market for a powerful midfield general, with a never-tiring engine, running, tackling and playing the role of enforcer in the middle of the park and it is only a matter of time before the Ivory Coast international hardman makes a move from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven to a club in either England, Spain or Germany.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1238143674-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57255" width="354" height="531" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1238143674-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1238143674-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1238143674-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1238143674-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1238143674-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1238143674-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px" /><figcaption>(Photo by Haykel Hmima/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Edmond Tapsoba: The Burkinabe defender has among the best figures in the German Bundesliga – pass rate, tackles and intercepts but also fouls committed and a harsh reputation for indiscipline. But it is his commitment that sees him often on the wrong end of the referee’s whistle, a characteristic that has ironically endeared him to the Bayer Leverkusen fans.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1348682495-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57260" width="445" height="593" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1348682495-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1348682495-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1348682495-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1348682495-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1348682495-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px" /><figcaption>(Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/BSR Agency/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Tarik Tissoudali: A horror knee injury robbed the striker of a chance to lead the attack for Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar but he is expected to bounce back in 2023 and continue his scoring form, both at club level in Belgium, and for his country. An opportunist striker, he is also expecting to be a transfer target at the end of the season.&nbsp;


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1436792831-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57264" width="627" height="418" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1436792831-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1436792831-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1436792831-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1436792831-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1436792831-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" /><figcaption> (Photo by Joris Verwijst/Orange Pictures/BSR Agency/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Abakar Sylla: The Ivorian fullback made a huge impact in the Champions League group stage from September to November as his unfashionable Belgian side Club Brugge won through to this year’s knockout stages, confounding expectations with some shock victories, and at the age of 19 he is sure to be on his way to a much more glamorous destination in mid-year.&nbsp;

Screenshot 2023-01-10 at 10.57.55

10 African Soccer Stars To Watch In 2023

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Pelé—believed by many to be the greatest soccer player ever who paved the way for the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo—died Thursday at age 82 after a long battle with colon cancer, according to his family.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



“Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever,” read a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Pele/status/1608543008332615682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1608543008332615682%7Ctwgr%5Efd4fddff8708dbf169eb4594c8c8564869c420f8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2Flive-blogs%2Fpele-death-reaction-tributes%2FMnmGaQnA58Cx%2F" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">post</a>&nbsp;Thursday afternoon from Pelé’s social media accounts announcing the sporting legend’s death.



 <a href="https://www.footballhistory.org/player/pele.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Born</a> Edson Arantes do Nascimento in 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil, he was nicknamed “Pelé,” for his mispronunciation of Bilé, his favorite goalie and father’s teammate, and not what many believed was an old Gaelic term for what the rest of the world calls football, as he wrote in an article for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/13/sport.comment9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Guardian</a>.



Though his father Joāo Ramos, known as “Dondinho,” was a soccer player, Pelé grew up in poverty as his father struggled to earn a living through the sport, yet that did not stop Pelé from practicing and eventually developing a natural talent for the game.



Under the tutelage of coach Waldemar de Brito, a former Brazilian national player, he further developed his game on the field with the Bauru Athletic Club juniors and, at 15 years old, with a push from de Brito, he would try out for Santos FC, one of Brazil’s top sports clubs, and make the team.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1450708840.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57201" width="707" height="476" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1450708840.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1450708840-300x202.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1450708840-768x518.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 707px) 100vw, 707px" /><figcaption>Pelé wears a crown and holds a scepter as Brazil are crowned champions at the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. (Photo by 4Imagens/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1387470201.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57199" width="680" height="454" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1387470201.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1387470201-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1387470201-768x514.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /><figcaption>American Archbishop of St Louis John Carberry (1904-1998) and Pele in 1973. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1450708611.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57200" width="637" height="608" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1450708611.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1450708611-300x287.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1450708611-768x734.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px" /><figcaption>Pelé is chaired off the Azteca Stadium pitch after Brazil had won the World Cup trophy for the third time after defeating Italy 4-1 on June 21, 1970 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by 4Imagens/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


He quickly led the club in scoring and was recruited for Brazil’s national team, becoming the model for the superstar soccer player as European leagues sought to recruit him.



The Brazilian cemented his legacy early in his career at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, making his debut at the age of 17 and becoming the youngest player to participate in a World Cup final, which Brazil would win—Pelé also won the 1962 and 1970 World Cups, making him the only soccer player in the world to hold three titles.



FIFA named Pelé the player of the century on Dec 11, 2000, a title that he holds alongside Argentinian star Diego Maradona.



In 2015, Forbes ranked Pelé as the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/pictures/fmfh45hik/10-pele/?sh=16984141552b">10th-highest paid retired athlete</a>from his $15 million in endorsement deals from companies such as Procter &amp; Gamble, Volkswagen and Emirates Airlines.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TRIBUTES</h2>



Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president-elect and former leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/LulaOficial/status/1608560081221881856" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wrote</a>, “Few Brazilians took the name of our country as far as he did.” Tributes across the soccer world also streamed in. “The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING,” French star Kylian Mbappé&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmw3BJNszmO/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">posted</a>&nbsp;to his Instagram on Thursday, including a 2019 picture with Pelé. Ronaldo also shared a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmw4CjNrctl/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tribute</a>&nbsp;to Pelé, writing, “A mere ‘goodbye’ to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that the entire football world is currently embracing. An inspiration to so many millions&#8230;Rest in peace King Pelé.” Messi&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/leomessi/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">posted</a>&nbsp;several photos of the late Brazilian, captioned“Rest in peace, @Pele.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



Pelé holds the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-career-goals-(football)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guinness world record</a>&nbsp;for most career goals, tallying 1,279 goals before retiring in 1977.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Pelé regularly communicated on social media about his health, posting to both&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Pele/status/1599790707580936192?cxt=HHwWgICphYXLzLMsAAAA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ClypqW3uOl1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;to give health updates and thank fans for their continued support. The soccer legend had been facing multiple health issues in recent years from an ICU visit for a tumor removal in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimberleespeakman/2021/09/06/soccer-icon-pel-recovering-in-icu-following-surgery-to-remove-tumor/?sh=19d742d746cc">2021</a>&nbsp;and was sudden hospitalized in late November due to a Covid-related respiratory infection, which was initially&nbsp;<a href="https://news.yahoo.com/pel-family-covid-caused-infection-025618014.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;to be a “reassessment of chemotherapy treatment.” The 2022 World Cup in Qatar featured&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marca.com/en/world-cup/2022/12/04/638c2a45e2704e25b88b45bb.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">various</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/world-cup/fifa-world-cup-2022-brazil-beat-south-korea-players-pay-tribute-to-pele-news-cancer-hospital/news-story/5a12601139dd70637581c3743f173282" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tributes</a>&nbsp;to Pelé and ended with Messi hoisting his first ever World Cup trophy, leading Argentina to the victory.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



Pelé is credited with popularizing soccer’s nickname,“the beautiful game,” though its provenance is in dispute, with many claiming BBC broadcaster Stuart Hall began using the phrase in 1958.



By Derek Saul and Anthony Tellez, Forbes Staff

Apple Store Soho Presents Meet The Athlete: Pele

Pelé—Soccer’s First Global Icon And Brazilian Superstar—Dies At Age 82￼

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Morocco advanced to the World Cup semifinals on Saturday, defeating Portugal 1-0 and becoming the first Arab and African country to make it to the round of four in tournament history



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri scored the lone goal of the match, heading a cross from Yahya Attiyat Allah in the 42nd minute.



Morocco, which notched another shocking win over Spain in the quarterfinals last week, held on against Portugal even as its star striker Cristiano Ronaldo entered the match just after halftime—he had been snubbed from the team’s previous two matches.



Morocco was also forced to play down one person in the final minutes of play after Walid Cheddira earned a red card in the third minute of added time, after receiving two yellow cards within minutes of each other.



Following the team’s win, fans celebrated with flags of not only Morocco, but Palestine and host country Qatar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



Portugal manager Fernando Santos&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/portugal-por/story/4829955/ronaldo-snubbed-again-portugal-bench-captain-as-difficult-world-cup-continues" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">benched</a>&nbsp;Ronaldo at the start of the match, saying, “there is no problem with our captain” and that he “had no issue with my decision.” Following the team’s dominant 6-1 win over Switzerland in the Round of Eight earlier this week, Ronaldo, the 37-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, congratulated his teammates in an Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/cristiano/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">post</a>, calling their win a “luxury exhibition of a team full of talent and youth”—although&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/portugal-por/story/4825969/portugal-coach-blasts-cristiano-ronaldo-reaction-to-substitution-i-didnt-like-it-at-all" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">video footage</a>from the match caught him appearing visibly frustrated, saying, “he’s in a rush to sub me.” Ronaldo’s replacement, 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, scored a hat trick in Portugal’s win over Switzerland.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



Defending champion France takes on rival England in the final match of the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. ET Saturday, with the winner facing Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/12/09/sigh-of-relief-argentina-survives-staggering-netherlands-comeback-to-reach-world-cup-semifinals/?sh=4d4cd16f11c9">Argentina</a>, which narrowly held on in its quarterfinals match against The Netherlands on Friday after the Dutch team forced extra time, will play&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/12/09/world-cup-shocker-croatia-knock-out-favorites-brazil-even-as-neymar-ties-peles-goal-record/?sh=b6ccb2466c12">Croatia</a>, which won its match against Brazil—a team favored to win the tournament—in the other World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday. The final between the winners of those matches is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 18.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/12/09/world-cup-shocker-croatia-knock-out-favorites-brazil-even-as-neymar-ties-peles-goal-record/?sh=b6ccb2466c12">World Cup Shocker: Croatia Knocks Out Favorite Brazil Even As Neymar Ties Pelé’s Goal Record</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/12/09/sigh-of-relief-argentina-survives-staggering-netherlands-comeback-to-reach-world-cup-semifinals/?sh=4d4cd16f11c9">Sigh Of Relief: Argentina Survives Staggering Netherlands Comeback To Reach World Cup Semifinals</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/12/07/what-to-watch-in-final-world-cup-stretch-messis-last-stand-neymar-vs-pel-moroccos-run-for-the-ages/?sh=537cdff5a4a1">What To Watch In Final World Cup Stretch: Messi’s Last Stand, Neymar Vs. Pelé, Morocco’s Run For The Ages And More</a> (Forbes)



By Brian Bushard, Forbes Staff

Morocco v Portugal: Quarter Final – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

World Cup Underdogs: Morocco Defeats Portugal, Becomes First African Or Arab Country To Advance To Semifinals

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Just a handful of games remain in the 2022 Qatar World Cup as the stakes grow higher for the eight teams still with a chance to win the world&#8217;s biggest sporting event, but there will likely be drama both on and off the scoresheet in the quarterfinals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



Messi&#8217;s last stand:&nbsp;35-year-old Argentina forward Lionel Messi—hailed as one of the greatest soccer players of all-time—has never won a World Cup, and many believe this year&#8217;s tournament will be his last real shot at capturing the coveted trophy. (Watch:&nbsp;Argentina plays the Netherlands in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Friday on Fox.)



Neymar vs. Pelé: Brazilian superstar Neymar is just one goal away from tying one of the most sacred records in Brazilian sports—Pelé&#8217;s 77 national team goals. Even greater attention has been brought to the potential milestone as Pelé, 82, has been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-health-sports-soccer-international-3495415c56919c0baeeca7e93d023163" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hospitalized</a> for over a week due to a bout with Covid-19. Doctors say his condition is improving. (Watch: Brazil plays Croatia in the quarterfinals at 10 a.m. Friday on Fox.)



Morocco&#8217;s run for the ages:&nbsp;Morocco on Tuesday stunned Spain, beating the European powerhouse in a penalty kick shootout, becoming the first Arab team to ever make it to the World Cup quarterfinals. They could make history again with a win in their match Saturday, which would make them the first African team to advance to the World Cup semifinals. (Watch:&nbsp;Morocco plays Portugal in the quarterfinals at 10 a.m. Saturday on Fox.)



Ronaldo the benchwarmer?&nbsp;A big question heading into the Morocco-Portugal match is whether Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo—whose 118 international goals are the most of any player in history—will be in his country&#8217;s starting 11. Portugal coach Fernando Santos&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/cristiano-ronaldo-starts-on-bench-for-portugal-vs-switzerland" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dropped</a>&nbsp;Ronaldo from the lineup for the round of 16 match against Switzerland after the star reacted petulantly to being substituted out of Portugal&#8217;s final group stage match against South Korea.



France goes for the repeat:&nbsp;France has looked like one of the strongest teams at the World Cup so far, and the 2018 winners are looking to make history as just the third country to ever repeat as World Cup champions, after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962). (Watch:&nbsp;France plays England in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Saturday on Fox.)



Mbappé on a tear:&nbsp;23-year-old French forward Kylian Mbappé has already scored five goals in four games, making him the heavy favorite to win the Golden Boot award as the tournament&#8217;s top scorer—and his nine goals between the 2018 and 2022 tournaments puts him level with Messi for career World Cup goals and one ahead of 37-year-old Ronaldo.



England goes for glory: England is in the midst of a golden age, with its most talented and cohesive generation of players in decades—but the group has yet to win a major trophy. England went out at the semifinal stage of the 2018 World Cup and its team agonizingly lost to Italy in penalty kicks at the final of last year&#8217;s Euros in front of home fans in London. England&#8217;s one and only major tournament win came at the 1966 World Cup, which the country hosted.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT WE DON&#8217;T KNOW</h2>



Where Ronaldo will play after Portugal&#8217;s World Cup run ends. He parted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/22/cristiano-ronaldo-will-leave-manchester-united-by-mutual-consent/?sh=ddf4942de1eb">ways with Manchester United</a>&nbsp;by &#8220;mutual consent&#8221; on November 22 after blasting the club in an interview with Piers Morgan, saying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/11/18/ronaldo-manchester-united-breakup-latest-club-takes-steps-to-respond-to-stars-explosive-interview/?sh=367dbd465401">he doesn&#8217;t &#8220;have respect&#8221;</a>&nbsp;for manager Erik ten Hag. He&#8217;s reportedly been offered a contract to play for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr that would pay him more than $200 million a year, but he&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4826679/cristiano-ronaldo-has-not-agreed-lucrative-saudi-arabia-contract-sources" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">denied</a>&nbsp;reports that he accepted the deal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Thirty-two teams arrived at the World Cup for the group stage, which started on November 20 and ended Friday. The U.S. was among the 16 teams to advance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/29/us-beats-iran-advances-to-world-cup-round-of-16/?sh=7da9768e7e54">from the group stage</a>&nbsp;to the knockout rounds, but their run ended Saturday in a 3-1&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/12/03/us-mens-team-eliminated-from-world-cup-in-3-1-loss-to-netherlands/?sh=369a1ba76c9e">loss to the Netherlands</a>. The 2022 World Cup is the first ever held in winter due to the brutally hot summers in host nation Qatar. Much of the attention heading into the event was on the host country, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/19/dont-criticize-qatar-fifa-boss-fires-back-at-detractors-in-bizarre-news-conference-a-day-before-world-cup-kicks-off/?sh=1b9ba6bb5d86">has faced widespread condemnation</a>&nbsp;for allegedly violating the human rights of thousands of migrant workers who built up Qatar&#8217;s infrastructure ahead of the event. Qatar has also been accused of bribing FIFA officials in 2010 to win hosting rights, beating out a bid from the United States.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



The 2022 World Cup Final is set for December 18 at 10 a.m. Brazil are the betting favorites to win it all heading into the quarterfinals, followed by France, Argentina, England and Portugal, according to Caesars Sportsbook.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/19/dont-criticize-qatar-fifa-boss-fires-back-at-detractors-in-bizarre-news-conference-a-day-before-world-cup-kicks-off/?sh=1b9ba6bb5d86">‘Don’t Criticize Qatar’: FIFA Boss Fires Back At Detractors In Bizarre News Conference—A Day Before World Cup Kicks Off</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/22/cristiano-ronaldo-will-leave-manchester-united-by-mutual-consent/?sh=ddf4942de1eb">Cristiano Ronaldo Will Leave Manchester United By ‘Mutual Consent’</a>(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/29/us-beats-iran-advances-to-world-cup-round-of-16/?sh=7da9768e7e54">U.S. Beats Iran—Advances To World Cup Round Of 16</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/12/03/us-mens-team-eliminated-from-world-cup-in-3-1-loss-to-netherlands/?sh=369a1ba76c9e">U.S. Men’s Team Eliminated From World Cup In 3-1 Loss To Netherlands</a> (Forbes)



By Nicholas Reimann, Forbes Staff

Paris Saint Germain v Olympique Lyonnais – Ligue 1 Uber Eats

What To Watch In Final World Cup Stretch: Messi’s Last Stand, Neymar Vs. Pelé, Morocco’s Run For The Ages And More

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



French soccer referee Stéphanie Frappart will make history Thursday when she leads the first all-female refereeing trio in a men’s World Cup match—the latest in a series of records and tournament firsts happening in Qatar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



Frappart will be joined by assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz from Mexico to officiate the match between Costa Rica and Germany on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/1597670007735218176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1597670007735218176%7Ctwgr%5E4299cada349615949e65f39d6a25e1e07141ad5d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fworld-cup-2022-germany-vs-costa-rica-to-feature-historic-all-female-refereeing-crew-175316042.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FIFA</a>&nbsp;announced this week.



During a match against Qatar last week, England’s 19-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://news.sky.com/story/england-make-winning-start-to-world-cup-campaign-in-qatar-thrashing-iran-12752494" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jude Bellingham</a>&nbsp;became the first player born in the 21st century to score a goal in a World Cup match.



The Qatar tournament also features the first set of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/fifa-world-cup-2022-qatar-inaki-williams-nico-williams-spain-ghana" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">full siblings</a>&nbsp;to compete for different teams, with Iñaki Williams representing Ghana and his younger brother, Nico Williams, making his World Cup debut for Spain. (The Williams brothers were born in Spain to a Ghanaian father and Liberian mother, and Iñaki previously played for Spain.)



Canadian coach John Herdman is the first manager in World Cup history to have led both a men&#8217;s and a women&#8217;s team at the tournaments, having previously coached the New Zealand women’s team in the 2007 and 2011 women’s World Cups.



When Qatar lost to Ecuador last week, it was the first time in World Cup history that a host team lost their opening match.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



The Qatar World Cup is the first ever held in the Middle East, and the most expensive in the tournament’s history, with Qatar spending an estimated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2022/11/19/the-money-behind-the-most-expensive-world-cup-in-history-qatar-2022-by-the-numbers/?sh=7f2bbfddbff5">$220 billion</a>&nbsp;over the past decade to prepare, including constructing seven new stadiums in which to hold matches. Because of the hot Qatari climate, the tournament is also the first to be held in winter instead of the usual summer schedule, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/soccer/news/leagues-world-cup-2022-schedule-premier-league-la-liga-serie-a-ligue-1/dryqyalwdjryz31jhpx7n494" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">disrupted club lineups</a>&nbsp;in other countries. FIFA’s decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar has drawn controversy due to the country’s human rights record, and after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/29/football/qatar-world-cup-migrant-worker-deaths-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scores of migrant workers</a>&nbsp;died while working on World Cup-related construction projects. Qatar and FIFA officials have also been accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/11/18/1137204271/qatar-world-cup-controversies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bribery and corruption</a>&nbsp;in voting to hold the tournament in the country.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2022/11/19/the-money-behind-the-most-expensive-world-cup-in-history-qatar-2022-by-the-numbers/?sh=7f2bbfddbff5">The Money Behind The Most Expensive World Cup In History: Qatar 2022 By The Numbers</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/11/30/heres-how-much-us-soccer-players-will-make-from-the-world-cup-based-on-stage-of-elimination/?sh=41ebbe0157b1">Here’s How Much U.S. Soccer Players Will Make From The World Cup Based On How Far They Go</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/29/us-beats-iran-advances-to-world-cup-round-of-16/?sh=740f18cd7e54">U.S. Beats Iran—Advances To World Cup Round Of 16</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



By Carlie Porterfield, Forbes Staff

Mexico v Poland: Group C – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

First All-Female Referee Team Planned For World Cup—Here Are The Other Records Set In Qatar

It is often said that women’s football will not develop and grow until teams are given more international fixtures to play, and Zambia’s Copper Queens are the shining example of this. One of their current stars is goal-scoring midfielder Ireen Lungu.



ZAMBIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL HAS SEEN A meteoric rise in the last 12 months, culminating in the country’s first-ever qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that will be staged in Australia and New Zealand.



The side is reaping the reward of their own hard work, but also the exposure they gained to the international stage when they managed to qualify for the Olympic Games held in Tokyo last year. It is often said that women’s football will not develop and grow until teams are given more international fixtures to play, and Zambia’s Copper Queens are the shining example of this. One of their current stars is goal-scoring midfielder Ireen



Lungu, who played every minute at the Olympics and followed that up by playing all six games as Zambia took the bronze medal at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and in doing so qualified for the World Cup.



She paints a picture of a side who were fearful to play on the international stage, but have gained confidence with every outing they have had.



“The Olympics was where it started, that experience we had, and we carried that into the WAFCON and gained even more from that tournament,” Lungu tells FORBES AFRICA.



“We came up against some great players and that took our confidence to another level again.



“But the Olympics’ experience was tough. Many of us had never played against white people before, but after the first game, where we lost 10-3 to Netherlands, that actually boosted our confidence. It sounds strange, but it did.



“We could see the level and felt that we could go higher ourselves. In every game after that we improved and that 



removed the fear we had from every player. It turned into a great tournament in terms of helping us to grow and improve.



“If I look at how we have progressed from before then, we sometimes struggled to display our best football but now we have a lot of players who have competed at the highest level.



“Everyone [back home] now wants to compete and be part of the national team, which makes for greater competition among players.”



That was not the only highlight for Zambian football. Lungu’s club Green Buffaloes recently qualified for the CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco later this year, and in doing so beat current African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who had a star-studded line-up.



It is yet more continental exposure for Zambian football.



“We were so happy to beat Mamelodi Sundowns, they are a good team with quality players compared to what our clubs have back in Zambia,” Lungu says. “That’s because in South Africa there are many sponsors [for women’s football] compared to what we have at home.



“That is starting to change, there is sponsorship coming in and now it is up to everyone to show that improvement and why corporates should invest in women’s football.”



Lungu says the changing face of the game in Zambia is pleasing, as is the multitude of opportunities offered to young girls compared to when she started out and was forced to play in boys’ teams.



Though she credits that for her rapid development.



“I started playing in 2007 when I was still in Primary School. I used to play with the boys there. There was no girls’ teams where I was staying back then so I was very used to playing with and against boys. That was my only choice,” she says.



“When there was the chance to play with girls, I actually found it very hard to do so because all I had known to that point was playing with boys. It was a big adjustment. I tried to find a better team with girls who knew how to play football. I found the standard too low.”



She also admits to the fact that, certainly 15 years ago, attitudes towards women playing the sport were not as they are today.



“It was quite tough because where we come from the parents don’t want to allow you to go and play [if you are a girl], so it was very hard for me. But I had to stand up for myself and say, ‘this is what I want and nothing will stop me from playing’.



“I am where I am today because of determination and discipline. I am also a very hard-working player.”



She will hope a positive showing at the World Cup puts her in line for a contract abroad, and with it the chance to go fully professional as a footballer.



“That’s the thing now I am pushing for now. I don’t want to be in my country anymore, I want to go and play in new leagues. That is a big ambition of mine and something I have to work extra hard towards,” she says.



“I would like to go to any country as long as there is competition, but Spain looks like a good option. I want to compete with great players so that I can improve my own level.”

Zambia v Netherlands – Tokyo 2020 Olympic Football Tournament

Now Time For Zambian Football And Its Top Female Players 

It’s FORBES AFRICA’s 11th birthday, and we have rounded up a team of 11 stellar African footballers who we believe have been the best from the African continent since 2011.



By Nick Said 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-goalkeeper">GOALKEEPER</h2>



Édouard Mendy (Senegal) The 30-year-old gloveman was a late starter and playing Ligue 2 football in France just four years ago before a meteoric rise that has seen him become arguably the best goalkeeper in the world. He has been instrumental in Senegal’s recent success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RIGHT-BACK</h2>



Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1441763055.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56879" width="277" height="415" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1441763055.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1441763055-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 277px) 100vw, 277px" /><figcaption>r. (Photo by Oliver Hardt &#8211; FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Hakimi is only 23 but has already played for Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and current club Paris St Germain, where he is a teammate of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Not many other footballers can say that. A set-piece specialist, he brings goals from the full-back position.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CENTRE-BACK</h2>



Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal) Koulibaly has recently made the switch from Napoli to Chelsea after eight years in Naples, where he was considered among the best defenders in Italy’s Serie A. The 31-year-old has been crucial in back-to-back World Cup qualifications for Senegal, as well as their recent Africa Cup of Nations triumph.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CENTRE-BACK</h2>



Medhi Benatia (Morocco) Benatia has retired but spent a decade in the Morocco national team and played for such great clubs as Roma, Juventus and Bayern Munich, though he is perhaps best known for his stay with Udinese. He won three league titles in Italy and two in Germany. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LEFT-BACK</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1217751780.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56880" width="470" height="636" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1217751780.jpg 757w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1217751780-222x300.jpg 222w" sizes="(max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px" /><figcaption>(Photo by Marco Luzzani &#8211; Inter/Inter via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Kwadwo Asamoah (Ghana) Although he can play in midfield or defence, he spent much of his career at left-back, which included over 100 appearances for Juventus and a successful spell with Inter Milan. He played more than 350 times in Serie A and won the championship on six occasions to make him one of the most decorated Ghanaian players of all time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RIGHT-MIDFIELD</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1244645926.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56881" width="570" height="380" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1244645926.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1244645926-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1244645926-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px" /><figcaption> (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt &#8211; AMA/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast) Toure was not just one of the best in Africa during his playing days, but also a global great during his time with Barcelona and Manchester City. Tall and imposing, he also had great skill and vision and could dominate games all on his own. He was part of the Ivorian Golden Generation and helped them to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015. He is a four-time African Footballer of the Year winner, a joint record number with Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CENTRAL MIDFIELD</h2>



Thomas Partey (Ghana) Partey has been a star for Ghana since 2016 having come through the ranks at Spanish LaLiga side Atletico Madrid, who he helped win the UEFA Europa League in 2018 having lost out in the final of the Champions League two years before. He is now with Arsenal and will be a huge player for Ghana at the World Cup in Qatar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LEFT MIDFIELD</h2>



Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) Mahrez usually occupies the right midfield position, but we have moved him to the left in our team. He shot to prominence at Leicester City, who he helped to win the Premier League in 2015/16 – still one of the greatest sporting stories of all time. He has since joined Manchester City and added three more league title wins, while he guided Algeria to Africa Cup of Nations success in 2019.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RIGHT FORWARD</h2>



Mo Salah (Egypt) Salah was viewed as something of a failure in his early career at Chelsea, but a loan move to Roma in Italy helped ignite his career, which went into over-drive when he joined Liverpool in 2017. He has been among the best forwards in the world since and helped the Anfield club to their first league title in 30 years, as well as the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup. Missing from his trophy cabinet is the Africa Cup of Nations after he was runner-up with Egypt in 2017 AND 2021. He has twice won African Footballer of the Year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CENTRE-FORWARD</h2>



Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba were coming to the end of their careers just as our eligibility period starts, so the centreforward role goes to Gabon’s Aubameyang, who has been a lethal forward in France, Germany, England and Spain for the last 11 years. Up to the start of the 2022/23 season, he had scored more than 300 goals in Europe and was named African Footballer of the Year in 2015.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LEFT FORWARD</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1439033300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56882" width="577" height="385" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1439033300.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1439033300-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1439033300-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 577px) 100vw, 577px" /><figcaption>(Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


Sadio Mané (Senegal) Mane is arguably the hottest property in Africa right now and at the peak of his powers, both for club and country. He Helped Senegal to the Africa Cup of Nations title in February and followed that up with a beating Salah’s Egypt for a place at the World Cup in Qatar. He took the bold step of leaving Liverpool for Bayern Munich at the start of the 2022/23 campaign but hit the ground running and has continued to bang in the goals in the Bundesliga. He is the reigning African Footballer of the Year, having also won in 2019.

Senegal Portraits – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Big-Hitters! Some Of Africa’s Best Footballers

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



The U.S. men&#8217;s team returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 this week as games begin in Qatar — here&#8217;s how much American players are set to earn (spoiler: it gets really interesting only if the team pulls off historic upsets) and how that compares with some other competing countries.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



Most of the prize money depends on where the teams finish at the World Cup: FIFA, the event organizer, will dole out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/news/fifa-president-welcomes-participants-to-team-seminar" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$440 million</a>&nbsp;to the 32 national teams, including $9 million each to the 16 teams eliminated at the group stage, $13 million to teams knocked out in the round of 16, followed by escalating amounts that culminate with $30 million to the runner-up and $42 million to the winner.



Each national soccer federation determines how to divvy up that money, but the U.S. payout is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2022/05/cba-fact-sheet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">already set by a collective-bargaining agreement</a>&nbsp;— and part of the money will go to the U.S. women’s team, even though they’re not playing in the tournament.



The 23 members of the U.S. men’s national team will receive a $10,000 stipend for every game in Qatar, while 90% of whatever FIFA bonus they earn will be distributed equally among the 46 members of the men’s and women’s teams.



That’s a guaranteed payday of $206,000 for each men’s player should the U.S. bow out after its three group stage matches and $822,000 if they win it all.



Considering oddsmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/fifa-world-cup?tab=team-futures" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">give</a>&nbsp;the U.S. the 20th-best chance at winning the World Cup out of 32 teams, expect the payout to be on the lower end of the spectrum.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. World Cup Payday Outpaces Peers&nbsp;</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th scope="col">Country</th><th scope="col">Max Player Payout</th><th scope="col">Implied Title Odds</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th scope="row">USA</th><td>$822,000</td><td>0.7%</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Denmark</th><td>$688,000</td><td>3.6%</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Australia</th><td>$680,000</td><td>0.2%</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Germany</th><td>$415,000</td><td>7.7%</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">South Korea</th><td>$390,000</td><td>0.4%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption>Odds courtesy of FanDuel SportsBook </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SOUTH KOREA</h2>



By comparison, South Korea awarded each player a roughly $15,000 bonus for making the team and will pay them about $23,000 for each win and about $8,000 for each draw, team spokesperson Jay Ahn told&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;in emailed comments. Players will also receive $76,000 bonuses for advancing past the group stage and $150,000 in bonuses for reaching the quarterfinals, for a total of about $390,000 should the Korean team miraculously win all of its matches.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GERMANY</h2>



German players will earn bonuses of about $415,000 with a World Cup championship, team spokesperson Franziska Wülle told&nbsp;Forbes, with a roughly $52,000 bonus per player should Germany make it to the round of 16.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">DENMARK</h2>



Denmark’s players earn a bonus of $124,000 for making the team and can take home as much as $688,000 should the team win it all,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spillerforeningen.dk/artikel/herrelandsholdet-donerer-25-millioner-af-deres-vm-bonus-til-bornefodbolden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to the Danish players association’s website.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AUSTRALIA</h2>



Australian players get a roster bonus of about $150,000 and split a 50% share of any further prize money, putting total potential compensation at about $680,000, according to a report in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/world-cup-qualification-set-to-net-socceroos-fa-17m-pay-day-20220614-p5atnr.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sydney Morning-Herald</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SENEGAL</h2>



Perhaps no compensation will top the unique bonus Senegalese players&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/senegal/story/4589814/afcon-senegal-players-gifted-landmoney-as-reward-for-beating-egypt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earned</a>&nbsp;for qualifying for the World Cup by winning the Africa Cup of Nations in February. Each player received a $87,000 cash prize and 700 square meters of land in the country’s capital Dakar and its suburbs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



U.S. Soccer’s unique pay structure, awarding some of the prize money from Qatar to its women’s team, comes after the yearslong high-profile labor dispute over the higher pay for the American men’s team despite the women’s team’s long history of outshining the men on the international stage. FIFA’s controversial decision to tap Qatar as the site of the 2022 World Cup a decade ago allegedly came after FIFA took bribes from the Qatari government. The decision remains highly contentious, with the disgraced former head of FIFA calling the Qatar selection a “mistake”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/11/08/qatar-is-a-mistake-ex-fifa-head-says-heres-why-the-2022-world-cup-is-mired-in-controversy/?sh=52f3bfc83b1e">last week</a>. Critics point to the country’s lack of human rights for certain groups—homosexuality is illegal and women need permission from male guardians to drive or travel abroad—though efforts to boycott the tournament did not pick up much steam. Qatar spent at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportico.com/business/finance/2022/world-cup-economics-qatar-record-spending-1234694134/#:~:text=Media%20accounts%20indicate%20Qatar%20has,the%20one%20stadium%20they%20renovated." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$220 billion</a>&nbsp;on the World Cup, making it by far the most expensive World Cup ever.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/23/revealed-migrant-worker-deaths-qatar-fifa-world-cup-2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thousands</a>&nbsp;of migrant worker deaths are linked to the massive construction undertaken for the tournament.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2022/11/14/the-2022-fifa-mens-world-cup-by-the-numbers/?sh=56e420fd2c25">The 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup: By The Numbers</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2022/11/18/the-2022-world-cups-highest-paid-players/?sh=705ca3a81d2c">The 2022 World Cup’s Highest-Paid Players</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/11/08/qatar-is-a-mistake-ex-fifa-head-says-heres-why-the-2022-world-cup-is-mired-in-controversy/?sh=52f3bfc83b1e">&#8216;Qatar Is A Mistake,&#8217; Ex-FIFA Head Says: Here&#8217;s Why The 2022 World Cup Is Mired In Controversy</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



By Derek Saul, Forbes Staff

Category: Sport

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