AFCON
WITH NIGERIA’S 5-STAR PERFORMANCE, AFCON U-23 FIELD IS COMPLETED
The roll call for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019 is done and dusted after the final round of matches of the qualifiers on Tuesday.
Host Egypt will be joined by Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia for the final tournament scheduled for 8-22 November in Cairo, where the top three finishers will qualify to represent Africa at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Of the octet, host Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are the only teams to have participated at every edition of the quadrennial championships since its inception in 2011.
Nigeria were champions at the last edition in Senegal in 2015, whilst Senegal finished third, which also had Mali and Zambia. Ghana, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire have qualified for the finals for the first time.
Away joy for quintet
It was victory away from home for the quintet of Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia who coughed out impressive outings to secure their tickets.
After a narrow 1-0 win from the first leg in Yaounde last week, Cameroon went down 2-1 to Tunisia in Tunis, but advanced via the away goal rule after a 2-2 tie on aggregate. Les Lions U-23, guided by legendary Cameroonian captain Rigobert Song, took the lead courtesy Ignatius Ganago from the spot after 15 minutes.
The Tunisians leveled through Wajdi Salhi midway before Habib Oueslati netted the winner on 71 minutes but fell short of taking the North Africans through.
In Conakry, Italy-based duo Christian Kouame and Hamed Junior found target n either half as Cote d’Ivoire overcame a lone goal in the reverse in Abidjan to edge Guinea on away goals after a 2-2 tie. Moussa Traore scored in between for Guinea.
Ghana’s Black Meteors confirmed their place at the finals for the first time after shocking Algeria to a 1-0 win away in Setif. Captain Yaw Yeboah scored the only goal late in the game as the West Africans went through 2-1 on aggregate.
After a huge 5-0 win in the first leg, South Africa held Zimbabwe to a barren in Bulawayo to make it three out of three finals, thanks to a 5-0 aggregate win.
Elsewhere in Brazzaville, Zambia survived a scare from Congo to share the spoils with the latter in a 3-3 draw.
It was one-all at half time with Zambia’s Enock Mwepu canceling Guy Mbenza opener early in the game.
Fashion Sakala, who was sent off in the dying embers after second yellow card whilst on the bench gave the visitors the lead on 51 minutes before the Congolese scored twice through Temopele Medina and Gaius Makouta.
Mwepu completed his brace five minutes from time to stun the home crowd and ensure passage 5-4 on aggregate.
With defeat staring in their face after a lone goal loss in the first leg, Nigeria put up a five-star performance to sink Sudan 5-0 in Asaba and 5-1 on aggregate to make it a hat-trick of appearances at the finals.
Ndifreke Udo scored a first half brace before a goal each from Taiwo Awomiyi, Sunday Falaye and Seth Mayi sealed victory.
Mali’s young and enterprising squad kept alive their Olympic hopes after beating Morocco 1-0 in Bamako.
Aly Malle’s 56th minute penalty separated the two sides as Les Aiglons advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
Results
Sunday
- Brazzaville Congo 3-3 Zambia (1-2)
Tuesday
- Bulawayo Zimbabwe 0-0 South Africa (0-5)
- Setif Algeria 0-1 Ghana (1-1)
- Tunis Tunisia 2-1 Cameroon (0-1)
- Conakry Guinea 1-2 Cote d’Ivoire (1-0)
- Asaba Nigeria 5-0 Sudan (0-1)
- Bamako Mali 1-0 Morocco (1-1)
Qualified teams: Egypt (host), Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia
-cafonline
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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