AFCON
NIGERIA V CAMEROON: FAMILIAR FOES CONTEST AFCON 2019 QUARTER FINAL TICKET
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
One of the two perennial rivals in the continent will bow out of Egypt 2019 this evening. Nigerians are hoping the victims would be the defending champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
In the quarterfinal pairings of the ongoing tournament, Nigeria versus Cameroon is the second most frequent in AFCON history, next to Ghana against Tunisia.
This is the seventh head-to-head clashes between the neighbours while Ghana and Tunisia will be going after each others jugular for the eighth time on Monday.
Cameroon won the first three of their five African titles beating Nigeria in the final on each occasion – 1984 in Abidjan, 1988 in Rabat and 2000 in Lagos.
But the most painful and unforgettable of Cameroon’s triumphs over their neighbours was right in front of 60,000 vibrant fans when Nigeria co-hosted the 22nd AFCON with Ghana
In the epic final at the National Stadium in Surulere, the Lions silenced the home crowd within the first 31 minutes with goals by Patrick M’Boma and Samuel Eto’o Fils.
But Raphael Ndukwe Chukwu, then a striker with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns got one back on the dot of 45 minutes while Austin JayJay Okocha levelled up two minutes after the restart. In the ensuing penalty shootouts that followed the deadlock, Nigeria lost 3-4 with the penalty miss of Victor Nosa Ikpeba the most agonising.
Perhaps if VAR had then been introduced and applied, that goal would have stood and Nigeria would have lifted the trophy.
Nigeria had their own pound of flesh in Senegal 1992 beating Cameroon 2-1 to win the bronze medal and also in the quarterfinal of Tunisia 2004 winning 2-1.
Both sides settled for 1-1 at the group stage before meeting in the final of Morocco 1988.
Since that year 2000 agonising episode, the Indomitable Lions have never had the upper hand over the Super Eagles.
Most recently, Nigeria walloped their rivals 4-0 on September 1, 2017 and forced 1-1 in Yaounde three days later on their way to 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
In 22 previous encounters, Cameroon have prevailed only four times, three of them most significant.
In Egypt 2019, Nigeria and Cameroon have failed to live up to their pre-tournament ratings.
The Super Eagles struggled to lone goal victories over Burundi and Guinea and then got shamed 0-2 by Madagascar to finish second in a group they were expected to dominate.
Cameroon, on their part, managed to deliver two second half goals to overcome Guinea-Bissau in their opening match. They then suffered goal drought playing goalless against Ghana and Benin Republic and ending up as runners-up in Group F.
Having not scored in their respective last match, Nigeria and Cameroon have to either rediscover their way to the net or go through the agony of penalty shootouts.
Later in the day, hosts Egypt will be challenged by South Africa, one of the third placed teams at the group stage.
Both sides have met only twice in AFCON with the Pharaohs winning both. At the group stage of South Africa 1996, Egypt did not spare their hosts and won 1-0.
By that time however, the Bafana Bafana had already qualified for the knockout stages as Group A winners having defeated Cameroon (3-0) and Angola (1-0), and would later travel all the way to win the title.
Egypt denied South Africa a successful defence of that title in Burkina Faso 1998 as they won 2-0 in the final.
In all meetings however, South Africa have the advantage over Egypt winning six and drawing one in 11 competitive and friendly clashes.
In Egypt 2019, the hosted finished the group stage unblemished. With no goal conceded and three wins out of three matches, they landed in the last 16 ahead of their final first round game; prolific striker Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan delivering.
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On the contrary, South Africa did not have a single goal attempt in defeats to Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco in Group D while they beat neighbours Namibia by their only goal of Egypt 2019.
The winners of these matches will square up in the quarterfinals.
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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