AFCON
CAF SHOCKED OVER EGYPT’S MISSING TROPHIES
According to Egyptian newspaper, Ahram, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed its dismay over the disappearance of a number of old trophies from the Egyptian Football Association.
On Friday, the EFA announced that it had discovered the disappearance of some old trophies from its stores, affirming that it will investigate to locate them.
“The CAF has learned with shock reports about missing AFCON trophies from the Egyptian Football Association secretariat. Our doors are open and the EFA can count on our support in the search for the priceless memorabilia,” the CAF said in a statement on Sunday.
According to media reports, the original African Cup of Nations trophies that the Pharaohs won in 2006, 2008, 2010 are among the missing trophies.
The EFA discovered the trophies’ disappearance during their preparations to develop the association’s headquarters and to organise a trophy display while celebrating 100 years since the EFA’s establishment.
Sports ministry joins investigation
Egypt’s Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhy announced that there will be a ministerial committee arriving at the EFA headquarters to join the investigation into the disappearance of the old trophies.
“We will release a statement about the investigation soon,” Sobhy told a television programme late on Saturday.
The EFA said that it is looking into the possibility that the old trophies were lost when the building was looted and set on fire in 2013 when the Ultras fan group stormed the headquarters.
Egyptian football icons deny accusations
Former EFA board member Magdi Abdel-Ghani has said that the trophies disappeared in 2012 or 2013 when a number of Ultras members stormed the headquarters and set fire to the building.
“Ask Shawki Gharib [the assistant coach of Egypt’s national team at that time], as he was part of winning these trophies and he is also aware of managerial matters,” the former EFA board member told a television programme.
“I am like all the fans; I don’t know where the trophies have disappeared. I have heard before that there is one cup with Gharib and another with Ahmed Hassan, but I am not accusing anyone,” Abdel-Ghani said.
Meanwhile, former skipper of Egypt’s national team Ahmed Hassan has dismissed Abdel-Ghani’s statements linking him to the disappearance, saying that he returned the 2010 trophy to the EFA headquarters after removing it to take photos with the cup alongside his teammates and members of the team’s technical staff.
“As a captain of the Egyptian national team in the 2010 tournament, I took the trophy to take a photo alongside a number of the team’s players and the technical staff at the time,” Hassan told reporters after the EFA announced that the trophies had disappeared.
“But I handed it to the EFA officials with documentation,” Hassan added.
“I would not have returned it to the EFA if I had known it would disappear,” Hassan said.
National team assistant coach Shawki Gharib has also dismissed reports linking him with the disappearance, saying “this is nonsense that does not deserve a response.”
“I call on the person who has the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations trophy to return it and we will give him a replica of this cup, as it is part of Egypt’s sporting heritage and cannot be replicated,” Gharib said.
Egypt received the AFCON trophy, which is made of gold, after claiming the title for the third time in 2010 edition.
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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