AFCON
TODAY IN HISTORY: FIRST NIGERIAN PLAYER TO LIFT CONTINENTAL CUP, SAM OJEBODE, DIES
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
On this date, 4 July 2012, the first Nigerian footballer to lift a continental trophy, Samuel Ojebode of the famous IICC Shooting Stars died in Ibadan. He was aged 68.
It was on 12 December 1976 that Ojebode led the IICC to a 4-2 aggregate defeat of Roger Milla-inspired Tonerre Kalara to win the African Winners Cup in Yaoundé, Cameroon that a Nigerian team first won a continental trophy.
He was also a member of the then Green Eagles that placed third at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the last qualifying hurdle for Argentina ’78 World Cup.
He scored, from the penalty spot, one of the goals Nigeria scored to record a 4-2 upset of the then defending champions, Zaire (now DR Congo).
Ojebode played on the left hand side of the defence. His death came two days to the 21st anniversary of the passing of teammate in both the Shooting Stars and the national team, Muda Lawal.
It was also exactly two months after the death of another former Shooting Stars, Rashidi Yekini. With his death in 2012, the entire back five of the IICC Shooting Stars’ African Winners’ Cup-winning team had died.
Before Ojebode,Best Ogedegbe, the goalkeeper died in September 2009. Folorunsho Gambari, aka “Gambus”, Muda Lawal and Joe Appiah in the right full back, had all died.
Also on the dead list of the 1976 squad is mercurial left-winger, Kunle Awesu who died in 1994.
For Samuel Ojebode who debuted for Nigeria on February 7, 1976 in a friendly match against Kenya, it had been a long battle against lung cancer. For one year prior to his death, the first Nigerian football captain to lift a continental trophy had been in and out of hospital bed at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan.
He had a sterling football career, being one of the players of the then WNDC Shooting Stars that won the 1971 Challenge Cup, the first edition to be played nationwide on club bases.
For the national team, he had exactly 25 caps from 7 February 1976 to 12 November 1977 when Tunisia eliminated Nigeria from the qualifying series for Argentina ’78 World Cup.
In the 25 appearances for Nigeria, Ojebode scored four times. Two of the goals were from the penalty spot in the games against Zaire (now Congo DR) and Morocco at the 1976 African Nations Cup in Ethiopia. He scored again in a 7-0 defeat of Benin Republic on 14 February 1977 and another one against Cote d’Ivoire in a 4-0 defeat in a World Cup qualifier on 10 July 1977.
As a captain of the Shooting Stars, he was very reliable and disciplined. After his playing career, he took to coaching and was an assistant to Father Tiko who was seconded to the Flying Eagles after the NFA hired Brazil’s Otto Gloria to handle the Green Eagles.
He was also a coach of the Shooting Stars when Chief Onigbinde headed the administration of the club in 2004.
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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