AFCON
AFCON QUALIFIERS: TUNISIA, EGYPT BATTLE TO WIN GROUP
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
The Matchday 5 of the final round qualifiers for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, to be hosted by Cameroon, kicks off this Friday with three matches in different groups and centres.
Four teams – Tunisia and Egypt, who clash this Friday in Egypt, as well as Senegal and Madagascar, who will engage their respective opponents on Saturday and Sunday – have booked their places to join Cameroon in next year’s finals, leaving 19 slots to be contested in the last two rounds of the group stage.
For the first time, 24 teams will feature in the 32nd edition of the continent’s flagship competition from June 15 to July 13 next year.
Tunisia and Egypt in Group J will go head-to-head in a classification match at the Borg El Arab Stadium, located in the Mediterranean Sea resort that shares the same name with the stadium.
The Eagles of Carthage, who have lifted the trophy only once when they hosted in 2004, need to avoid defeat to confirm their status as the group winners.
Record seven-time winners of the title, Egypt missed out of three consecutive editions but returned two years ago, and almost won the competition but Cameroon stopped their run 2-1 in the showpiece match.
In the first leg of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers, the Pharaohs were beaten by a lone goal. So they require a two-goal cushion to displace Tunisia at the top of the table.
eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) and Niger Republic, the other teams in Group J who are already eliminated, play on Sunday.
In Cameroon’s group, Morocco may qualify along with the hosts this penultimate match of the group phase. Cameroon had prevailed 1-0 in Yaounde in the first leg but the Atlas Lions will go on top of the table, in place of the Indomitable Lions, if they achieve revenge.
That outcome will leave Malawi needing to win at Comoros Islands on Saturday to stay in contending for the group’s sole ticket, Cameroon having automatically qualified for the finals.
At the moment, Malawi are three points behind Morocco and will be at home to the north Africans in their final group fixtures.
Comoros Islands, on their part, remain hopeful that Cameroon 2019 will see them feature in the finals for the first time. That will however require Morocco losing their last two group games and Malawi not having more than three additional points. Even then, Comoros Islands must triumph in their remaining two fixtures.
In Group C, eliminated South Sudan, fight for pride as they welcome Burundi, who had the edge 3-0 in the first leg. Four straight losses have left South Sudan with no point and at the foot of the table in this section.
Burundi will go on top of the table – above Gabon and current leaders Mali – if they achieve a double over the group’s whipping side.
Gabon will host Mali on Saturday with the latter a point ahead.
Friday’s fixtures…
Group B: Morocco v Cameroon (first leg Cameroon 1-0) (8pm)
Group C: South Sudan v Burundi (first leg Burundi 3-0) (2pm)
Group J: Egypt v Tunisia (first leg Tunisia 1-0) (5pm)
Saturday’s fixtures…
Group A: Equatorial Guinea v Senegal (first leg Senegal 3-0) (4pm)
Group B: Comoros Islands v Malawi (first leg Malawi 1-0) (1pm)
Group C: Gabon v Mali (first leg Mali 2-1) (4pm)
Group D: Gambia v Benin Republic (first leg Benin Republic 1-0) (5:30pm)
Group E: South Africa v Nigeria (first leg South Africa 2-0) (2pm), Seychelles v Libya (first leg Libya 5-1) (1:30pm)
Group K: Namibia v Guinea-Bissau (first leg Guinea-Bissau 1-0) (3pm)
Group L: Uganda v Cape Verde Islands (first leg Uganda 1-0) (2pm)
Sunday’s fixtures…
Group A: Madagascar v Sudan (first leg Madagascar 3-1) (12:30pm)
Group D: Togo v Algeria (first leg Algeria 1-0) (5pm)
Group F: Ethiopia v Ghana (first leg Ghana 5-0), Kenya v Sierra Leone (first leg Sierra Leone 2-1) (both 2pm)
Group G: Congo Republic v DR Congo (first leg DR Congo 3-1) (3:30pm), Liberia v Zimbabwe (first leg Zimbabwe 3-0) (5pm)
Group H: Rwanda v Central Africa Republic (first leg Central Africa Republic 2-1) (2:30pm), Guinea v Côte d’Ivoire (first leg Guinea 3-2) (6pm)
Group I: Angola v Burkina Faso (first leg Burkina Faso 3-1) (4pm), Mauritania v Botswana (first leg Mauritania 1-0) (6pm)
Group J: eSwatini v Niger Republic (first leg 0-0) (2:30pm)
Group K: Mozambique v Zambia (first leg Mozambique 1-0) (2:30pm)
Group L: Lesotho v Tanzania (first leg 1-1) (3pm)
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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