AFCON
A NEW SHERIFF COMES TO TOWN AT CAF
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
The Confederation of African Football, CAF, enters a new and unprecedented phase in its 62 years of existence, as an external body, FIFA, will govern it.
From this Thursday and for six months, Fatma Samoura, the FIFA General Secretary will oversee the confederation as FIFA General Delegate, a thinly veiled nomenclature of General Overseer.
Sports Village Square recalls that the immediate former FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, described the take-over of CAF as colonization. Even the UEFA boss, Aleksander Čeferin, initially opposed the FIFA move, but was persuaded to endorse it.
By her designation, Samoura will run CAF almost as a sole administrator. The events leading to her being seconded to CAF were predicated by allegations of financial mismanagement in the confederation among other allegations levied against Ahmad, the president.
The joint statement by CAF and FIFA was silent on the position of the CAF president, the executive committee members as well as the General Secretary.
But informed sources disclosed to www.sportsvillagesquare.com that Ahmad is good as being referred to as ‘former president’ considering the weight of allegations against him.
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The Ethics Committee of FIFA is currently investigating him. Last June in Paris, he was briefly detained by the anti graft police before being released without charges.
It is believed that the CAF Executive Committee members decided to invite the FIFA General Secretary to take over the administration to prevent the former 1st Vice President, Amaju Pinnick from running the Confederation, even in acting capacity.
That was the underlying reason why Ahmad had to ‘reshuffle’ cabinet on the eve of the final match of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
It was gathered that the CAF Executive Committee has broken into linguistic blocs and only grudgingly made South Africa’s Danny Jordaan the 3rd Vice President as the only English speaking person in the top four.
Virtually all the top members of CAF Executive Committee has one allegation or the other tied to them.
It is a situation that may see a clean sweep of a regime that came into power following the ‘overthrown’ of the ‘ancient regime’ of Issa Hayatou.
Fatma Samoura, the new sheriff in town is supposed to conduct a forensic analysis of CAF books.
Already, an advertisement went out on the eve of her ascendance into CAF offices, an advertisement was put up requesting for proposals on restructuring of the confederation. It was signed by the Chief Compliance Officer, Abdulah Moustapha.
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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