AFCON

ROADS TO AFCON 2021 AND WORLD CUP 2022 EMERGE TODAY

Published

7 years ago

July 18, 2019

The path that teams will take to get to the 33^rd Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and the World Cup in Qatar 2022 will be drawn on Thursday.

Both preliminary competitions may be combined like the editions for 2006 and 2010.

The preliminary competition in Africa will begin in September with the lesser-rated teams contesting.

Almost every CAF member country entered for the competitions except Eritrea and Somalia. The seeding for the draw had been made earlier in the month.

At the end of the preliminary competitions, 24 teams will be at the Africa Cup of Nations while five will go the World Cup.

The draw for the preliminary competitions will begin with the eight teams in Pot 5 will be drawn into four pairings and the winners of the two-leg ties advance to the second stage to join Pot 4 in other to see each pot having 12 teams.

In the second stage of the draw, there will be 12 groups comprised of one team from pots 1-4 and the section winners and runners-up qualify for the finals.

Hosts Cameroon are guaranteed a place so only one other team qualify from their group

The seeding runs thus:

Pot 1: Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Cameroon (hosts), Egypt, Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria

Pot 2: Guinea, South Africa, Cape Verde, Uganda, Zambia, Benin, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Mauritania, Niger, Kenya, Libya

Pot 3: Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Malawi, Togo, Sudan, Tanzania

Pot 4: Burundi, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Botswana, Comoros, Ethiopia and four preliminary-round winners

Pot 5: Liberia, Mauritius, Gambia, South Sudan, Chad, Sao Tome e Principe, Seychelles, Djibouti

Did not enter: Eritrea, Somalia

AFCON

Motsepe Hails King Mohammed VI Over Royal Pardon of Jailed Senegalese Fans

Published

2 weeks ago

May 24, 2026

Kunle Solaja

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.

JOIN THE SPORTS VILLAGE SQUARE CHANNEL ON:

https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

AFCON

Group I: Algeria Face Tough Challenge from Zambia in AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

Published

3 weeks ago

May 20, 2026

Kunle Solaja

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

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

AFCON

Group J: Senegal Begin AFCON 2027 Campaign Against Mozambique

Published

3 weeks ago

May 20, 2026

Kunle Solaja

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.