AFCON
Behold! Rwanda’s Five-Point plan to stop the Super Eagles revealed
Sports Village Square has gathered intelligent reports on what the Rwandan national team, Amavubi, intends to do to stop the Super Eagles in Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers.
Rwanda will host Nigeria at Amahoro Stadium in Match day 2 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. Nigeria currently leads the group and another win coupled with a possibility of a draw in the Benin versus Libya match may give the Super Eagles a breakaway lead from the pack of four.
The Rwandans who still have two other confrontations with the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifying series are not leaving anything to chances. According to the country’s leading newspaper, The New Nation, a five-point plan has been mapped out,
PLAN NO. 1: Destroy Nigeria’s aging backline
They believe the backline of the Super Eagles has aged, pointing out that Augustine Eguavoen’s three-man backline against Benin with Skipper Williams Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey is ageing and could be exploited. The trio has a combined age of 85.
Skipper Troost-Ekong is 31, Ajayi is 30 and Bassey is 24. According to the report, “aside the latter who is fast, Troost-Ekong and Ajayi are slow and it was clearly seen from the game with Benin that, though they are aggressive, they lacked the needed pace.
“This is an area where the likes of Gilbert Mugisha can explore to great effects. He can latch onto long balls as he normally does and run at the two players with pace and give them a hard time. He can either score with his pace or get Amavubi a penalty.”
PLAN NO. 2: Cut Ola Aina’s crosses from the right
The Rwandans will also be focusing on Ola Aina. Here is their plan on him:
“The former Chelsea winger is one of the unsung heroes in the Super Eagles from the left flank. He is capable of playing as a right wingback or a normal full back in a back four.
“Aina’s main attributes are his ability to get into key areas and deliver crosses to the opposing side’s box. Gilbert Mugisha, who operates on the left wing for Amavubi must put pressure on Aina so that he doesn’t get the chance to overlap and cause havoc.”
PLAN NO. 3: Man-mark Ademola Lookman
The Rwandans are looking at Ademola Lookman, a possible 2024 African Footballer of the Year winner. Here is their information on him:
“The Atalanta forward was unplayable against Benin netting two superb goals as Nigeria cruised to an emphatic 3-0 win.
“Lookman is a versatile forward who can operate from both flanks and also as a number 10. Wherever he will play against Amavubi, Fitina Omborenga, Claude Niyomugabo or even also Bonheur Mugisha must man-mark him to keep him out of the game.”
PLAN NO. 4: Leave no space for Osimhen
Expectedly, maskman, Victor Osimhen is a marked man. The Rwandans have the following information on him:
“Amavubi’s defence, especially Ange Mutsinzi, has an arduous task to mark the newly signed Galatasaray forward who is expected to start in Kigali.
“He came from the bench to net the second goal against Benin in the 78th minute on Saturday. Osimhen is an 18-yard box striker who hardly misses chances in that area.
“Whether in the air or on the ground, Mutsinzi must keep an eye on the prolific attacker throughout the game.”
PLAN NO. 5: Amavubi must have self-confidence
The overall assesment that is put to the Rwandan team runs thus: “Under Spittler, Amavubi have been superb as, in seve games in all competitions, they have won three matches drawn three and lost once. They have also scored six goals and conceded only twice.
“Rwanda defeated the likes of South Africa and Lesotho which Nigeria struggled against during the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Though football defies logic, this should be a big morale booster ahead of Nigeria clash.
“With Amahoro Stadium set to be filled to capacity, Rwanda hopes to get the needed home support and can go all out for a famous victory against one of Africa’s football giants.”
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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