AFCON
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: SEGUN ODEGBAMI DEBUTS FOR NIGERIA
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
It is 44 years today that Nigeria football legend, Segun Odegbami made his official debut for the national team.
The tall speedy winger who was an inside left player for the then IICC Shooting Stars had had his first national call-up in 1974 when the national coach, Othman Calder assembled a selection of 33 players from the first National Sports Festival held in the previous year.
But Odegbami did not feature in the national team until his sensational form in the 1976 Africa Cup Winners’ Cup which was in its second edition.
Odegbami was a major actor in Shooting Stars continental success that year. He was invited again into the national team while he was on club action against Rokana United of Zambia in Lusaka.
With the then Green Eagles’ qualification for the Montreal Olympics, Odegbami was included in the list of players. But there was a challenge of getting his passport photograph affixed into the entry form.
Odegbami was then away with Shooting Stars in Lusaka. His passport photograph had to be curled from a Daily Sketch publication.
On return from Zambia, he teamed up with the Green Eagles who were Germany-bound on a training tour. National coach, Jelisavicic Tihomer-Tiko (Father Tiko) of the then Yugoslavia had selection problem for the centre forward position where Thompson Usiyan appeared to have secured a place after his sterling performance at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations in Ethiopia.
In the trial matches with German clubs and Yugoslavian clubs, Father Tiko alternated Odegbami and Usiyan in each half of the matches played. Coincidentally, they scored the same number of goals in the matches they played as centre forwards.
The dilemma for the coach was solved on this date 16 October 1976 in a World Cup qualifying match against Sierra Leone in Freetown. Odegbami started from the bench in a game that turned to be his official first Grade A game as previous encounters were against amateur European sides.
Right winger at the match, Baba Otu Mohammed lost form and Odegbami was called up as a substitute as the match wore out to its last 15 minutes.
Then began the great adventure of Odegbami on the right wing. He also suddenly had a striking partnership with Usiyan at the centre forward. The match ended goalless.
Odegbami rose to become the best right winger Nigeria ever produced. But despite his wonderful acceleration on the wings, he only made it to two Africa Cup of Nations editions in 1978 and 1980.
He had 46 caps and scored 21 goals in his five-year career in the national team.
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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