AFCON
TUNISIA MAINTAIN UNBEATEN RUN IN AFCON QUALIFIERS
Tunisia finished their qualification campaign for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations unbeaten after their 2-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea at home on Sunday.
The Carthage Eagles have won five matches and drawn one of their six qualifying games.
Heading into the final round of matches, both teams had already qualified and were under no pressure.
Tunisia got into the lead early, Saifeddine Jaziri breaking the deadlock with a good finish off Ferjani Sassi’s pass. The home side extended their lead seven minutes into the second half when Equatorial Guinea defender Carlos Akapo turned the ball into his own net.
The Djurtus scored a consolation with two minutes of normal time left when Firas Chaouat scored into his own net.
Meanwhile in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania who lost to the Equatoguineans on Thursday to crash their Cameroon dreams kept their first clean sheet of the qualifiers after beating Libya by a solitary goal to ensure they finished third while the North Africans remained bottom.
Simon Msuva scored the lone goal for the Taifa Stars at the stroke of half time.
In the second half Libya came back stronger and had several scoring chances.
Ibrahem Bodabous had a good chance with a header unmarked at the backpost just after the restart when Rabiaa Abubaker floated a decent cross from the right, but he couldn’t put the effort on target. In the 52nd minute Mohamed Soulah drifted in from the right but his shot was well saved by Manula.
On the other end, Mbwana Samatta had a good chance for the Tanzanians when a cross from Shomari Kapombe found him inside the box, but his attempt at a volley ended in a wide shot.
The Libyans continued to press for an equalizer and had other chances. Substitute Mouad Eisay had a go at goal with a shot from distance but Manula smothered it behind for a corner.
Late on in the game, Erasto Nyoni did well to clear the ball off the line after Salah Aldeen Fakroun’s cross from the left was almost turned into an own goal by Bakari Mwamnyeto.
Elsewhere in Namibia, Guinea suffered their first defeat of the qualifiers after losing 2-1 to the hosts.
The Syli Nationale had already qualified from group A alongside Mali, but were looking to finish top of the group for pride. However, Namibia ensured they finished the group round with victory at home coming from behind to firm up their third spot with a brace from on form Mamelodi Sundowns man Peter Shalulile.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 17th minute through Mamadou Kane, but Namibia drew back level with Shalulile scoring at the stroke of halftime.
The home side had a chance to make it 2-1 just after the restart, but Manfred Starke’s attempt with a bicycle kick off a cross from the left was awry.
Guinea also had a chance in the 62nd minute when Mohamed Bangoura floated in a cross from the left, but Moustapha Kouyate placed his header over the bar.
Namibia got the winner in the 77th minute when Shalulile finished well inside the box after picking the ball off a corner just inside the six yard box.
-CAF
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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