AFCON
AFCON 2019:EGYPT PIN HOPES ON SALAH
BY DAN PLAMER
Egypt are hoping that star striker Mohamed Salah will guide them to Africa Cup of Nations glory on home soil with this year’s tournament kicking off later this evening.
The Liverpool striker, regarded as one of the world’s best players and hero-worshiped throughout Egypt, goes into the event having won the UEFA Champions League with his club this month.
He will be expected to get the goals to help the Egyptians earn an eighth continental title and a first since 2010 with the hosts installed as the bookmakers’ favourites.
They will open the tournament in Group A against Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium.
This is the first edition of the Africa Cup of Nations to feature 24 countries with the tournament expanded from its usual 16 by organisers the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2017.
CAF also opted to host the event in June and July instead of the normal January slot, which caused conflict with clubs who did not want to release their African players during the middle of the season.
Build-up to the tournament has been chaotic with Egypt only installed as hosts in January after Cameroon lost the rights due to delays to infrastructure and security concerns.
The CAF itself is in a state of turmoil with FIFA appointing their secretary general Fatma Samoura as the head of a group which will run the continental body due to a series of corruption scandals.
This includes CAF President Ahmad facing allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct.
Egypt’s challengers include Senegal who will look to be inspired by Liverpool winger Sadio Mané and three-time winners Nigeria who return to the tournament for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2013.
Defending champions Cameroon are aiming for a sixth title while fellow west-African powerhouses Ivory Coast and Ghana can also not be counted out as they chase their third and fifth wins respectively.
Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia join Egypt in making up a strong North African contingent.
The Egyptians and Zimbabwe are joined in Group A by Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Group B features Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi with Senegal, Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania colliding in Group C.
Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa and Namibia have been placed in Group D with Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Angola in Group E.
Group F features Cameroon, Ghana, Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
The top two sides in each group and the best four third-placed teams will reach the last 16.
As well as the Cairo International Stadium, two more venues will be used in the capital − the 30 June Stadium and the Al Salam Stadium.
There are four host cities in all with Alexandria Stadium, Suez Stadium and Ismailia Stadium also staging matches.
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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