AFCON
Egypt begins quest to upstage Nigeria in World Cup play-off seeding
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
With the FIFA Arab Cup beginning in Qatar today, Nigeria’s attention will be focused on the performances of Egypt for two reasons.
First, barely a month from now, both Nigeria and Egypt will meet in the opening Group D match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Garoua, Northern Cameroon.
That is the well known fact. But the hidden fact is that Egypt have at least three competitive matches in the group stage of the Arab World Cup in Qatar where they are facing Sudan, Lebanon and Algeria in Group D.
That gives them at least three competitive matches and Fifa ranking boosting opportunities before the January draw for the World Cup play-off.
The next Fifa ranking is tentatively fixed for 16 December, two days before the close of the Arab Cup in Qatar.
After that, 26 January is fixed for the first ranking in 2022 in the middle of the Africa Cup of Nations.
If Egypt advance beyond the group stage of the Arab Cup, the Pharaohs will have at least six competitive matches that will tremendously boost their likely ranking ahead of the World Cup play-off draw.
Incidentally, it is only Nigeria’s Super Eagles that are at risk of losing their current seeding position where they are placed fifth.
With the Arab Cup, Egypt are presented with golden opportunities of pushing Nigeria down to sixth position as the Super Eagles have neither a competitive nor friendly match to garner points ahead of the Nations Cup.
The top four teams of Senegal, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are well secured from possible toppling. Even the trio of Algeria, Morocco and Algeria have added chances of consolidating on account of having matches in the Arab Cup.
Should Nigeria lose their fifth position, they will have to face any of the five top ranked teams and play the decisive second leg away from home.
The Nigeria Football Federation, ahead of the CAF General Assembly ought to have either pressed for an early draw or propose that the ranking obtained as at the time the 10 African teams qualified for the play-off should be used.
In the case of the final draw for the World Cup, FIFA had always used the ranking of qualified teams before play-off to do seeding. This is premise on the fact that teams that qualified from play-off had additional matches.
Egypt will open their Arab Cup account facing Lebanon on Wednesday, a match they are most likely win, even with a second string team.
Nigeria at the 19 November ranking have 1478.78 points while Egypt have 1,449.5, thus only a paltry 29.27 points separate Nigeria from Egypt.
With the current ranking procedure that place more importance to final round competitions, as Egypt will be having at the Arab Cup, the Super Eagles are likely going to be pushed down ahead of the 22 or 26 January draw.
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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