AFCON
CUP HOLDERS, ALGERIA ARE 2ND QUALIFIERS AFTER RUNNERS-UP SENEGAL
The two finalists of the 2019 edition, Senegal and Algeria have become the earliest qualifiers for the next editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite Algeria, on Monday, committing half of the last Friday’s blunders of the Super Eagles, they still qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
While Nigeria gave away four goal lead in their home match with Sierra Leone, Algeria gave away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 away at Zimbabwe.
After goals in the 34th and 38th minutes, including a fine solo effort from Riyad Mahrez, it looked like Algeria would make it four wins from four.
In the 34th Reda Halaimia whipped in a long cross from the right and an unmarked Andy Delort had a straightforward header to score his first goal for Algeria.
Moments later came the brilliance from Manchester City’s Mahrez as he flicked the ball past one defender and then cut into the area before twisting and turning to wrong-foot two defenders and firing home.
The Warriors pulled a goal back two minutes before half-time as striker Knowledge Musona curled in a free kick from the edge of the area to beat Rais M’Bolhi.
That seemed to galvanize Zimbabwe and they created the better chances after the break and were rewarded when Tanzania-based Prince Dube scored the equaliser in the 82nd minute seconds after coming on as a replacement.
He picked up the ball as it was flicked on from a corner and his shot somehow went over the line as M’Bolhi failed to hold the ball for what looked like a routine save.
It was a big improvement from Zimbabwe who had lost 3-1 to Algeria on Thursday evening.
In the days other Group H match there was a surprise 1-0 win for Botswana over the visiting 2012 Nations Cup winners Zambia.
The only goal of the game came after just six minutes played through Mosha Gaolaolwe, who plays his football in the second-tier of South African football.
Algeria top the group with 10 points, with Zimbabwe five points behind, Botswana are up to third with four and Zambia are once again bottom on three.
The Gambia’s 2-1 win over Gabon is likely to be overshadowed by the controversy in the hours before the match that has seen the Confederation of African Football (Caf) step in to investigate.
When the game did get underway it was more than 20 minutes late with no official explanation given and the first half ended goalless.
The opening goal came four minutes after half-time thanks to a shocking mistake from the Gabon keeper Anthony Mfa Mezui, who plays in the fifth-tier of French football.
He went to clear a back pass and completely missed the ball allowing the former Swansea City striker Modou Barrow to run past him and score in an empty net.
Mfa Mezui made some amends on 67 minutes with a save from Abbie Jallow, who only had the keeper to beat.
In the 79th minute Bologna forward Musa Barrow added a second after being set-up nicely by UAE-based Steve Bubacarr Trawally, who pulled the ball across the keeper to find his unmarked team-mate.
Gabon pulled a goal back in the 89th minute as Bruno Ecuele Manga powerfully headed home a free-kick from Denis Bounga
The problems that CAF are looking into began on Sunday night when the Gabonese delegation were forced to spend several hours sleeping on the airport floor as they were not allowed to leave.
Gabon captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang posted footage on his social media of the team trying to sleep on the airport floor explaining the authorities had taken their passports so preventing the delegation from going to their hotel.
The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) told BBC Sport Africa that not only had the Gabonese changed their arrival time more than once leaving them unsure of their arrival time there was also a conflict over Covid-19 testing.
The Gambian ministry of health authorities insist the Gabonese delegation failed to produce the relevant paperwork for negative Covid-19 tests and also refused to undergo swabs on arrival.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said that a disciplinary commission will “examine the causes of this incident, so as to establish the responsibilities and apply the consequent sanctions.”
CAF also said it ‘deplored’ the incident and had held a video conference call with all parties on Monday before announcing the investigation.
The result means that The Gambia and Gabon both have seven points with exactly the same head-to-head record as well, with two rounds of qualifying remaining.
South Sudan 1-0 Uganda; Malawi 0-0 Burkina Faso(Group B)
South Sudan kept alive their hopes of reaching the Nations Cup finals for the first time with a 1-0 win over Uganda in a match that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.
The match was played behind closed doors in the Kenyan capital Nairobi as South Sudan’s national stadium is being renovated.
Uganda were the first side to have a man sent off as Khalid Aucho was shown a straight red card for a foul on Tito Okello after just 32 minutes.
Three minutes later South Sudan took the lead as Okello converted from the penalty spot after Makuweth Wol was fouled in the area.
The Cranes had a goal ruled out on the hour mark as Emmanuel Okwi was flagged for offside.
South Sudan were also reduced to ten men for the closing stages as Musa Abdallah was dismissed for a wild lunge on Okwi.
Monday’s other Group B game ended in a stalemate as Malawi drew 0-0 with visiting Burkina Faso in Blantyre in a game with very few chances.
Burkina Faso missed two good chances in the dying minutes when Mohane Outarra headed wide from inside the six yard box and then Bertrand Traore beat the Malawi defence but not the goalkeeper.
Those results mean that Burkina Faso are top with eight points, Uganda have seven, Malawi four and South Sudan three with all the teams having played four matches.
Sao Tome and Principe 2-4 South Africa (Group C)
Sao Tome made a promising start to their must win game against South Africa as they took the lead after 12 minutes but eventually lost 4-2.
The game was played in the South African City of Port Elizabeth after the two nations agreed to move it from Sao Tome to make Covid-19 protocols easier to follow.
Sao Tome’s first goal was scored by captain Jocy as he met a corner from Georgia-based Jardel Nazare with a glancing header.
South Africa’s equalizer came in the 39th minute when the Sao Tome defence pushed forward which allowed Dean Furman to slide a ball through to Themba Zwane, who turned and slotted home.
Bafana Bafana went ahead in the 70th minute when Zwane turned provider for Percy Tau, who was afforded too much space in the area and was able to score from 10 yards out.
‘The hosts’ then equalised themselves as Portugal-based Soares Harramiz was left unmarked at the back post and was allowed a free header back across keeper Ronwen Williams.
South Africa’s lead was restored in the 87th minute when the Sao Tome keeper could only parry a shot from substitute Kermit Erasmus into the path of Zwane, who tapped home.
Tau made sure of the win in injury time as Sao Tome pushed for another equaliser he hit them on the counter-attack and he struck from just inside the area.
The win lifts South Africa to nine points from four matches and leaves Sao Tome pointless and unable to qualify for the Nations Cup finals in Cameroon.
Eswatini 0-0 Congo (Group I)
Eswatini are another team that can no longer reach the Nations Cup finals as they drew 0-0 with visiting Congo-Brazzaville.
The point moves Congo onto seven points and keeps them in second place in the group five points behind Senegal who have already qualified from Group I.
The Teranga Lions sealed their place with Sunday’s 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, who have three points and can still claim the second qualifying place for the finals with two games to play.
Mozambique 0-2 Cameroon (Group H)
Cameroon, who have already qualified for the Nations Cup finals as hosts, maintained their unbeaten run in Group H with a 2-0 win in Mozambique.
The hosts had a chance to take the lead after 22 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area but Kazakhstan-based Reginaldo saw his effort hit the left-hand post with keeper Andre Onana diving the wrong way.
Three minutes later Vincent Aboubakar scored the opener, to go with the brace he scored against the same opponents on Thursday in a 4-1 win.
He controlled a cross from the right on his chest before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
Ngoumo Ngamaleu set up the second as his cross into the area evaded the Mozambique defenders and allowed Serge Tabekou, who had replaced Clinton Njie on the hour mark, to turn the ball into the net.
Cameroon stay top on 10 points with Mozambique six behind, with both sides having played four matches.
Monday’s matches:
- Eswatini 0-0 Congo (Grp I)
- Malawi 0-0 Burkina Faso (Grp B)
- South Sudan 1-0 Uganda (Grp B)
- Sao Tome and Principe 2-4 South Africa (Grp C)
- Zimbabwe 2-2 Algeria (Grp H)
- Botswana 1-0 Zambia (Grp H)
- Gambia 2-1 Gabon (Grp C)
- Mozambique 2-0 Cameroon (Grp F)
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, will discover their route to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when the Confederation of African Football (Confederation of African Football) conducts the qualifying draw on May 19, 2026.
This is an exercise that will define the country’s pathway to the historic PAMOJA 2027 tournament.
The draw, coming after the conclusion of the preliminary round, will feature 48 teams, including co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. They will be pooled into 12 groups of four teams each. Only the top two teams from each group will progress to the final tournament, setting up what promises to be a fiercely competitive qualification series.
For Nigeria, a three-time African champion and podium finisher in three of the last four editions, the qualification format is familiar, but the stakes are evolving. They will need a good head start to avert the type of tragedy that defined their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign.
The Super Eagles have maintained a strong record in AFCON qualifying campaigns in recent years, yet inconsistency at the tournament proper has raised expectations for not just qualification, but a deeper continental impact.
The six-match qualification series will be spread across three FIFA international windows:
- * September–October 2026 (Matchdays 1 & 2)
- * November 2026 (Matchdays 3 & 4)
- * March 2027 (Matchdays 5 & 6)
This staggered schedule will test squad depth, technical stability, and administrative efficiency, which are areas that have historically influenced Nigeria’s performance as much as on-field quality.
East Africa Return and Logistical Implications
The 2027 tournament will mark AFCON’s return to the East African region for the first time since the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations.
For Nigeria, this introduces a different competitive environment—altitude variations, travel logistics across three host nations, and potentially unfamiliar playing conditions.
The tri-nation hosting model also means that teams must prepare for a geographically dispersed tournament, requiring early planning in scouting, acclimatisation, and logistics—areas where Nigeria has previously faced challenges in major competitions.
CAF is banking on the momentum generated by recent tournaments such as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, both of which recorded significant commercial growth, increased sponsorship value, and expanded global broadcast audiences.
For Nigeria, one of Africa’s most marketable football brands, this growth presents both opportunity and pressure. Strong performances by the Super Eagles not only boost national pride but also reinforce Nigeria’s commercial relevance in African football’s evolving ecosystem.
While the May 19 draw will simply allocate opponents on paper, its implications run deeper. A favourable group could ease Nigeria’s passage, but recent AFCON qualifiers have shown that traditional hierarchies are narrowing, with emerging teams increasingly competitive.
For the Super Eagles, the road to PAMOJA 2027 is not just about qualification—it is about reasserting continental dominance in an era where African football is becoming more competitive, more commercial, and more globally visible.
The journey begins with the draw, but for Nigeria, expectations will stretch far beyond simply making the trip to East Africa.
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By Kunle Solaja.
The Confederation of African Football (Confederation of African Football) has formally unveiled the competition window for the landmark Africa Cup of Nations, tagged PAMOJA 2027, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most politically and structurally significant tournaments in the competition’s history.
Scheduled to kick off on Saturday, 19 June 2027, with the final fixed for Saturday, 17 July 2027, the tournament marks only the second time the AFCON will be staged in the June–July window. The first was the expanded 24-team edition in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, a shift originally designed to align African football with the European off-season calendar and improve player availability.
A Return to June–July: Progress or Persistent Constraint?
While the timing suggests continuity with the 2019 precedent, it also underscores a deeper tension within African football governance. CAF’s confirmation that the dates required approval from the FIFA Council, following a meeting in Vancouver, raises renewed questions about the confederation’s operational autonomy.
Historically, AFCON scheduling has been vulnerable to external pressures, particularly from European clubs and leagues reluctant to release African players mid-season. The June–July calendar was initially seen as a strategic compromise. However, the necessity of FIFA ratification in 2027 signals that CAF’s flagship tournament still operates within a framework heavily influenced by global football politics.
This development may reignite debate about whether CAF is charting an independent course or increasingly aligning its decisions with FIFA’s broader international calendar priorities.
Beyond scheduling, AFCON 2027 represents a structural leap. For the first time, three nations—Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda—will jointly host the tournament.
This tri-nation model, branded “PAMOJA” (Swahili for togetherness), is more than symbolic. It reflects CAF’s attempt to decentralise hosting rights, reduce infrastructural pressure on single nations, and expand the tournament’s commercial and cultural footprint.
With a projected reach of over 400 million people across East Africa, the tournament offers significant opportunities:
- Market expansion: Opening new commercial corridors in a region historically underrepresented in hosting major football events.
- Infrastructure development: Accelerated investment in stadiums, transport, and tourism across three countries.
- Regional integration: Football as a tool for political and economic cooperation within East Africa.
Yet, the model is not without risks. Multi-country hosting introduces logistical complexities—border coordination, security harmonisation, and infrastructure parity—that CAF has not previously managed at this scale.
Waiting for Key Decisions
CAF has deferred the announcement of which cities or countries will host the opening match and final, decisions that will carry both symbolic and economic weight. These choices could influence regional balance and perceptions of equity among the co-hosts.
AFCON 2027 sits at the intersection of ambition and dependency. On one hand, it embodies innovation—a new hosting model and a reaffirmed global calendar alignment. On the other, it highlights lingering structural challenges, particularly CAF’s reliance on FIFA’s approval mechanisms.
As preparations unfold, the success of PAMOJA 2027 will likely be judged not just by the quality of football on display, but by how effectively CAF navigates these competing forces—continental aspiration versus global integration.
In many ways, AFCON 2027 will be a test of whether African football can expand its horizons without compromising its independence.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Defending champions Morocco will take the first formal step in their title defence when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the draw for the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers on May 19, 2026, two days before the 122nd anniversary of the founding of FIFA.
Fresh from their triumph at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Atlas Lions now face the challenge of sustaining continental dominance as they begin the journey toward the historic East African finals, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
As reigning champions, Morocco enter the qualifiers with a target on their back. Their recent rise, bolstered by strong World Cup performances and a deep pool of Europe-based talents, has elevated expectations both at home and across the continent.
But history suggests that defending an AFCON title is rarely straightforward. The qualifying format, which includes 48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four, leaves little margin for complacency. Only the top two teams in each group will progress, meaning even established powers must navigate a potentially tricky six-match campaign.
The qualifiers will unfold across three FIFA international windows:
- * September–October 2026 (Matchdays 1 & 2)
- * November 2026 (Matchdays 3 & 4)
- * March 2027 (Matchdays 5 & 6)
For Morocco, maintaining squad cohesion across these windows will be crucial. With players spread across Europe’s top leagues, managing fatigue, travel, and club-country balance will test the technical crew’s planning and depth.
AFCON 2027 will mark the tournament’s return to East Africa for the first time since the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations. The unique three-country hosting model introduces new logistical variables—ranging from climate and altitude differences to travel across multiple venues.
For Morocco, whose recent success has been built on tactical discipline and structured preparation, early adaptation to these conditions could prove decisive in their title defence.
CAF’s recent tournaments—including the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and Morocco 2025—have recorded unprecedented commercial success, expanding the global reach of African football.
As defending champions, Morocco stand at the centre of this growth. Their performances will not only shape the competitive narrative of AFCON 2027 but also influence the tournament’s commercial appeal and global visibility.
While the May 19 draw will determine Morocco’s immediate opponents, the broader mission is clear: retain continental supremacy in an increasingly competitive African football landscape.
For the Atlas Lions, the road to PAMOJA 2027 is not merely about securing qualification—it is about proving that their recent triumph was not a peak, but the beginning of sustained dominance.
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