AFCON
Kudus inspires Ghana to clinch AFCON qualification, Angola secure spot
Ghana booked their place at the Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, after a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Central African Republic on Thursday.
Trailing to Louis Mafouta’s first-half goal in Kumasi, the Black Stars were staring elimination in the face.
But West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus stepped up to curl home a vital free-kick just before the break to level the scores.
The 23-year-old’s clutch intervention sparked wild celebrations as qualification edged closer.
The midfielder was mobbed by teammates after sparking wild celebrations from the home fans.
Ghana completed the turnaround late on when substitute Ernest Nuamah tapped home to make it 2-1.
The victory saw Ghana top Group E, with Angola joining them in qualifying after a 0-0 draw with Madagascar.
The results means Central African Republic finish third despite leading just before half-time of the game in Kumasi
They will be devastated to miss out on a first ever Nations Cup appearance after being ahead at half-time.
But Chris Hughton’s Ghana side ultimately got the job done to book their place at next year’s finals in Cote d’Ivoire.
Kudus, who recently joined West Ham from Ajax , proved the hero with his equalising free-kick.
Meanwhile, Angola secured their return to the Africa Cup of Nations after holding Madagascar to a 0-0 draw in the group’s other game on Thursday.
Needing just a point to finish second in Group E, the Palancas Negras comfortably held on to book their spot.
It means Angola will feature at their first AFCON since 2013 after missing the last three tournaments.
Their resilience frustrated a Madagascar side who needed a win to stand any chance of qualifying.
The result also eliminated Central African Republic, who were hoping to stun the group winners Ghana.
Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of their African Cup of Nations title will be heard on October 8, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Friday.
Senegal were ruled to have forfeited the game in Rabat on January 18 because they walked off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to opponents Morocco.
They returned after 14 minutes to win the match 1-0, but the appeal board of African soccer’s governing body (CAF) replaced that result with a 3-0 victory for Morocco in March.
The Senegalese government called for an inquiry into the removal of the title, and the country’s soccer federation (FSF) appealed to CAS.
A CAS panel will hold the hearing behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, CAS said in a statement.
“After the hearing, the panel will start its deliberations. At this stage, CAS cannot state when a final decision will be rendered but it will not be on the day of the hearing,” CAS added.
-Reuters
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially opened the bidding process for countries interested in hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2028, 2032 and 2036, with several member associations already submitting proposals.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe disclosed that the bidding exercise is progressing smoothly and described the level of interest from prospective hosts as encouraging.
“The bidding process is progressing very well, and numerous exciting bids have been submitted by potential host countries,” CAF said, adding that announcements on successful hosts will be made in due course.
Meanwhile, CAF confirmed that its 48th Ordinary General Assembly will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, on November 21, 2026.
The continental governing body expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their cooperation in preparations for the event.
CAF said the General Assembly is expected to attract football leaders from across the continent and will play a significant role in shaping policies aimed at accelerating the development and growth of African football.
The organisation added that the Abuja gathering is expected to be one of its most significant assemblies in recent years as CAF continues implementing reforms across competitions, infrastructure development, youth football and governance.
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By Kunle Solaja
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have taken the first step towards jointly hosting the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations after submitting an expression of interest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Nigerien Football Federation announced that CAF had accepted the joint declaration submitted by the three West African nations, marking the opening phase of the bidding process.
However, the acceptance of the expression of interest does not amount to an award of the hosting rights, as the countries must still undergo CAF’s comprehensive evaluation process before a final decision is made.
The three football federations unveiled their joint project following a meeting with CAF President Patrice Motsepe in the United States during the closing stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The proposed bid brings together the three members of the Alliance of Sahel States, reflecting their ambition to co-host one of Africa’s biggest sporting events and strengthen regional cooperation through football.
Earlier this month, CAF officially opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, inviting all 54 member associations to submit expressions of interest. The continental governing body said all bids would be assessed based on strict technical, financial and legal criteria.
As the next stage of the process, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso must prepare a comprehensive bid dossier outlining the proposed host cities, stadiums, training facilities, transport infrastructure, accommodation capacity and security arrangements.
CAF has yet to announce the timetable for selecting the 2032 host nation(s) or reveal the full list of countries expected to compete for the hosting rights.
Should the joint bid eventually succeed, the tournament would return to Mali for the first time since it staged the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. It would also mark a historic first for both Niger and Burkina Faso, neither of which has previously hosted the continent’s flagship football championship.
The bid underscores the growing trend of joint hosting arrangements for major football tournaments, allowing neighbouring countries to pool infrastructure and resources while expanding the reach of the competition across multiple nations.
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