AFCON
2019 AFCON QUALIFIERS GET TO HOME STRETCH
By Sunday, all the 24 qualifiers would have emerged. At the moment, 14 are already confirmed making some of the matches of the Match Day six mere formalities.
One of such is Friday encounter of Nigeria and Seychelles in duel that has largely turned the visiting side mere tourists. Another is the Niger versus Egypt encounter in Niamey.
The Egypt, the obvious super power of the Africa Cup of Nations have picked qualification ticket, even before getting the hosting rights in Nigeria.
Who will go to Egypt next June? There are many contenders but only 24 countries will have the privilege of playing in the TOTAL CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2019. Cafonline.com reviews last remains games before this coming sixth day.
Group A
Senegal and Madagascar meet again for a final without stakes for this last day. The Teranga Lions will hope to finish this qualifying round with a fifth win in front of their home crowd. Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly will be serious contenders for the title next June. Will this golden generation finally be crowned after many failures despite their undeniable talent? As for the Barea, this will be their last major test before their first appearance at an AFCON. Sudan and Equatorial Guinea, already eliminated, are back together.
Group B
Already eliminated, Malawi hosts the Atlas Lions. Hervé Renard’s Morocco qualified before this match and the Moroccan coach is counting on his team to win and ensure the FIFA ranking. The players will also have in mind the prestigious friendly match to be played in Tangier on March 26th against Argentina with a certain Lionel Messi. Cameroon, the reigning African champions, need only a point at home against the Comoros to defend their trophy in Egypt. The Indomitable Lions will not be able to count on Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik and striker Stéphane Bahoken
Group C
In Bamako, Mali should logically win against the young South Sudanese team, who have still not pocketed a single point in these qualifiers. First place in the group should remain Les Aigles’ property before competing next June in the AFCON. In Bujumbura, a fiery atmosphere for the Burundians, who are 90 minutes away from their first AFCON qualification. Gabon must absolutely win. Coach Daniel Cousin will be able to count on the return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Group D
The Mustapha Tchaker stadium in Blida will be filled to capacity to greet the Fennecs in a game with no stakes. Djamel Belmadi’s Algeria will finish first in this group unless there is an accident and the last match against Gambia will be an opportunity to shine in front of their 22,000 fans. In Cotonou, the Squirrels had to draw to eliminate Emmanuel Adebayor’s Togo. Without Stéphane Sessegnon, coach Michel Dussuyer is counting on the audience at the Stade de l’Amitié to support his team
Group E
The Super Eagles know they’ll fly to the land of the Pharaohs. In Asaba, the Nigerians will therefore play without pressure against the Seychelles. In Sfax, South Africa has its destiny in its hands and could settle for a draw against Libya to take second place in the group’s qualifying round.
Group F
Ghana hosts Kenya for first place in the group. Both teams have already qualified ahead of Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.
Group G
Anyone can still qualify even if Zimbabwe has a slight advantage over its competitors. First with 8 points, the Warriors host the Congo Red Devils, currently last in Group G. The Congolese will have to win in Harare and hope for a bad result from their neighbors in Kinshasa. The Leopards will welcome Liberia and any result other than a victory would eliminate Florent Ibenge’s men.
Group H
Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire are expected to qualify in this order. Except an accident in the Central African Republic, the Sily National will remain first in the group ahead of the Ivorian Elephants who will play against Rwanda, the last and already eliminated.
Group I
The surprising Mourabitounes will travel serenely to Ouagadougou. Already qualified, the Mauritanians will face with more than motivated Stallions. Burkina Faso must win, but above all they must count on a misstep from the Palancas Negras, who travel to Botswana, who have already been eliminated. Scenario more than improbable.
Group J
Tunisia and Egypt, the host country, have already qualified for the Total AFCON 2019. For prestige, Eagles of Carthage and Pharaohs will compete for first place at a distance in their respective matches against Eswatini and Niger.
Group K
Another open group! Although the Chipolopolos are mathematically eliminated, their match against Namibia is not without stakes. Visitors must take it with them as the Portuguese-speaking duel will take place in Bissau between Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. Woe to the loser of this game when the Djuturs could get their second qualification for a AFCON finals.
Group L
The Cape Verde Blue Sharks will have to win at home against Lesotho, who are one point clear at the start of the game. The first and already qualified Ugandan Cranes travel to Tanzania
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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