AFCONnect
AFCONnect, a brand-new podcast hosted by David Gyasi and Guvna B, discussing all things AFCON and African football.
Each episode will feature special guests from the world of football and beyond, we’ll be celebrating the teams and players, diving into bold opinions on the games and highlighting key moments from this year’s AFCON.
AFCONnect
9 African Teams Reach the World Cup Knockouts! Tim-o-TAY Joins from the US
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode David talks to Producer Tim who is over in the US to get the latest updates and goings on on and off the pitch.
Hello, I am David Jesse, aka D G, and there's a little change today, we have Timothy!
SPEAKER_02Hello, hello David. Where is Govy Brother when you need him?
SPEAKER_00Where is Govy B when I need him? Yeah, because there wouldn't have been there wouldn't have been that gap there if Govy was here, but it it's okay. He would have answered. It's okay. I miss him already. Funny, I I don't feel I don't I don't feel like that. Um I feel fine.
SPEAKER_02Um we're just gonna make Liverpool references over and over again for the entire season.
SPEAKER_00That's what it's it's gonna it's gonna it's gonna be the Anfield rap. Um yeah so listen, you are actually tuned in to AfConnect. Uh and we are the first ever podcast that truly celebrates the football of Africa, its players, and their impact around the world. So, so Tim, we are now through the group games, and we're down to the to the round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup. 72 games, so much to talk about. Um I I know I know that you were at the England-Panama game. Yeah. Let's start there. What can you tell me about that?
SPEAKER_02You want to talk about that? Yeah. Um well, it was a wonderful atmosphere. Um I said one thing, I had a great time, but Englishman abroad, that we're it's raw, we're raucous. I mean, it it's a lot, you know. I was a little embarrassed.
SPEAKER_00I have to tell, I have to tell you something. Just just on that, I I was filming in Prague and I was walking up this amaz, I'd just been to this monastery that they, you know, they've brewed beer for the last 500 years. I was feeling so, so culturally uh full, you know, and I was just like, like, just feeling blessed to be in a job that takes me to these places, and then round the corner comes this like beer bicycle, and like about 15 Englishmen, you know, ooh, yeah, ooh, like round the corner, and I thought, uh, there we are. There we are.
SPEAKER_02So there was a lot of that all the way on the train. Um Wow. Yeah, everyone, the the the Barmy army was in full voice. I have to say, I underestimated how much I would be um affected by by watching a game for my country. I I I've never seen England at a World Cup before. Um and uh it was epic. It was really, really the atmosphere was great. It rained the entire time. Uh so everyone felt at home. So that was good. Um it was a it was a uh what's it's they're calling it New York, New York, New Jersey, but yes, it's MetLife.
SPEAKER_00MetLife, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um so MetLife Stadium just outside New York. Um, I thought it was a really good game. Like I thought I mean Panama didn't do what Garner did, which was set up making it almost impossible to break down and hit us on the counter. They came to play somewhat. They were very compact, and there was about probably 30 yards between their whole outfield team. And for the first 20, 30 minutes, we didn't seem to know quite what to do with that. Um, and then they started putting little chip balls through, and Rashford got onto them, and Saka got onto them, and um, you know, everyone I thought I thought we were good. I read the press about it this morning, and I thought it was a little negative actually. Um the BBC press was quite negative about like we'll we won't win the World Cup if we play like this, like a lot of criticism. I thought they got the job done. I tell you what, man, Jude Bellingham is a different level. He just he just is a different level of player, and you see him gliding around. He's just so strong and sees the ball. He's got that thing like Gerrard where he sees everything a little bit earlier than the other players around him. And um, I think he's the real deal. Uh, I was really impressed with him. Felt like maybe Saka um might not be fully fit. I don't know.
SPEAKER_00Um because I I'm a huge because he's managing a uh He's managing uh a tender Achilles, so they they are really managing that for him.
SPEAKER_02Um then uh we can get to um we should we should talk about the the full round of 32 because it's quite amazing, but just to you know, obviously, big game coming up uh for England. He knows obviously, yeah. Uh DR can go, so you know, we should probably get Eddie Caddy on for that one. Um but um after that assuming, and it is a bit of a big assuming, a bit presumptuous, but after that, it's kind of interesting because you would think we could beat Mech Mexico or andor Ecuador, however, it's in Mexico City, and you know that stadium is 7,200 feet up.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Uh I don't think Mexico have lost a game there in years. Um big challenge.
SPEAKER_00Anyway, but yeah, it was great that we should go on. Well, I was just like, I don't know if you did you used to play Street Fighter 2. It's like you're you're sort of going to like uh uh Zangeef's leer or something, you know, you've got to adapt to whatever you know suddenly the the they have in their home, you know. So um so it that is that is a thing. The altitude is a massive thing, and also the home the home advantage is a massive thing as well. I think I think it's interesting, isn't it? This this round of 32, obviously we have nine African nations out of ten. Um unbelievable.
SPEAKER_02I mean it's unbelievable. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It's incredible. What are the what how many European teams are through?
SPEAKER_02So 13 out of 16. 13 out of 16. So 81%, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02But but I mean, honestly, when you consider it's nine African nations through out of ten, you have to keep in mind the Cape Verde story. You know, that this is an island with a population of less than Atlanta, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02And they're through, and they are going, they are going to play Argentina. It's gonna be Virginia versus uh Messi, which is I mean, it's just unbelievable. And um, I mean, those scenes, because they stayed out on the pitch. Did you see that, David? Where they stayed out on the pitch and they waited to see if they were gonna qualify, yeah. And they did, they went through, and the scenes and the footage of that, and also in the inside the uh one of the big a big square in one of the main cities, just absolutely everyone going nuts, Thierry Henri getting Thiery, just talking about it. It was wonderful, you know.
SPEAKER_00So a lot of things, I mean, and and then and then of course there's the Congo story, you know, they they do play England as you mentioned, but I saw Visa interviewed and I found that really interesting. I found his interview fascinating. He was saying, like, exciting for us. He was saying it's exciting for us to play England, we have to be up to that and we have to be ready for that. But also, I I was I was at dinner and um and one of the guests at dinner was saying, I think for a lot of these nations, they're just happy to be there. And I thought, I'm not sure that's the case. I'm not sure if you were to speak to a Scottish player, they would say, we're just happy to be here. There's ambition. Yeah. And the the the weight of your country, the weight of history is on the back of your is on your back, is on your neck. Yeah. Um but then also like what Visa was saying is we understand that our country's at war. There's a civil war going on. So the unity and the togetherness and the strength that us playing in this tournament does is one that we don't take lightly. So that's that's what we're going up against in a World Cup. It is that level, and we said it, we covered it when we when we when we covered the AFCO. You know, for a lot of these players, uh I think it was Marne, you know, our shared favourite Liverpool player for for a while. But um, when he won the AFCON, him saying that it meant I could finally sleep. This guy's won everything there is to win domestically in English football. Um but he said when he won that competition he could finally sleep. So I think that it it means so much. And so, and I'm so thankful for a World Cup that that creates opportunity and platforms and stages for these teams and for these players to be on. I I think it's a a wonderful thing.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's the best thing about the World Cup is um is uh like when you watch it at home, but one of the best things is discovering these amazing new players and watching these like teams, you know, outpunch their predictions or like you know, punch in above their weight, as it were. Um to be here right now, what's really awesome is just just just this it's the multiculturalism of it and and um and how desperately America needs that. Like, not you know, put the American government to one side. There's lots of very nice American human beings, you know, they're everywhere and they're very nice, and they're not the government's not representing them fairly right now. And there's just so many people mixing. We were hanging out with the Panamanians, that was a super fun. Panamanias, that was that what you say? I think it is Panamanias. I like to put a pin in that page. Yeah, put a pin in that. Um but um it's you know, I'm down in um down in in in Houston in Texas today, and tomorrow is uh Brazil-Japan, and I'm like aching to go to that game. We'll see if that one pans out, but like it's just the best, one of the best things about it off the field and on the field. And to, I think for these nine African nations, having teams represent that's 90% of the teams that you said as you said earlier on, going into the last 32 is just unbelievable. So the fans get to keep dreaming, they get to keep whether they're here or not, you know, it's it's a great story. And the great story the Cape Verde one is probably the best, but they're all kind of great stories, you know. Like they're great. So please for Senegal. Can we just say, I just want to say, I'm so I am a big fan of Senegal, and they thumped that 5-0 was was was what was wonderful, you know. And um a couple of those goals were just absolute rockets, and um, you know, because they had to score a lot of goals to make it through. Um and they did. And I think no one wants to play Senegal.
SPEAKER_00Should we look at the 32?
SPEAKER_02Should we have a quick look?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's have a look at the 32. Whilst we're looking at that, whilst you're looking that up, there's something I wanted to comment on. What you you know, you were talking about about America, the beauty that's there, and uh the government not necessarily being representative of the people. Um, and I I I saw the end of the Ecuador game, and um Mrs. G actually made a point of like the thing about the South American countries is there's like you look at Brazilians and Vinicius Jr. and Alison both are like, I'm from Brazil, and you go, Yeah, you are. Uh and Ecuador, the the kind of connection and the sort of loving that was going on between their manager who's like this long blonde straight blonde-haired dude with like Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Fab Fabio.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Fabio with Casado in the team, and you're like, these are all Ecuadorians. And it did strike me, and I thought, is this the issue that that Trump has with some of these countries that you've got a level of togetherness. Uh listen, I don't know the situations in those countries, and I and we we have to be careful about speaking, but the images that I'm seeing of white, black, brown under one roof on one accord, moving forward, uh it's what I said at the beginning of this season of the podcast. Like, that's what I'm I'm looking for, those humanity, uh humanitarian stories, the things that bring out that side of connection, connectivity between one and two. There's there's like amazing scenes of players from the different teams coming together and and and praying at like the end of a game, and that like all of these moments of togetherness are like they just continually blow me away. Um, I mean, they say, you know, token and rant.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Well, they say, like, you know, when you travel, it can't help to make you a wiser human being because you just by osmosis experience different cultures, as long as you're not sitting in your Hilton eating a club sandwich. You actually go outside, you're going to be exposed to different cultures, different ways of living, different values. Just makes you wiser, makes makes you less afraid and more understanding. And I think the World Cup does that on fast forward when you're a host nation. I love it.
SPEAKER_00I think in America, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, speaking of different cultures getting out of your Hilton, let's get out of our Hilton of this and talk about the the 32. Uh 32, boy. Boy, oh boy. Are you looking at it?
SPEAKER_02Can you see it right now? It is sumptuous line.
SPEAKER_00I can see it. My word. Are there any like standouts, any games that you are looking at there?
SPEAKER_02Um well, from an African perspective.
SPEAKER_00This is Africa, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Right. So the big one is Netherlands Morocco. And a lot of people will will say that the Dutch will win that game. And they are probably favourites. I don't think any team wants Morocco.
SPEAKER_00You know. What what is what is the Dutch ranking? What is their FIFA ranking?
SPEAKER_02They came into this ranked eighth, but they've gone up a bit since it started. There's a sort of live FIFA ranking. And I think the Dutch have played as well if as any team in in the tournament thus far. They've looked very crisp, very fast, very organized in defence. They've put Van der Ven out as a right back, and it's so obviously the best position for him because of his pace, you know, getting up and down the side there. They look very, very good. But Morocco with Saibari, well, Morocco, I think.
SPEAKER_00If I if I'm if if I'm not mistaken, sorry to jump in, but I I think Morocco came in came in at seventh. I think their FIFA ranking was seventh. So that is a tight game to call if they were seven and eight at the beginning.
SPEAKER_02I I I think I think Morocco might break Dutch hearts. We'll see. We'll see what happens. But um, really amazing. Senegal against Belgium.
SPEAKER_00Hard to call that one. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I think so. I I think Senegal are gonna have a deep run. And I think it's the thing that's interesting is if, again, if you look at the bottom of that bracket, yeah. Let's say Senegal beat Belgium, that means they're going to meet the United States in all likelihood, because Bosnia and Herzegovina go over no disrespect for them, but I think they're ranked like 62nd. You would expect the US on home soil and the form they're in currently to win that game. And then I think personally, Senegal will beat Belgium and it's gonna be United States Senegal. And I again, I would I'm very glad England is not facing Senegal. I really am. I think they're really good, you know. And they had a shaky start, they were unlucky against France, although France did just sort of turn it on in the second half. But I think Senegal should have scored in that first half. They were the better team, and they showed their quality in that last game, so very interesting there. Um and then of course England-Congo, we kind of talked about that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we've got to talk about Ghana.
SPEAKER_02Come on. Ghana, Colombia, that is a tough game.
SPEAKER_00That's what I was about to that's what I was about to come to. I think um it's I I sort of would have would have favoured Portugal. Actually, I would have I would have liked us to have ended up playing Portugal. Um because from what I've seen from them, um not so impressed. But I it's knockout football, do you know what I mean? Like I'm I I think I think perhaps in the Croatia game the a lot of the whispers were that we were expected to win that. Uh and and I th I just feel like when the when we're not expected to win, and I think however far we go now mind you, if we do get past Colombia, you'd have I I don't know whether whether Ghana would be expected to beat Algeria or Switzerland. I I think they probably would. Um so I don't know. I I I would never write off Ghana. I would never write off Ghana. There's too many special players in that team. Um it's a young team. So uh I'm excited for it. Um and let's let's see. Umada. No, what what were you gonna say? Were you gonna say something like that?
SPEAKER_02Well, well, I was gonna say because you brought up you brought up the Colombia game, and you know that you thought Portugal would win that. You'd rather have had Portugal to Colombia, was that what you were saying, or you thought Portugal were gonna win that game the last game?
SPEAKER_00No, no, no, no. I thought Colombia were gonna win that game, which I think would have meant that we would have played Portugal, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Portugal, right. So there were a couple of games at the end of this whole group stage, Portugal, Colombia being one of them, which was a nil-nil, I believe. And then the other game, which received a lot of negative press, was um Algeria-Austria, because there was it they scored quickly, both teams scored a couple of goals early, and then by all accounts seemed to decide that a draw was good for everyone, and for an hour there was virtually no attacking, there was just passing back and forth. An incredible number of passes happened 93 inside the like 45 minutes after they both scored a couple of goals. No one was attacking, nobody wanted to, and then right at the end, Mares went forward and went 3-2-0, and suddenly the game was back alive again because you know it they the draw was off, you know. And so Austria came back and got another one right at the very, very end, and it ended up being being three all. But I I I heard, yeah, I I it's a kind of interesting thing with this new format is that it used to not matter who played when because you were in your group and the top two went through, and that was that, you know. But this one, yeah, it's kind of strange. There's a bit of an advantage to be playing later now because you're able to look at what's happened, who's out, who's not, and you're like, well, a draw suits me, let's just stay, you know. And it's interesting looking at the lineups here. Like, I mean, Brazil, Japan. I like there's a lot of very big games.
SPEAKER_00Um, yeah, it's just very Ivory Coast as well, Ivory Coast Norway. Uh that is a card. I don't know how to call that.
SPEAKER_02How would you call that?
SPEAKER_00Ivory Coast. Oof. I mean, I think I I picked Ivory Coast to go deep, so I'd have to stick with Ivory Coast. But yeah, Norway looked good. Um yeah, it's it's it's it's still but the it's interesting. We're in what, our second week now?
SPEAKER_02Uh third this is week three. Yeah, and we played three quarters two-thirds of the games have happened now.
SPEAKER_00So there's there's you know in an ordinary World Cup, it would sort of be starting now, wouldn't it? With 32 teams, right? Yeah, yeah. Right, exactly. But then they would play yeah, so it's yeah, it's fascinating. It's fascinating. Let's see, man. But I I I I have to admit, it's it's grown on me. Um else we've missed there. Oh, I've obviously. See Cape Verde, Argentina, you did mention them before, but yeah, I mean that is Egypt, Australia. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I mean, so wow. And we will just see. I mean, the Egypt, well, I'm glad you brought up Egypt. There's rumors as we record today, um, on the on uh what date is it today? Sunday the 28th. Um Mo Salah was reported to be injured. So I know he's not the be-all and end all of Egypt, but given how he kind of lit things up in the second game, that would obviously be a huge, a huge miss for them. Um yeah, it's very it's tantalising. And yeah, there's um yeah, there's there's basically each team is I think five games from glory at this point. Win or go home, right?
SPEAKER_00I mean it again, fascinating for us as AFCON to see how deep an African team can go, or a couple of African teams, or several. Who knows? But um yeah, we should have a lot of people.
SPEAKER_02Well, you couldn't have hoped for more you know, you couldn't have hoped for more, could you? Nine into the final thirty-two.
SPEAKER_00Nine. My dad would say Tunisia, Tunisia, you let me down. Uh that's no sh that's no shade to Tunisians. Oh, I feel you, but that I'm just saying that's what my dad would say.
SPEAKER_02Uh well look, just before we just before we wrap this up, uh we did we did we skip past one thing that I wanted to ask you. Um which was I know obviously this is Afconnect, but you are also an Englishman. And um I wondered based obviously you watch the game, but do you who would who do you think who do you think, David, that we're missing in this England squad? Is there some or you do you think too cool got it bang on, you know? Um who do you think?
SPEAKER_00Well I I think I I can't really look past Trent Alexander Arnold. I I don't I don't understand how you leave a player like that um at home. I think he is such a formidable um I just think he's he's uh an undescribable talent. Like you as a right back, what he can do, how he can deliver a free I I don't know man. I I I think that that's to unlock a game, I think I would be more comfortable if we had him in our ranks. Um other than that, I I also I also I like Harry Maguire in an England shirt. Having watched him the last few years, few tournaments, uh I don't think he's ever let us down in an England shirt. So yeah, um I think some of the questions again, and it's it's just it's just I listen, Thomas Tuchel's football knowledge, and uh I'm sure his contract is um is very different to my contracts and my football knowledge. So he knows what he's doing, but I I just feel like for some games it it will be nice to go, right? You're gonna shore that up for me, you're gonna come on and create something else for me. Uh, who do you think's missing?
SPEAKER_02I think the same person. Um, and uh, you know, uh we were all smarted when Trent left Liverpool. Um I I would have him back in a heartbeat. Um if you look at what happened to Mo Salah in his final season, there were a lot of different things going on at Liverpool last season, but a huge part of it was he wasn't getting the service he was so used to from arguably the the best passer in the premiership the season before last, you know. Um if you look at what Ghana did to uh to England, uh how disciplined they were, how organized they were, and how comfortable they were sitting deep and then and then hitting us on the counter, and very nearly winning the game, by the way, on the counter. There's arguments that they probably should have had that penalty. Um so the only way to break down a low block like that is well, there's two ways. A player who will run direct and draw them out of position and either break through, dribble through, or make a quick pass, or perfect crossing, like precision crossing out wide, and Trent is that person, like he's his accuracy. I think there's a I know a lot of people were very um confused about Cole Palmer not going. I can see why, because threading those balls through the middle, he's fully capable of doing that and scoring goals as well, but then so is so is Rogers, you know, and he's there and on form, he's the better player. And Ezra, yeah, God, I love Ezra, yeah, his quality.
SPEAKER_00Who who are you gonna take out to put either Foden or Palmer in?
SPEAKER_02Well, I I I mean I if I was if I'd had my Drothers, Trent would have been one of the right backs. That's you know, and you know, who doesn't go? Well, I I mean I think Reese James is brilliant, but he's clearly injury prone. And um, you know, I that's a good question. I don't know if we're allowed to if someone's out for the tournament, are you allowed to bring in a replacement at this point? I don't know.
SPEAKER_00I I don't think you are, and I think that's that's what that's why you have a squad, right? You go, this is my squad, is that personal. So we're sort of locked, they can cover this and whatever. And and Livramento is he is he out for the tournament, is he?
SPEAKER_02Livramento is out for the tournament, sorry. Yeah, he's out, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so it's tough. It's really tough. But yeah, I I didn't understand it. Um there's obviously I think there might be something. I don't know. I don't know. I don't I don't like to speculate, but I didn't understand it, and and hopefully, hopefully I am proved wrong. And too cool is able to say, yeah, here we are. It's hard to know.
SPEAKER_02I mean it's a very hindsight's very easy, isn't it? It's like very easy to look now, because obviously Reese James has been out. I think he's gonna be out for the next two games at least. Um, and he's a brilliant player, Reese James, there's no two ways about it. Um, but yeah, Trent's just different. He's a different, his passing is like de Bruiner level, I think. Um, so yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's the one player. Yeah, anyway. It's it's it's Beckham, De Bruiner, it's it's those levels of yeah, it's it's leaving one of those guys at home. That's it's strange. Um anyway, okay. There we go.
SPEAKER_02Great to do this update with you, my friend.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, really nice, man. And you know, look after yourself out there and all of that sort of stuff. Um it'd be good to be catching up for the next episode, of course. 100%, 100%. Um so with this being your sort of uh inaugural co-hosting, um would you do us the pleasure and uh read us out, Tim?
SPEAKER_02Certainly, certainly will, David. Yes, Affconnect is a Hatch Wednesday production. Executive producers are Governor B, David Jesse, Emma Jesse, me, Timothy Fanara, Robert Douglas, and Glenn Funnel. Music is written by Governor B. We're distributed by our friends at Buzz Sprout and also on YouTube. Your support means the world to us, so don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to AffConnect on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. See you next week. Peace.