AFCON
Five lessons from World Cup qualifiers days 1 and 2
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
The road to Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup for the African teams have been mapped out and the race has begun in earnest. Two match days have gone for 38 of the 40 teams as only Guinea and Morocco still have their matchday 2 fixture suspended owing to the political situation in Guinea.
Some teams have already surged forward in their respective groups and are set to consolidate on their leadership. One of such is the Super Eagles of Nigeria which have maximum points obtainable from the two fixtures gone.
From their two matches and some others that have direct relevance to their future fixtures, some lessons could be gleaned.
- Impossible is nothing: There were initial fears occasioned by Britain’s refusal to allow Premiership football players to travel to certain countries which included that of Nigeria’s matchday 2 opponents, Cape Verde. The direct consequent of that was that no fewer than 10 regulars were excused from playing against Cape Verde. Playing such a crucial match against a team that once ranked among Africa’s top 5 and was at brink of making it to Brazil 2014, was really worrisome. Nigeria had to field previously five uncapped players. To have come out victorious in such a delicate situation underscored the strength and resilence of the team. The lesson here is that determination and zeal are key to victory.
- No team is a push over: When the draw for the final competition of the Africa Cup of Nations was conducted, most Nigerians attention were primarily focussed on a potentially explosive encounter with Egypt. The secondary attention was on Sudan while debutants, Guinea Bissau only got passing attention as they were considered as merely making up the numbers. Guinea Bissau forced to play their home match against Guinea forced a 1-1 draw against one of the power houses of African football. Going away to Omdurman to play Sudan, the same team they will open their Group D Africa Cup of Nations, encounter with Cameroon next year, the hitherto unrated Guinea Bissau ran riots with goals, scoring four times against hosts, Sudan who needed added time to reduce their deficit to 4-2. This is an eye opener for the Super Eagles ahead of their 19 January 2022 Group D match with Guinea Bissau. Another lesson here is that no team can be under rated. Such should be the mindset next month in the back-to-back World Cup qualifying clash with Central African Republic.
- No team is invincible: Egypt may be the most successful team in the Africa Cup of Nations and therefore draw tremendous respect in the their fixtures. They are therefore logically considered as the main foes in Nigeria’s Group D next year. The Egyptians have been demystified in the two matchdays so far in the World Cup qualifiers leading to a change in the team’s technical crew. They struggled to a 1-0 win in their opening match in Cairo against Angola. They depended on the lottery of an early penalty kick to carry the day. They again needed an injury time goal to salvage a point in Gabon in the matchday two. If Angola and Gabon can box Egypt to the corner, the Super Eagles should aspire to do better.
- Maintaining winning mentality: If the Super Eagles can win their next fixtures, the back-to-back fixtures with Central African Republic, they will take a step higher than their performances in the last qualifying group for Russia 2018 as they will this time pick the group leadership, even with two matches to go. The only crucial match would then be the matchday 4 against Liberia in Monrovia as Nigeria’s last group match will be the home game with Cape Verde.
- Dividends of winning: If current winning mentality is maintained, the Super Eagles have a seven projected competitive matches up till the end of the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations on 19 January. If they go all the way to the final, that brings their match schedule to 11 matches. They therefore have ample number of matches to improve on their FIFA ranking as that will be used for seeding in the final qualifying stage. There will be 10 group leaders at the end of November. These teams will be grouped into five groups of two teams to play in home and away direct elimination. The five top teams will be seeded in March. Potentially, the top group leaders Nigeria stand to avoid will be Algeria (Group A); Tunisia Group B); either Cote d’Ivoire or Cameroon (Group C); Egypt (Group G); Senegal (Group H) or possibly Morocco in Group I.
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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