AFCON
AFCON 2019: CAN NIGERIA REPEAT 2013 ACT?
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
The Super Eagles appear set to repeat 2013. In the build-up to that year’s AFCON finals in South Africa, Nigerian fans had little confidence in their team, as it is in 2019.
Flashback to 2013: The Eagles missed qualifications for two episodes immediately preceding that year, while the team had experienced several overhauls prior to the tournament in the Rainbow nation.
There were also doubts in an indigenous manager as internal and external stakeholders of Nigerian football mounted pressure on Stephen Keshi and his squad.
In South Africa, Nigeria started in a not-so-assuring manner with two back-to-back draws in their group matches, conceding equaliser to Burkina Faso and Zambia in the closing moments of those seemingly easy fixtures.
Even when they triumphed over Ethiopia in the final group game, the criticism never ebb particularly as the goals came in the last 10 minutes of the encounter.
Nigeria again managed to scrape through to the quarterfinal beating the Ivorien Elephants 2-1 and then played their easiest match in the last four by putting four goals past Mali in 60 minutes with a consolation goal for the other Eagles in the 75th minute.
And so it was that the Nigerian Eagles that gave little hope at the beginning landed in the final against their first opponents in that tournament, Burkina Faso.
Nigerians recalled Algeria 1990 when their team met the same team in both their opening fixture and in the showpiece match. Then the hosts triumphed on both occasions – 5-1 in the group match and 1-0 to lift the cup.
But Keshi’s Eagles kept their nerves against the Burkinabe as Sunday Mba banged in the lone goal in the 40th minute.
Back to Egypt 2019: Nigerian fans were not impressed as their team struggled to beat debutante Burundi and Guinea by just a solitary goal in their first two games, only to be humiliated by another new comers Madagascar in the closing match of the first round.
They then surrendered an early lead to go behind their eternal rivals Cameroon in the Round of 16. But two goals within three minutes restored their lead and eventually saw to the crash of the defending champions.
South Africa were meant to be easy opposition in the quarterfinal. But the Bafana Bafana arrived that match on the heels of a heroic performance. They had just played arguably their best match ever – the lone goal defeat of hosts Egypt in the second round.
Nigeria again went ahead and, this time, kept the advantage into the second half. But they were to allow the South African level up before a closing stage rally delivered the winning strike through centre back William Troost-Ekong, his first competitive international goal.
Except in 2008 when they lost at the quarterfinal 1-2 to hosts Ghana, Nigeria have been among the top four in all AFCON editions they featured in since 1984. Champions in 1994 and 2013, runners-up in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000, they picked bronze medals in 1992 and in three straight editions between 2002 and 2006 as well as in 2010.
On their part, Algeria’s AFCON record is not so impressive. Before winning the competition on home soil in 1990, the Desert Foxes had lost in the final to Nigeria in Lagos in 1980, placed third in 1984 and 1988 and fourth at Libya 1982.
Post-1990, Algeria’s best performance was fourth in Angola 2010. They either exited in the quarterfinals or crashed out at the first round in the other nine editions they qualified for.
Egypt 2019 draw placed Algeria in Group C alongside Senegal, Kenya and Tanzania. But they beat all comers, including the topmost rated Senegal to ease into the knockout stages without conceding a goal while scoring six.
Against Guinea in the Round of 16, Algeria kept their defence well protected as they scored three unreplied goals to set up quarterfinal final clash versus Côte d’Ivoire.
Aston Villa’s striker Jonathan Kodjia would eventually breach Algeria’s defence in the 62nd minute to bring the Ivorien Elephants level. The deadlock endured to the end and also in extra time. But Algeria triumphed via penalties.
Facing a mean defence requires being clinical in front of goal, which is the task before the Super Eagles as they file out at the Cairo International Stadium tonight.
Nigeria contributed to Algeria’s failure to feature in Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles won at home 3-1 and drew the second leg 1-1. But having been found guilty of fielding suspended defender Abdullahi Shehu in that match in Constantine, Algeria were awarded the fixture 3-0.
In the last 29 years, Algeria have not beaten Nigeria on the field of play.
In AFCON history, this will be the ninth time both sides will face themselves, making it the most head-to-head clash in the competition. The statistics read 3-2-3 representing wins, draws and losses.
At this stage of the tournament however, there has been only one fixture involving both teams. And that was in Morocco 1988 when Rachid Maâtar’s goal in the 86th minute cancelled an own goal by Abdelrazak Belgharbi (36th minute) to drag the first semi-final into extra time and penalty shootouts which Nigeria won 9-8. But Cameroon, for the second time, stopped Nigeria from lifting the trophy as they won the final 1-0.
In the earlier match of the day, Senegal will strive to reach the final for the second time, while Tunisia will like to play the showpiece match for the fourth time.
Both sides were runners-up in their respective groups in the ongoing AFCON, Tunisia not even winning any match to reach the knockout rounds as the Eagles of Carthage shared honours with Angola (1-1), Mali (1-1) and Mauritania (0-0) to queue behind Mali in Group E.
Then they allowed the Black Stars of Ghana to cancel their 73rd minute advantage in the first minute of added time in the Round of 16. But they held on in extra time to eventually pull through to the last eight via 5-4 penalties.
Against the Madagascar, the revelation of Egypt 2019 in the quarterfinal, Tunisia could not break the debutante until the 52nd minute but won in the end 3-0 to set up the semifinal clash against Seneral.
The Teranga Lions went into AFCON 2019 as one of the favourites to lift the title being in fine form and as Africa’s No 1 team going by FIFA ranking. But they laboured to beat Tanzania 2-0 in their opening match and then lost 0-1 to Algeria despite their inspirational striker Sadio Mané returning from a match ban. The Lions stepped up to wallop Kenya 3-0 and qualify for the Round of 16 as runners-up behind Algeria.
Senegal again weren’t exciting as Uganda fell 0-1 in the second round, while they struck just once to stop the historic run of Benin Republic in the quarterfinal.
Runners-up in 1965 and 1996 and bronze medalists in 1962 with two fourth placed finish in 1978 and 2000, this is the first time Tunisia will be among the last four since lifting the trophy at home in 2004.
Senegal, on their part, lost their only best opportunity so far to win the title in 2002 when they lost the final on penalties to Cameroon in Bamako. Their previous venture into the semifinals in 1965, 1990 and 2006 ended in defeat in those matches as well in the third placed fixtures that followed.
Tunisia have beaten Senegal once in AFCON finals, the same with the Lions, while both sides have recorded three draws.
Semifinal fixtures:
- Senegal v Tunisia (5pm)
- Algeria v Nigeria (8pm)
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, will discover their route to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when the Confederation of African Football (Confederation of African Football) conducts the qualifying draw on May 19, 2026.
This is an exercise that will define the country’s pathway to the historic PAMOJA 2027 tournament.
The draw, coming after the conclusion of the preliminary round, will feature 48 teams, including co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. They will be pooled into 12 groups of four teams each. Only the top two teams from each group will progress to the final tournament, setting up what promises to be a fiercely competitive qualification series.
For Nigeria, a three-time African champion and podium finisher in three of the last four editions, the qualification format is familiar, but the stakes are evolving. They will need a good head start to avert the type of tragedy that defined their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign.
The Super Eagles have maintained a strong record in AFCON qualifying campaigns in recent years, yet inconsistency at the tournament proper has raised expectations for not just qualification, but a deeper continental impact.
The six-match qualification series will be spread across three FIFA international windows:
- * September–October 2026 (Matchdays 1 & 2)
- * November 2026 (Matchdays 3 & 4)
- * March 2027 (Matchdays 5 & 6)
This staggered schedule will test squad depth, technical stability, and administrative efficiency, which are areas that have historically influenced Nigeria’s performance as much as on-field quality.
East Africa Return and Logistical Implications
The 2027 tournament will mark AFCON’s return to the East African region for the first time since the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations.
For Nigeria, this introduces a different competitive environment—altitude variations, travel logistics across three host nations, and potentially unfamiliar playing conditions.
The tri-nation hosting model also means that teams must prepare for a geographically dispersed tournament, requiring early planning in scouting, acclimatisation, and logistics—areas where Nigeria has previously faced challenges in major competitions.
CAF is banking on the momentum generated by recent tournaments such as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, both of which recorded significant commercial growth, increased sponsorship value, and expanded global broadcast audiences.
For Nigeria, one of Africa’s most marketable football brands, this growth presents both opportunity and pressure. Strong performances by the Super Eagles not only boost national pride but also reinforce Nigeria’s commercial relevance in African football’s evolving ecosystem.
While the May 19 draw will simply allocate opponents on paper, its implications run deeper. A favourable group could ease Nigeria’s passage, but recent AFCON qualifiers have shown that traditional hierarchies are narrowing, with emerging teams increasingly competitive.
For the Super Eagles, the road to PAMOJA 2027 is not just about qualification—it is about reasserting continental dominance in an era where African football is becoming more competitive, more commercial, and more globally visible.
The journey begins with the draw, but for Nigeria, expectations will stretch far beyond simply making the trip to East Africa.
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By Kunle Solaja.
The Confederation of African Football (Confederation of African Football) has formally unveiled the competition window for the landmark Africa Cup of Nations, tagged PAMOJA 2027, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most politically and structurally significant tournaments in the competition’s history.
Scheduled to kick off on Saturday, 19 June 2027, with the final fixed for Saturday, 17 July 2027, the tournament marks only the second time the AFCON will be staged in the June–July window. The first was the expanded 24-team edition in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, a shift originally designed to align African football with the European off-season calendar and improve player availability.
A Return to June–July: Progress or Persistent Constraint?
While the timing suggests continuity with the 2019 precedent, it also underscores a deeper tension within African football governance. CAF’s confirmation that the dates required approval from the FIFA Council, following a meeting in Vancouver, raises renewed questions about the confederation’s operational autonomy.
Historically, AFCON scheduling has been vulnerable to external pressures, particularly from European clubs and leagues reluctant to release African players mid-season. The June–July calendar was initially seen as a strategic compromise. However, the necessity of FIFA ratification in 2027 signals that CAF’s flagship tournament still operates within a framework heavily influenced by global football politics.
This development may reignite debate about whether CAF is charting an independent course or increasingly aligning its decisions with FIFA’s broader international calendar priorities.
Beyond scheduling, AFCON 2027 represents a structural leap. For the first time, three nations—Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda—will jointly host the tournament.
This tri-nation model, branded “PAMOJA” (Swahili for togetherness), is more than symbolic. It reflects CAF’s attempt to decentralise hosting rights, reduce infrastructural pressure on single nations, and expand the tournament’s commercial and cultural footprint.
With a projected reach of over 400 million people across East Africa, the tournament offers significant opportunities:
- Market expansion: Opening new commercial corridors in a region historically underrepresented in hosting major football events.
- Infrastructure development: Accelerated investment in stadiums, transport, and tourism across three countries.
- Regional integration: Football as a tool for political and economic cooperation within East Africa.
Yet, the model is not without risks. Multi-country hosting introduces logistical complexities—border coordination, security harmonisation, and infrastructure parity—that CAF has not previously managed at this scale.
Waiting for Key Decisions
CAF has deferred the announcement of which cities or countries will host the opening match and final, decisions that will carry both symbolic and economic weight. These choices could influence regional balance and perceptions of equity among the co-hosts.
AFCON 2027 sits at the intersection of ambition and dependency. On one hand, it embodies innovation—a new hosting model and a reaffirmed global calendar alignment. On the other, it highlights lingering structural challenges, particularly CAF’s reliance on FIFA’s approval mechanisms.
As preparations unfold, the success of PAMOJA 2027 will likely be judged not just by the quality of football on display, but by how effectively CAF navigates these competing forces—continental aspiration versus global integration.
In many ways, AFCON 2027 will be a test of whether African football can expand its horizons without compromising its independence.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Defending champions Morocco will take the first formal step in their title defence when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the draw for the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers on May 19, 2026, two days before the 122nd anniversary of the founding of FIFA.
Fresh from their triumph at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Atlas Lions now face the challenge of sustaining continental dominance as they begin the journey toward the historic East African finals, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
As reigning champions, Morocco enter the qualifiers with a target on their back. Their recent rise, bolstered by strong World Cup performances and a deep pool of Europe-based talents, has elevated expectations both at home and across the continent.
But history suggests that defending an AFCON title is rarely straightforward. The qualifying format, which includes 48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four, leaves little margin for complacency. Only the top two teams in each group will progress, meaning even established powers must navigate a potentially tricky six-match campaign.
The qualifiers will unfold across three FIFA international windows:
- * September–October 2026 (Matchdays 1 & 2)
- * November 2026 (Matchdays 3 & 4)
- * March 2027 (Matchdays 5 & 6)
For Morocco, maintaining squad cohesion across these windows will be crucial. With players spread across Europe’s top leagues, managing fatigue, travel, and club-country balance will test the technical crew’s planning and depth.
AFCON 2027 will mark the tournament’s return to East Africa for the first time since the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations. The unique three-country hosting model introduces new logistical variables—ranging from climate and altitude differences to travel across multiple venues.
For Morocco, whose recent success has been built on tactical discipline and structured preparation, early adaptation to these conditions could prove decisive in their title defence.
CAF’s recent tournaments—including the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and Morocco 2025—have recorded unprecedented commercial success, expanding the global reach of African football.
As defending champions, Morocco stand at the centre of this growth. Their performances will not only shape the competitive narrative of AFCON 2027 but also influence the tournament’s commercial appeal and global visibility.
While the May 19 draw will determine Morocco’s immediate opponents, the broader mission is clear: retain continental supremacy in an increasingly competitive African football landscape.
For the Atlas Lions, the road to PAMOJA 2027 is not merely about securing qualification—it is about proving that their recent triumph was not a peak, but the beginning of sustained dominance.
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