AFCON

Gambia and Mali in top of the table clash at AFCON’s Group F

Published

4 years ago

January 16, 2022

It is a big football irony that in a group where Tunisia, one of the powerhouses of African football are domiciled, The Gambia and Mali are the teams struggling to top the table.

The situation arose as favourites and seeded side, Tunisia lost their opening match to Mali while The Gambia who are debutants got the better part of Mauritania in their very first Africa Cup of Nations match last week, winning 1-0.

Today’s duel is The Gambia’s second Africa Cup of Nations match. After two identical 1-0 victories in the opening match day, Gambia and Mali enter the second round of Group F matches with high hopes of another win that could see them paving the way towards the next round in style.

Both Group F teams meet at the Limbe Stadium to decide which side, at least momentarily, takes the top spot. Time: 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT)

For The Gambia, it could be a continuation of a fairytale as they are still celebrating an opening win in their AFCON debut. Ablie Jallow strike gave the Scorpions a 1-0 win over Mauritania to start their first Africa Cup of Nations appearance on high skies.

Another positive result today will mean that Tom Saintfiet men are on their way not just for a historic debut but also for a fairytale second round appearance.

Their Belgian coach, Tom Saintfiet who handled Namibia against Nigeria in the race for Brazil 2014 World Cup is optimistic of a good result.

“We had a party to celebrate the country’s first victory. Now we are going to prepare the match against a big Malian team. We have 3 points, it’s already fantastic, but we have to continue. We will do everything to advance to the second round, and to give more light and promotion to The Gambia, the smallest country in Africa.”

So also is Gambia player, Omar Colley highly expectant. “Proud to be in this group, I play in Italy, but this is something else, it is indescribable to live what we are living. With the offensive armada that we have, we will seek points against Mali and Tunisia to bring joy to the Gambian people. Our goal is to win, match by match.”

Mali Eagles defeated Tunisia 1-0 in what was one of the opening match day surprises. Mohamed Magassouba men secured a famous victory over Carthage Eagles to boast their hopes of a historic AFCON campaign this year.

Another win over fellow West African side Gambia might see The Eagles through, but they have to beware the Scorpions’ sting this time.

Hear the coach’s timely warning: “We have started a construction phase and we are preparing for the future. Collective value is important to me, we aim to shine tomorrow against this ambitious Gambian.”, remarked Mali’s coach, Mohamed Magassouba.

Continuing, he remarked: “This generation can write its story, a happy story, I hope. Mali is on the quest for the supreme title. We are responsible for producing the show and winning, the rest does not concern us.”

His player, Diadie Samassekou a midfielder added his voice: “The morale of the team is at its highest, it’s very important to win your first game. we give everything with an irreproachable state of mind. We don’t play according to the opponent; we have a game philosophy. Our only objective is to do everything to win, our people deserve a consecration.”

AFCON

Super Eagles’ Flight Path to Last Biennial Cycle AFCON To Emerge This Tuesday

Published

12 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Kunle Solaja

By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca enroute Tangier

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will this Tuesday discover the roadmap to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when the Confederation of African Football conducts the draw for the qualifying series of the continent’s flagship tournament.

The draw marks the formal start of the qualification race for the 2027 finals, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It will be the first time three nations co-host the Africa Cup of Nations and also the last edition to be staged on a biennial cycle before the competition switches to a four-year format.

According to the Confederation of African Football, the qualification process will begin with preliminary rounds involving the lowest-ranked teams on the continent.

The six winners from those preliminary ties will advance to join 42 other nations already assured of a place in the main qualification phase.

Nigeria, ranked among Africa’s top sides, are expected to enter directly into the group stage of the qualifiers, avoiding the preliminary hurdle. Once the full list of 48 teams is confirmed, CAF is widely expected to place them into 12 groups, with each group producing two qualifiers.

That format would see 24 teams secure tickets to the finals, known as the “Pamoja” tournament — a Swahili word meaning “together”, symbolising the joint-hosting arrangement by the three East African nations.

For the Super Eagles, the draw will offer early clues about the difficulty of their qualification campaign, including potential long-haul travel challenges, regional rivalries and scheduling demands. Nigeria have qualified for 20 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and will be targeting a smooth passage to the 2027 finals as they continue rebuilding after recent continental campaigns.

CAF is yet to publish the full calendar and match windows for the qualifiers, but the process is expected to align with FIFA international windows, allowing European-based stars to feature regularly for their national teams.

As Nigeria await Tuesday’s draw, attention will be firmly fixed on which opponents stand between the Super Eagles and a place at what promises to be a historic Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa — and the closing chapter of AFCON’s long-running biennial era.

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AFCON

AFCON Promise Turns Sour as Self-Styled Marabout Arrested for Fraud in Mali

Published

12 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Kunle Solaja

A man who styled himself as a marabout on social media and boldly promised Mali victory at the Africa Cup of Nations has been arrested for fraud after collecting more than 22 million CFA francs (about €33,500), local sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The man, identified only as Sinayogo, had solicited donations online in exchange for spiritual assurances that the Eagles of Mali would lift the continental trophy. His claims collapsed dramatically on Friday night when Mali were knocked out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage by Senegal, losing 1–0.

According to one of his associates, Sinayogo had raised more than 22 million CFA francs during Mali’s run at the Africa Cup of Nations. But following the elimination, anger spilt onto the streets. An irate crowd reportedly gathered at his residence, forcing police to intervene and remove him for his own safety.

Sinayogo was arrested on Saturday and placed in detention at the cybercrime unit, according to two videographers who previously worked with him and later visited him in custody. Authorities confirmed he is being held on suspicion of fraud linked to online deception.

“Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali,” an official from the cybercrime unit told AFP. The official added that taking action earlier would have been difficult while the national team remained in the competition, describing the period as “the heat of the Africa Cup of Nations.”

Further details have since emerged about Sinayogo’s rise. A social media content creator close to him said the man was previously known as a political activist before “proclaiming himself a marabout overnight and making a fortune.”

The case has ignited debate in Mali over superstition, social media influence and the emotional pull of football, as hopes of continental glory once again gave way to disappointment — and, this time, a police investigation.

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AFCON

Once Teammates, Now Rivals, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane Clash Again At AFCON Bottom of Form

Published

13 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Kunle Solaja

By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca enroute Tangier

Former Liverpool teammates Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah will face each other on opposing sides for the first time in three years on Wednesday when Senegal will meet Egypt in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The last-four clash, scheduled for the Moroccan city of Tangier, marks the first occasion Mané and Salah have shared the same pitch since Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final in May 2022.

Soon after that defeat, Mané departed Liverpool for Bayern Munich, before moving on to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League a year later. Salah, meanwhile, has remained at Liverpool despite persistent links with a switch to Saudi Arabia and a challenging period under new coach Arne Slot before the Cup of Nations.

The Egypt captain has been in outstanding form in Morocco, scoring four goals in four matches to drive the Pharaohs’ run to the semi-finals. The tournament represents another chance for Salah to secure his first Africa Cup of Nations title, a prize that has so far eluded him.

With his 34th birthday approaching in June, time is becoming a factor for Salah, who has twice tasted final heartbreak.

He was part of the Egypt side beaten by Cameroon in the 2017 final in Gabon, and then captained the team that lost on penalties to Senegal in the 2022 final in Yaoundé.

Wednesday’s showdown adds another chapter to the Mané–Salah rivalry, with a place in the Africa Cup of Nations final at stake and both stars seeking to tilt the balance of recent history in their favour

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