AFCON
THE BIGGEST AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS IN HISTORY: LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
When the referee blasts his whistle at 9 pm (GMT, also Nigerian time) to signal the beginning of the biggest Africa Cup of Nations in history at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt will want to avoid their national team in 1986 when they surprisingly lost 0-1 to unheralded Senegal.
This time, Egypt will be facing Zimbabwe in the opening match.
In the previous 31 editions, the hosts have often won the opening games. There are 19 of such instances while nine were drawn and five lost, including the 1986 edition by Egypt.
No home nation has lost in the 13 previous curtain raisers involving the home side. The last home side to lose an opening game was Tunisia, losing 0-2 to Mali. One of the memorable defeats of a home side in an opening match was inflicted on Senegal by Nigeria at the 1992 edition.
The Super Eagles took the lead in the first half through Samson Siasia before Senegal leveled up through a defensive error.
Stephen Keshi made amends on the dot of the clock when he fired home the winner for Nigeria.
The opening match is just one of the projected 52 matches as the competition has expanded to 24 teams instead of the 16 that characterized the preceding 12 editions in which 16 teams featured since 1996 – even though Nigeria boycotted the initial 16-format edition.
The number of participating teams has been fluctuating. At it beginning in 1957, there were three teams, all by invitation following the disqualification of the fourth team, South Africa, owing to the prevailing apartheid policy.
Qualifying series began for the 1962 edition following entries by nine countries, including Nigeria. Ethiopia and Egypt both automatically qualified as the host country and titleholders respectively. Morocco would withdraw before play began, thus leaving only six teams vying for the remaining two spots in the finals.
Tunisia eliminated Nigeria after an ill-advised walkout in the return leg in Tunis in which advantage was still in Nigeria’s favour.
Teams in the finals increased to six at the 1963 edition in Ghana.
Nigeria qualified by default after CAF disqualified the initially qualified Guinea on technical ground. Guinean referees officiated the return leg in Conakry in which the host team won 1-0 after a 2-2 draw in Lagos.
The 1968 tournament, the sixth edition heralded the standardization of format. Eight teams featured in the finals and a two-year interval in the even-numbered year was adopted which ran till that of 2012.
The eight-team format was changed to 12 at the Senegal 2012 edition. The 12 teams were divided into four groups of three. For the first time, quarterfinals were introduced as two top teams advanced.
The format changed to 16 teams at South Africa 1996. This year’s edition is the first to involve 24 teams.
They are split into six groups of four teams at the draw conducted in April. Thus, another phase, Round of 16 is introduced. Two teams from each group will advance into the Round of 16.
Four others among the best third-placed teams from the six groups will join the 12 that emerged first and second from each group.
The Round of 16 is a direct knock out stage.
OPENING MATCHES OF PREVIOUS 31 EDITIONS
1957 – Sudan 1-2 Egypt
1959 – Egypt 4 – 0 Ethiopia
1962 – Ethiopia 4 – 2 Tunisia
1963 – Ghana 1 – 1 Tunisia
1965 – Tunisia 4 -0 Ethiopia
1968 – Ethiopia 2 -1 Uganda
1970 – Sudan 3 – 0 Ethiopia
1972 – Cameroon 2 -1 Kenya
1974 – Egypt 2 -1 Uganda 1
1976 – Ethiopia 2 – 0 Uganda
1978 – Ghana 2 – 1 Zambia
1980 – Nigeria 3-1 Tanzania
1982 – Libya 2 -2 Ghana
1984- Cote d’Ivoire 3 – 0 Togo
1986 –Egypt 0 -1 Senegal
1988 –Morocco 1 – 0 DR Congo
1990 – Algeria 5 -1 Nigeria
1992 – Senegal 1-2 Nigeria
1994 – Tunisia 0 – 2 Mali
1996 – South Africa 3-0 Cameroon
1998 – Burkina Faso 0-1 Cameroon
2000 – Ghana 1 – 1 Cameroon
2000 – Nigeria 4 – 2 Tunisia
2002 – Mali 1 – 1 Liberia
2004 – Tunisia 2 – 1 Rwanda
2006 – Egypt 3 – 0 Libya
2008 – Ghana 2 – 1 Guinea
2010 – Angola 4 – 4 Mali 4
2012 – Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya
2012 – Gabon 2 – 0 Niger
2013 – South Africa 0 -0 Cape Verde 0
2015 – Equatorial Guinea 1 -1 Congo
2017 – Gabon 1 -1 Guinea Bissau
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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