Banned referee Artan arrives home in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 10, 2026 – Referee Omar Artan has vowed to officiate at the 2030 World Cup after arriving home in Somalia following his ban from entering the United States.

The 34-year-old – Africa’s referee of the year in 2025 – was set to be the first Somali to referee at a World Cup finals but was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Monday despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single entry US visa.

No reason for his repatriation has been given by US immigration authorities, but Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump. sports24.club

He arrived back in Somalia on Wednesday, landing at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu where he was greeted by government officials and representatives of the Somali Football Federation, as well as fellow referees and local residents.

Artan is expected to attend a public event at Mogadishu Stadium later on Wednesday afternoon and watch a match between Heegan and Dekadaha.

“I’d like to thank the officials, ministers, MPs and everyone. I want to thank my country and people for their support. The encouragement I received here, I know I’ll get more support outside [the airport],” Artan said, translated into English by the BBC.

“Everything is pre-destined. Fifa supported me well and were in touch with me until I reached Mogadishu.

“I promise you that I’ll be officiating you in the next World Cup. Somalia, everywhere, I’m letting you know.”

Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football (Caf) men’s referee of the year in 2025, was one of 52 referees selected for the tournament.

However, his “dream” came crashing down as he attempted to travel to the on-pitch officials’ base in Florida, with Artan telling the New York Times, external he had faced an 11-hour immigration interview and was detained for several hours before be was put on a flight back to Istanbul, Turkey.

Speaking to BBC World Service, Andrew Giuliani, who leads the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said: “While I can’t go into the derog [derogatory information] on that I can tell you it was the right decision by customs and border patrol and I support that decision.”

It was not possible for Artan to stay outside the United States and referee matches played in Canada or Mexico, with all on-pitch officials based in Florida for training, preparation, and security.

Trump placed a full entry ban under any visa category for 12 countries, including Somalia, in June 2025.

Two days before the World Cup draw in December 2025, Trump drew widespread attention for comments made about Somalia in the lead up to a planned immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, which has a large Somali community.

“With Somalia, which is barely a country, you know, they have no anything,” he said.

“They just run around killing each other. There’s no structure.”

He added that Somali immigrants should “go back to where they came from” and that the US would “go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage to our country”.

On arriving home, Artan urged Somalia’s youth not to lose hope in their country in the face of his treatment, stating: “Let’s all defend Somalia’s honour. We all belong to Somalia whether it’s bad or good.

“That flag is ours and so is the passport – let’s defend it.

“The youth shouldn’t be demoralised about their country. Despite this happening to me, I’ll still stand for my nation.

“I want to continue my journey from here and urge the youth to do the same.”

Homemade hats & social media stars – Artan given ‘hero’s welcome’

Ibrahim Aden

BBC Somali

Hundreds of people gathered at the Mogadishu Airport to give a warm welcome to Omar Artan.

Some in the crowd carried banners with supportive slogans while others wore specially made hats bearing pictures of the referee, who has quickly become an icon in his homeland.

There were also social media celebrities who posed for photos with Artan and live-streamed the welcome on their platforms.

Amid the celebratory reception, there was also visible anger that the first Somali appointed as a World Cup referee had been denied entry to the United States.

For his part, Artan was very happy with the welcome he received. The determined look on his face backed up the statements he has made about continuing his career and he told friends that he is ready to start training right away.

After the press conference, he was given a grand farewell. Thousands more people are expected to greet him at the Mogadishu Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Another hero’s welcome is on the cards.

The post Banned referee Artan arrives home in Somalia appeared first on Capital Sports.

According to Unplayable, the 29-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Cape Winelands outfit, ending speculation over his future following his departure from the Buccaneers on Tuesday.

The move forms part of a player exchange between the two clubs, with midfielder Mthetheli Mthiyane heading to Orlando Pirates in a separate deal.

Also read: Kaizer Chiefs marketing boss comments on new coach announcement

Lebitso will now look to reignite his career under coach Gavin Hunt as Stellenbosch prepare for another demanding campaign in the Betway Premiership.

THABISO LEBITSO JOINS STELLENBOSCH FC AFTER ORLANDO PIRATES EXIT

The experienced wing-back arrives at Stellenbosch with plenty of top-flight experience and several major honours to his name.

Although his final season at Bucs was disrupted by injuries and limited opportunities, Lebitso leaves the Soweto giants as a domestic treble winner.

Also read: Transfer news: Kaizer Chiefs sell defender for R7 Million

He made 14 appearances across all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou before the club opted to part ways with him.

Lebitso initially joined Orlando Pirates in January 2024 during Jose Riveiro’s tenure and quickly earned the admiration of supporters through his energetic displays and commitment on the pitch.

One of the most memorable moments of his Pirates career came during his first Soweto Derby appearance. The defender announced himself in spectacular fashion by scoring a stunning long-range volley as Pirates defeated Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 in a thrilling encounter.

Despite suffering a broken collarbone and later battling knee injuries, Lebitso remained a respected figure within the squad and contributed whenever called upon.

FROM TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY TO THE PSL

Before earning his move to Orlando Pirates, Lebitso built his reputation during a successful spell at Chippa United.

The Sebokeng-born player joined the Chilli Boys in December 2019 and went on to make close to 100 appearances for the Eastern Cape club. His pace, work rate and attacking qualities made him one of the league’s most consistent performers in his position.

Operating primarily as an attacking winger during his time at Chippa, Lebitso attracted interest from several leading PSL clubs before Pirates eventually secured his signature.

His professional journey began in university football while representing Tshwane University of Technology. Strong performances for TUT opened the door to professional football and laid the foundation for a career that has now spanned several clubs and numerous memorable moments.

For Stellenbosch, the signing brings valuable experience and versatility to the squad, while Lebitso receives the opportunity for a fresh start and the regular game time he has been seeking.

With a three-year contract now secured, the former Orlando Pirates fan favourite will be hoping to make a major impact in the Western Cape and help Stellenbosch continue their rise in South African football.

Former Bafana Bafana star Siphiwe Tshabalala will forever remain a sports icon in South Africa, largely due to one particular moment in particular: the iconic goal scored against Mexico at the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa.

His thunderous left-foot strike from outside the box sent the nation into a frenzy and became a defining image of the tournament, as well as his career.

What also made the moment unforgettable was the poetic commentary from renowned broadcaster Peter Drury.

Some 16 years later, Bafana Bafana and Mexico are set to go head-to-head once again in the opening clash of the 2026 World Cup, and that iconic goal and commentary has now been revisited by popular content creators Shepmates.

The two twin brothers have exploded into global internet stardom through their uniquely energetic sports comedy and commentary re-enactments.

Instantly recognisable by their signature mullets and hyper-enthusiastic delivery, the twins have built a massive following across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube by lip-syncing and physically re-enacting iconic, high-stakes commentary moments from various sports.

Here is their version of the famous Tshabalala goal

SHABALALAH!!! 2010 opener gonna be so hard to beat ⚽️ #worldcup #2010worldcup #shabalalah #southafrica pic.twitter.com/FROYPhdlIQ

— Shepmates (@shepmates) June 10, 2026

Don’t miss the next act

As a reminder, Mexico and South Africa will kick the 2026 World Cup off at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with many predictions doing the rounds when it comes to the few surprise picks Hugo Broos could have up his selection sleeve.

Of course, these sides also played the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the first showpiece of its kind hosted on African soil.

Mexico vs South Africa kicks off on Thursday, 11 June at 21:00 (SA time). The game will be aired on DStv channels 201, 202, 203 and 235 and SABC 1.

The Ndungane twins remain one of the most unique success stories in South African rugby history, with both brothers going on to represent the Springboks at international level.

While identical twins Akona and Odwa Ndungane both enjoyed distinguished careers in the green and gold, it was Akona who finished with more Test appearances for South Africa.

Having long since hung up their boots, these days the twins are Hollywoodbets brand ambassadors.

Only Springboks

Born in Umtata on 20 February 1981, the pair attended Hudson Park High School. They remain the only two Springboks produced by the East London (now KuGompo City) school.

Akona earned 11 Test caps for the Springboks between 2006 and 2007 after making his international debut against Australia in Brisbane.

The former winger quickly established himself as a dangerous attacking threat and became a regular feature in the national squad during his brief Test career.

He is Springbok #774.

Renowned for his pace

His twin brother, Odwa, made his Springbok debut two years later in 2008 and went on to win nine Test caps between 2008 and 2011.

Like his brother, Odwa played on the wing and was renowned for his pace, finishing ability and work ethic.

He is Springbok #798.

First set of Springbok twins

Although Odwa enjoyed a longer professional career and became a fan favourite during his time with the Sharks, he fell just short of matching Akona’s Springbok tally.

However, Odwa did score more tries (two – against Australia and Wales) than Akona (one – against England) in the green and gold jersey.

The brothers made history as the first set of twins to represent the Springboks, adding a remarkable chapter to South African rugby folklore.

Both players overcame significant adversity on their journey to the top.

Raised in the Eastern Cape, the twins rose through the ranks to become professional rugby players before eventually earning the highest honour in South African rugby.

Factfile: Akona Ndungane

Full names: Akona Zilindlovu Ndungane

Date of birth: 20 February 1981

Place of birth: Umtata

School: Hudson Park High

Springbok #774

Springbok debut province: Blue Bulls

Physical: 1.85m, 89kg

Current age: 45

Test summary: Tests: 11 Tries: 1

First Test: 15 July 2006 – Right wing against Australia at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Last Test: 24 November 2007 – Reserve against Wales at Principaility Stadium, Cardiff

Factfile: Odwa Ndungane

Full names: Odwa Nzuzo Ndungane

Date of birth: 20 February 1981

Place of birth: Umtata

School: Hudson Park High

Springbok #798

Springbok debut province: Sharks

Physical: 1.84m, 95kg

Current age: 45

Test summary: Tests: 9 Tries: 2

First Test: 21 June 2008 – Right wing against Italy at Newlands, Cape Town

Last Test: 17 September 2011- Left wing against Fiji at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

Your best memory of either of the Ngungane twins?

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Le football congolais fait de nouveau appel à l’un des techniciens les plus expérimentés du continent. Claude Le Roy a été nommé sélectionneur des Diables Rouges du Congo-Brazzaville, marquant ainsi son retour à la tête de la sélection nationale plus d’une décennie après son premier passage.

À 78 ans, le technicien français s’apprête à relever un nouveau défi sur le continent africain. Le ministère des Sports de la République du Congo a officialisé sa nomination ce lundi, avec pour mission de redonner un nouvel élan à une sélection en quête de résultats sur la scène continentale.

Pour l’accompagner dans cette mission, les autorités sportives congolaises ont également désigné l’ancien international sénégalais Omar Daf comme sélectionneur adjoint. La signature officielle du contrat est attendue le 22 juin prochain à Brazzaville.

Ce retour n’est pas celui d’un inconnu. Claude Le Roy connaît parfaitement les Diables Rouges pour les avoir dirigés entre 2013 et 2015. Durant cette période, il avait conduit le Congo jusqu’aux quarts de finale de la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations 2015 en Guinée équatoriale, l’une des meilleures performances du pays dans l’histoire récente de la compétition.

Figure emblématique du football africain, Claude Le Roy a bâti sa réputation sur plusieurs bancs de sélections nationales. Du Cameroun au Sénégal, en passant par le Ghana, la RD Congo, le Togo ou encore le Congo-Brazzaville, le Français s’est imposé comme l’un des entraîneurs les plus influents du continent.

Les dirigeants congolais espèrent désormais que son expérience permettra aux Diables Rouges de retrouver leur compétitivité. La qualification à la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations 2027 figure parmi les principaux objectifs assignés au nouveau staff technique.

Après plusieurs années d’absence des grandes compétitions continentales, le Congo fait donc le choix de l’expérience pour tenter de renouer avec les succès et replacer les Diables Rouges parmi les nations qui comptent en Afrique.

The post Congo-Brazzaville : Claude Le Roy de retour sur le banc des Diables Rouges appeared first on AFRICASPORT.ORG.