AFCON
Why Bafana Cancelled First Training Session in Uyo
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will probably have their first training session in Nigeria this Friday as the cancelled an earlier on Thursday owing to fatigue.
Sports Village Square gathered from the team’s accompanying journalist, Marc Strydom, that fatigue was largely the reason.
The team had earlier been booked for the outer field of Godswill Akpabio Stadium but opted for a nearby field at their Meridien Hotel in Uyo.
The team had largely been on the road since leaving Johannesburg on Wednesday, Here is the journalist’ account:
“With the journey from Johannesburg‚ flying at 3pm on Wednesday to Lagos‚ and overnight stay there‚ then fly on Thursday to Uyo having involved several delays‚ Baxter opted for a set-play training session near the team hotel to restore his players’ freshness.
“Bafana arrived almost two hours late at their Meridien Hotel in Uyo‚ only to have delays checking into their rooms because of booking problems.
“The hotel is about a 45-minute bus ride from the match venue‚ the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“I think the journey’s been of that nature that there have been delays everywhere‚” Baxter said.
“People have been standing around‚ and on their feet for 40 minutes more than we expected all over the place.
“We had to get up earlier than expected (on Thursday morning)‚ and we were stuck in traffic. And that’s all adding up. All of that means that we got in very late.
“And after the few trainings we had in Jo’burg‚ with the great energy and enthusiasm we showed there‚ I don’t want to dampen that by taking players 45 minutes on a bus‚ then doing a light session that really is not going to affect the game.
“It’s two percent that it might. We need to do our set plays. And we can do that on a field with some goalposts closer to the hotel.
“So I decided not to put the boys on the bus for 40 minutes. Not to be the centre of attention by coaching out at the stadium‚ and thinking that’s great.
“The players need to be given a chance to have a right go at Nigeria. And that’s going to take a lot of energy.
“We’re going to go and do our set plays in private‚ do the swimming pool to recuperate‚ and we’ll have a good meeting tonight where we’ll go through our set plays again.
“I think that gives the players a good pre-match training tomorrow where we can go through our game plan.
“And then there will be a few smiling faces instead of being long faces and tired legs.”
Bafana woke up earlier than expected in Lagos on Thursday morning due to a change in scheduling of their flight to Uyo‚ then sat waiting at the hotel for busses to arrive.
They waited again for some time at the airport to board their flight. Including the waiting at OR Tambo International Airport for their flight to Lagos‚ it has made for a gruelling stop-start journey that saw them arrive 24 hours later at their hotel in Uyo at just before 3pm Nigerian time”.
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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