AFCON
CAF U20: NIGERIA HUNTS FOR CONTINENTAL HONOUR
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
Having settled their qualifications for this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup to be held in Poland, the Flying Eagles and three other semifinalists of the ongoing Africa U20 Championship in Niger Republic are now focused on honours in the continent.
Despite missing the last edition in Zambia, Nigeria remain the “big boys” in the competition having won the most titles (seven), as against none by the other three teams still in the race – Senegal, South Africa and Mali.
Coach Paul Aigbogun will have to calm the nerves of his charges after the Flying Eagles battled hard in their last group match to eventually pip hosts Niger Republic 1-0 and win their group.
Nigeria had started Niger 2019 on a promising style beating Burundi 2-0 but squandered other chances that would have made the fixture an unfairing pairing.
The fans at home were disappointed with a barren result in the next match against perennial foes South Africa before the host team Niger almost caused the Flying Eagles’ exit in the last group fixture.
Mali, who will try to stop Nigeria from reaching the final, lost their opening group fixture to Senegal, the most promising team of Niger 2019, They however recovered quickly to beat both Burkina Faso and Ghana, one of the pre-tournament favourites, by a lone goal. Mali accounted for the exit of Ghana, the only African team to have won the FIFA U20 World Cup, from the race for Poland 2019.
The Eagles of Mali were beaten 1-4 aggregate in the final qualifying round for the 1989 FIFA U20 World Cup runners-up by the Flying Eagles of Nigeria.
Senegal have been so ruthless at Niger 2019. After beating Mali 2-0 on Matchday 1, the Young Lions of Teranga inflicted the same scoreline on Ghana and smashed Burkina Faso 5-1 in their group’s closing game to become the only team with a 100 percent record so far.
Senegal lost in the final of the last two editions of this competition and will be seeking to go one gear up.
Their opponents, South Africa crawled to the last four. They forced Niger Republic to 1-1 outcome in their opening match and had a barren result against Nigeria before pipping Burundi 1-0 to book their semifinal place.
South Africa’s best performance in this competition was reaching the final in 1997 and losing to hosts Morocco 1-0.
Semifinal fixtures: Nigeria v Mali (4:30pm), Senegal v South Africa (7:30pm)
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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