AFCON
Legends to storm Morocco 2025 AFCON Draw
Several African Legends will attend the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 Final draw, including Essam El Hadary, Patrick Mboma, Aymen Mathlouthi and Gervinho, when the event is staged at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat on Monday, 27 January.
The Legends have written their names into the history books as great ambassadors for their countries and African football as a whole and will bring added gravitas to the star-studded event that gets underway at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT | 20h00 Cairo).
The rich history of the AFCON has been built on great performances and feats of brilliance in the past, and the Legends who will be in Rabat have certainly played their part.
ESSAM EL HADARY (EGYPT)
The goalkeeper has a unique place in football history as the oldest player at a FIFA World Cup, aged 45 years and 161 days when he competed for Egypt at the finals in Russia.
His career with the Pharaohs spanned an incredible 22 years from his debut in 1996 to 2018, and saw him win 159 caps.
At the AFCON finals, he was in Egypt’s winning squads in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010, and also won three CAF Champions League titles with Al Ahly.
PATRICK MBOMA (CAMEROON)
Mboma was African Footballer of the Year in 2000 after playing a pivotal role for Cameroon as they won the AFCON, which was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.
Mboma scored in the semi-final and final and was back on the winners’ podium in Mali two years later as the Indomitable Lions won again.
He competed in four AFCON finals, netting 11 goals. Mboma also won Olympic gold with Cameroon in Sydney in 2000 and competed at two World Cup finals.
MOMO SISSOKO (MALI)
Sissoko played for Mali at the AFCON finals in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2013, where they finished in third place in the latter tournament. He also scored a goal in the opening game in 2004 against Kenya.
His illustrious club career took in stints at Valencia, Liverpool, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, and his honours include both a LaLiga and Ligue 1 title.
CHRISTOPHER KATONGO (ZAMBIA)
Katongo was Player of the Tournament at the 2012 AFCON finals where he captained Zambia to their first continental title.
He was among the players who successfully netted a kick in the post-match penalty shootout in the final against Cote d’Ivoire.
He scored at four separate AFCON tournaments from 2006 to 2012 and played professionally in South Africa, where he won the Golden Boot, Denmark and in the German Bundesliga.
AYMEN MATHLOUTHI (TUNISIA)
Nicknamed “Balbouli”, he kept goal for Tunisia at four AFCON finals in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017. He was also in the squad for the finals in 2008 and 2013.
In a distinguished career with Etoile du Sahel, he won both the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, and helped Tunisia to success in the 2011 African Nations Championship in Sudan.
Mathlouthi also played at the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia in 2018.
GERVINHO (COTE D’IVOIRE)
Gervais Yao Kouassi was among the most exciting footballers of his generation and an AFCON winner with the Elephants in 2015.
He competed at five tournaments in total from 2008 to 2015, also finishing as runner-up in 2012.
He was in the Ivorian team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and scored twice at the 2014 finals in Brazil.
At club level, he is fabled for his part in helping unfashionable Lille win Ligue 1 in 2011 before going onto play at Arsenal and Roma.
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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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