AFCON
MALI, SENEGAL BATTLE FOR FIRST EVER AFRICAN U20 TITLE
A new champion is expected to emerge this Sunday to add to the nine that had won the CAF U20 Nations Cup in the past. Nigeria with seven titles, is the most successful country followed by Egypt with four and Ghana with three titles.
Others like Cameroon, Zambia, Algeria, Morocco, Angola and Congo have each won the title once since the competition was instituted in 1979.
Both Mali and Senegal who play the final match in Niamey, Niger Republic have never won the trophy before.
Mali will take on unbeaten Senegal on Sunday in the final of the Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niamey as both side seek for their first U-20 continental glory.
The highly anticipated clash at the Stade General Seyni Kountche will be a repeat of the opening Group B match, which Senegal won 2-0 in Maradi.
Midfielders Dion Lopy and Faly Ndaw scored in the second half to secure Les Lionceaux their first victory of the championship.
Youssouph Dabo’s charges followed that up with another 2-0 victory over 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup champions Ghana to book their place at this year’s U-20s World Cup in Poland.
The confident young lions thrashed Burkina Faso 5-1 before managing a 1-0 semifinal victory over Thabo Senong’s South Africa en route to Sunday’s final.
The Aiglons of Mali despite losing to Senegal in the opening match of Group B in Maradi registered back-to- back 1-0 successes over Burkina Faso and Ghana to qualify for the semifinals.
They had to do it the hard way when facing Nigeria’s Flying Eagles in the last four in Niamey.
Mamadou Traore gave Mali the lead twelve minutes from time but Paschal Durugbor draw level for Nigeria forcing the match to extra time and penalties.
Nigeria missed two spot kicks as Mali converted four of their five kicks to sail through with a 4-3 score line.
Senegal’s coach Youssouph Dabo says the final will not be a repeat of the group encounter which his side won 2-0.
“Facing Mali will be a different match because it is a final. We have beaten them in the first game but I said it after that game that they can go far so I am not surprised to see them in the final,” he insisted.
Mali’s coach Mamoutou Kane admits his side where lucky against Nigeria in the semifinals which he said was exhausting.
“It was a very exhausting match in the head and in the belly. Luck was with us so congratulations and courage to the Nigerian coach.
“For us the goal is achieved we were the first team to have lost and we are today the first to qualify for the final.” Kane told journalist after qualifying for the final.
The two teams will be searching for their first Africa U-20 Cup of Nations triumph with Senegal finishing second in the last two editions.
They narrowly lost to Nigeria 1-0 in 2015 on home soil before going down 2-0 to Zambia in 2017.
The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of its flagship competition, with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to expand from 24 to 28 teams.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following an executive committee meeting, describing it as part of the body’s commitment to elevating African football to global standards.
Motsepe said the expansion would create more opportunities for countries across the continent while ensuring that top African players worldwide return home to compete at the highest level.
“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” he stated.
However, the CAF boss did not provide details on how the new 28-team format would be structured or when the expansion would take effect, leaving questions over qualification pathways and tournament scheduling.
Continuity for 2027, New Cycle from 2028
Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, maintaining the current 24-team format for that edition.
In a significant shift, CAF also announced that another AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will move to a four-year cycle—aligning more closely with other major international tournaments.
CAF Nations League Introduced
In addition to AFCON reforms, CAF revealed plans to introduce an African Nations League starting from 2029. The new competition will be held annually, with a 16-team final tournament staged every two years.
The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness, structure and commercial value of the African national team football.
“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said. “We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”
A New Era for African Football
The proposed changes mark one of the most ambitious restructurings of African football competitions in recent years, with CAF seeking to expand participation, enhance organisation and create a more predictable football calendar.
While details are still emerging, the decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for national teams, qualification formats and the overall growth of the game across the continent.
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The Confederation of African Football said it would implement changes and improvements to its statutes and regulations that would ensure that the farcical scenes at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final do not happen again.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the changes would strengthen trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies, but did not give concrete details.
The announcement followed a meeting of CAF’s executive committee in Cairo on Sunday and came on a tumultuous day for the organisation as its general secretary resigned.
African football’s governing body has been battling a crisis of confidence after its Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the Cup of Nations title in a decision that has been met with widespread derision.
Senegal were ruled to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after walking off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned and scored a goal in extra time to win the game 1-0.
The decision is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and if Senegal win back their title it will be a further blow to CAF’s credibility.
“CAF has taken extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices, on and off the field,” Motsepe said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is important for the respect, integrity and credibility of African referees, VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.
“CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners so that they are as good as the best in the world… CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” the CAF president added.
More precise details on the changes and how they would avoid a repeat of the Cup of Nations final controversy were not given by Motsepe, who earlier this month admitted his organisation was struggling with perceptions about its integrity.
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja
The Confederation of African Football may be considering possible disciplinary measures against Senegal following reports that the country’s national team has continued to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy despite being stripped of the title.
The development has triggered fresh debate within African football circles, with CAF understood to be treating the matter as a potential breach of its statutes and disciplinary code.
Sources close to the continental body indicate that Senegal’s actions could be interpreted as defiance of an official ruling, raising concerns about respect for regulatory authority and the precedent such conduct may set for other member associations.
CAF is believed to be weighing a range of sanctions, which could include financial penalties, formal reprimands, or restrictions on the country’s participation in certain CAF programmes and competitions.
While no final decision has been announced, insiders suggest that the governing body is keen to send a strong message on compliance and institutional discipline.
There are also indications that CAF’s disciplinary committee may be tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the continued public display of the trophy, including whether the act constitutes misconduct under its regulations.
The issue is seen as more than a symbolic dispute over silverware. Analysts argue that how CAF handles the situation will reflect its ability to enforce decisions and maintain order among its 54 member associations.
“CAF cannot afford to appear weak on matters of discipline,” a source familiar with the situation said. “If a federation openly disregards a ruling, it undermines the entire governance structure.”
CAF is expected to provide clarity on the issue during an upcoming press engagement, where its president may outline the organisation’s position and any disciplinary steps to be taken.
For Senegal, the situation presents a delicate balancing act between national pride and compliance with continental football authority. For CAF, it represents a critical test of leadership and regulatory enforcement at a time when the credibility of African football governance remains under close watch.
The coming days are likely to determine whether the matter escalates into a full disciplinary case or is resolved through diplomatic engagement behind the scenes.
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