AFCON
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS’ FINAL MATCH IS MORE OF MAHREZ VERSUS MANE CONTEST
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
As the curtain gets set to fall on the largest ever Africa Cup of Nations, all eyes will be on two star players – Riyad Mahrez of Algeria and Sadio Mane, the talisman of Senegal.
The success of their respective teams may be determined by the performances of these two stars.
Mahrez was almost singularly responsible for the team’s march to the final. It was the Manchester City’s £60m winger’s pull out from the right wing that Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong inadvertently deflected into his own net.
Then in the last minute of the epic semi-final match, his well taken free kick gave Algeria the winning goal.
Can he leave up to his calling today? In the other camp, Senegal depends on Sadio Mane, who for two years running has been beaten by his Liverpool teammate, Mohamed Salah as Africa’s soccer king.
His time appears to have come now. Donning the iconic number 10 for both club and country, time seems to have come for him to explode.
No stage is better other than the biggest ever Africa Cup of Nations in history. He could win the first title for his honour-starved country, which even though ranked as Africa’s number one, but yet to win an African title!
Mane as Liverpool’s No10 spent the 2018/19 campaign engrossed in an enrapturing, nip-and-tuck battle for Premier League glory with Algeria’s Mahez in Manchester City.
Now they are set to meet for the second time at this CAF Africa Cup of Nations – Algeria edged Senegal 1-0 in the group stage – after Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane inspired a final between the nations.
While Senegal are Africa’s number one, Algeria are positioned a distance 12th. Will the often-criticized FIFA ranking be proven right? The events at the Cairo International Stadium later tonight will decide.
Also as possible yardsticks are the players’ ratings across all platforms – the English Premiership and international matches.
For Algeria’s Mahrez, this match will be his 53rd appearance in Algerian colours while the backbreaking goal he inflicted against Nigeria last Sunday was his 13th, an unlucky number that proved to be the Nigerian nemesis.
Mane, a better-known star has a higher statistics. The Africa Cup of Nations final match will be his 61st appearance for Senegal at Grade A level. He has scored 18 times for the honour-starved nation that is in the final match for the first time in 17 years.
Both Mane and Mahrez are recent stars in African Football. Mahrez, born in France, reportedly made his international debut when he was 23 and just 12 days to Brazil 2014 World Cup.
In 2016, he became the first Algerian to win the CAF African Footballer of the Year award since Rabah Madjer in 1987
Mane made his international debut shortly after turning 20 in 2012. He missed the last penalty as Senegal lost a shoot-out to Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations’ quarterfinals in 2017.
He later redeemed himself later that year with a crucial goal against Burkina Faso and a palatial performance against South Africa to send The Lions of Teranga to their second World Cup.
He was superb in Senegal’s first two matches at Russia 2018.
MAJOR HONOURS: MANE VS MAHREZ
Mahrez
- 2 Premier League titles (2015/16 & 2018/19)
- English FA Cup (2018/19)
- English League Cup (2018/19)
Mane
- UEFA Champions League (2018/19)
- Austrian Bundesliga (2013/14)
- Austrian Cup (2013/14)
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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