Africa roundup: Khune blunder condemns Kaizer Chiefs to defeat

The 33-year-old capped 91 times by South Africa kicked a short clearance to a SuperSport player, who set up Bradley Grobler to put the hosts ahead just before half-time.

It was the second straight league match in which a Khune howler gifted a goal to opponents -- his error last week was less expensive as Chiefs came from two goals behind to draw with Black Leopards.

Here, AFP Sport rounds up news from Africa.

South Africa

Chiefs' loss left them languishing in 12th place, 11 points behind pacesetters and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, after seven rounds of the richest African national championship.

Recently hired coach Gavin Hunt has refused to criticise Khune or two underperforming high-profile forwards, Zimbabwean Khama Billiat and Zambian Lazarous Kambole.

"We will go back and start again, look at the situation and go from there," said Hunt.

DR Congo

Vastly experienced Democratic Republic of Congo coach Florent Ibenge has been put in charge of the national team for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon from January 16.

DR Congo are the only country to have twice won the unique international competition, which is restricted to footballers playing in their country of birth.

Ibenge led the Congolese to the second title, in 2016, and next month they will face neighbours Congo Brazzaville, former champions Libya and Niger in Group B.

Somalia

The presidents of the Somali Football Federation and Mogadishu club Horseed have formally protested to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over an alleged racist incident in Cairo on December 6.

They say it occurred during the second leg of a CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round tie between Horseed and Libyan opponents Al Ittihad, but did not disclose details.

Horseed hosted the match in Egypt because of the security situation in Somalia, and lost the second leg 3-0 to be eliminated 7-1 on aggregate.

The 2020 CAF Super Cup match between Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt and Confederation Cup title-holders Renaissance Berkane of Morocco will only be played next year in Qatar.

CAF recently announced that Cairo would host the annual match, but Berkane objected, saying it should be played at a neutral venue, and the African body has done a u-turn.

Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts, staged the last two editions of the Super Cup with CAF officials justifying playing an African match in Asia by claiming it "broadens the appeal of the Super Cup".

Sudan coach Hubert Velud has been fined $10,000 (8,200 euros) after an incident at a recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Ghana which resulted in him being pushed to the ground by an assistant referee.

Angry after Sudanese penalty appeals were rejected, the French coach sprinted on to the field and protested, only to be shoved by the match official.

Velud, 61, was hired by Sudan this year having previously managed Togo and clubs in Algeria, DR Congo, Morocco and Tunisia.

Cameroon

CAF hope African Nations Championship matches in Cameroon between January 16 and February 7 can be watched by crowds equalling 25 percent of the stadium capacity.

Fixtures are scheduled for Atlantic city Douala (two), nearby Limbe and the capital, Yaounde, with capacities ranging between 50,000 and 20,000.

DR Congo (2009, 2016), Tunisia (2011), Libya (2014) and Morocco (2018) have won previous editions of the competition, with all the tournaments except the first featuring 16 nations.

Algeria

Buffles Borgou of Benin have successfully appealed against being disqualified from the Champions League after failing to arrive in Algeria for a preliminary round second leg with Mouloudia Alger.

Buffles said they were unable to secure a connecting flight to Algiers, but Mouloudia countered by stating that two airlines travel to the Algerian capital during the coronavirus pandemic.

CAF backed Buffles and ordered the match to be played at the ground of Mouloudia, or in Morocco if it is not possible for the west African club to reach Algeria.