AFCON
AUSTIN EJIDE YEARNS FOR RECALL TO SUPER EAGLES
Approaching his 36th birthday, Austin Ejide still believes he can still make a return to the Nigerian national football team as a goalkeeper.
According to BBC report, Ejide said he is in the best form of his career as he began his bid for a Nigeria recall six years after his last appearance.
Sports Village Square recalls that Ejide became the second player to take part in three World Cup editions (2002, 2010 and 2014) without playing a single minute, taking after Croatia’s Anthony Seric (1998, 2002 and 2006).
His dream of staging a return stems from the recurring goalkeeping headache that has bedeviled the Super Eagles since the international retirement of Vincent Enyeama and the sudden retirement of his successor, Carl Ikeme, owing to ailment.
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The goalkeeping puzzle was further compounded when Coach Gernot Rohr’s preferred first choice, Francis Uzoho picked an injury in an encounter with Brazil some months ago.
Maduka Okoye, who was his substitute is regarded as lacking in experience while both Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa have been displaying fluctuating forms.
Ejide shot into prominence when Coach Adegboye Onigbinde picked him in the build up to the 2002 World Cup after a surprised disbandment of the Super Eagles following a players’ mutiny at the Africa Cup of Nations in Mali.
A year before then, he was a substitute for Sunday Rotimi in Nigeria’s 2-0 away win against Namibia in Windhoek in a June 16, 2001 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
At the moment, the 35-year-old, Ejide has reportedly played all 21 matches for Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Hadera this season. But he last featured for the Super Eagles in a 2-3 home loss to Congo in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier.
It was the first time Nigeria lost at home in a competitive match in 33 years. “I know the situation in Nigeria. I get positive remarks in Israel and being rated highly could be something that will pave the way,” Ejide told BBC Sport.
“I’ve kept nine clean sheets this season and we all know that goalkeepers always get better with age.
“I’ve also been following the Eagles and I believe that with my consistent performances in Israel, there is every chance it opens the door to the possibilities of another call-up.”
“I can never shut the international door to play for Nigeria again, I believe I have what it takes to get another chance,” he insisted.
He also says his age should not be a barrier to a return to international football.
“There are other goalkeepers who never gave up on international football despite their age or being overlooked,” he insisted.
“At 46, Essam El-Hadary still played a major tournament for Egypt and I can hopefully follow in that footsteps.
“I keep focusing on club football here, the more I do well, then I will continue to retain that hope of playing for my country again.”
Ejide has become a cult hero in Hadera after helping Hapoel Hadera to Israeli top flight promotion in 2018 ending their 39 years in the lower leagues.
He previously played in the country for Hapoel Petah Tikva and Hapoel Be’er Sheva between 2009 and 2015, but that was after a stint at Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel where he suffered two successive Caf Champions League final defeats in 2004 and 2005.
He left the North African country after the Tunisian FA decided not to allow local clubs to sign foreign goalkeepers.
Ejide then spent three years at French club SC Bastia before moving to Israel in 2009. He was part of the Nigeria squad to the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and when they won in 2013.
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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