AFCON
IS NIGERIA’S OLIVE GREEN SHIRT JINXED?
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Whenever there is a recurrence of unpleasant incidents in Nigerian football, especially if it is a defeat, fans are always quick at terming such as jinx.
So was an argument when the Super Eagles agonisingly went down 2-1 in a nail-biting semi-final match with Algeria in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations’ contest.
With both Nigeria and Algeria having almost similar light coloured home strips, Nigeria was obliged to go for the away strip which is olive green – a departure from the regular all-white away strip used before last year March.
A high-profile Nigerian football official had earlier explained to www.sportsvillagesquare.com that Nigeria jettisoned the all-white away strip on the belief that the national teams were often jinxed when compelled to wear it in crucial matches.
A case in point was the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations finals co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria. At the final match, the team from the groups in Ghana was the home side, even though the match was in Lagos, with Nigeria technically the away team and thus had to change from its primary strip since the home strip of Cameroon is also green.
Nigeria lost the match in the ensuing penalty shootout. They recalled that Nigeria also wore the all-white attire when the team controversially lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the 1988 cup final.
But those against the white jersey easily forgot that Nigeria wore green when the team lost 3-1 to Cameroon in the 1984 final match and that it was in white attire that the team beat Cameroon in a 1990 World Cup qualifying match in Ibadan and in the quarterfinals of 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.
Such belief caused the shift to a darker shade of green as away strip. So when Nigeria lost to Algeria on Sunday, the counting began on occasions that the Super Eagles lost in the olive green attire.
It was just the second time in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations that the jersey was worn. Both incidentally ended in defeats to Madagascar and Algeria.
It was also on instances of wearing the dark shade shirts that Nigeria lost to Croatia and Argentina at the Russia 2018 World Cup.
Sports Village Square however recalls that Nigeria first wore the dark coloured strip unveiled by Nike on March 23, 2018 friendly match with Poland.
Nigeria won 1-0. It was in the same strip that the Super Eagles beat Libya 3-2 last year in the away qualifying match.
Even in a friendly match played earlier this year in Asaba, Nigeria wore the olive green shirt to beat Egypt 1-0 – a pointer to the fact that no colour is jinxed in football.
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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