America’s top Soccer league premieres on ESPN Africa this weekend Stellar African players take to the field
After the shortest off-season in history, the 2022 Major League Soccer (MLS) season kicks off this weekend. Set to premiere live on ESPN Africa (DStv 218, Starsat 248), America’s top Soccer league gets underway on Saturday 26 February with Philadelphia Union taking on Minnesota United at 20:00, followed by the clash between Columbus Crew and Vancouver Whitecaps at 22:30 The action continues on Sunday with Orlando City facing CF Montreal at 20:00 and Atlanta United going head to head with Sporting Kansas City at 22:00 (CAT).
This season, an exciting slate of African players will show their prowess on the field. Minnesota United beat off a number of clubs to sign promising Bafana Bafana international striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane from Maritzburg United. South African youth prospect Tsiki Ntsabeleng joins FC Dallas after being selected as the number 28 pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. Ntsabeleng signed a one-year deal with the Texan club, with further club options until 2025.
Yaw Yeboah, capped four times by the Black Stars of Ghana, has signed a three-year deal with Columbus Crew, joining from Polish team Wisla Krakow. Nigerian left winger James Igbekeme has also signed with The Crew, on loan from Spanish club Real Zaragoza. Meanwhile veteran Ghanaian fullback Harrison Afful left Columbus Crew after a seven year spell with the club, to sign a one-year deal with expansion club Charlotte FC.
Senegalese goalkeeper Clement Diop has inked a one-year deal with Inter Miami while Ghanaian striker Abu Danladi joined Minnesota United on a one-year deal from Nashville SC, his second spell with the club affectionately known as The Loons. 37 year-old striker Kei Kamara, currently fifth on MLS’s all-time scoring list, returns to MLS this year after signing a one year deal with Canadian club CF Montreal.
The competition on the field will be fierce as multiple international new signings enter the fray this season. Swiss dynamo Xherdan Shaqiri, nicknamed the “Alpine Messi”, has signed for Chicago Fire while LA Galaxy have added mercurial Brazilian winger Douglas Costa from Italian Serie-A club Juventus. Atlanta United have completed the acquisition of 20 year-old Argentinean prodigy Thiago Almada from Velez Sarsfield. Toronto FC recently announced the signing of Italian Lorenzo Insigne from Napoli who will join the club in June once the European season has concluded. Insigne, who will earn roughly $13 million-per-year, will become the highest-paid player in MLS history.
The 27th campaign of MLS will have 28 teams, with Charlotte FC making their debut as the new expansion franchise. New York City FC will enter the season as defending champions, having defeated the Portland Timbers in MLS Cup 2021. The New England Revolution will enter the season as the reigning Supporters’ Shield winners. The entire MLS 2022 regular season will play out over 225 days with the MLS Cup Final scheduled to take place on 5 November 2022, sixteen days prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place in Qatar.
For updates from the world of American and other sports, fans can connect to @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit https://www.espn.com/.
How to tune in:
ESPN: DStv 218, Starsat 248
- All times are stated in CAT / SAST.
- Schedule subject to change
Note – All broadcast dates and times are subject to change. See local listings for updates to details.
