AFCON
Morocco Sweat Over Nayef Aguerd’s Fitness as Groin Injury Worsens
Morocco’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have suffered a setback as Nayef Aguerd, key defender for both Olympique de Marseille (OM) and the Atlas Lions, faces a worsening groin injury that has ruled him out of the national team’s upcoming training camp.
Aguerd, who has been battling pubalgia for several weeks, aggravated the problem during Marseille’s 3–0 Ligue 1 victory over Brest on November 8. Although he started the match, the 28-year-old was forced off late in the game after feeling renewed discomfort.
OM head coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed after the match that the injury had been troubling the defender for some time and now requires rest and further medical evaluation.
“Aguerd’s the bad news today,” De Zerbi admitted. “He’s been struggling with this pubalgia issue for a while, and it seems to be getting worse. He’ll have some tests, but he definitely needs a bit of time out.”
Local media in France report that Aguerd had already been rested during Marseille’s previous fixture, an early sign that the club was trying to manage his condition. His absence from Morocco’s upcoming camp—featuring friendlies against Mozambique and Uganda—has now been confirmed, dealing a blow to Walid Regragui’s plans ahead of the continental showpiece.
A Double Blow for Club and Country
For Morocco, Aguerd’s absence comes at a delicate time. The West Ham United alumnus, known for his aerial strength and calm distribution from the back, has been a mainstay in Regragui’s defensive structure since the 2022 World Cup. His leadership and consistency will be difficult to replace as Morocco fine-tunes tactics for AFCON 2025 on home soil.
At club level, the news also complicates matters for De Zerbi, who is still shaping his Marseille side to compete effectively in Ligue 1 and the Europa League. Losing one of his most reliable defenders could disrupt the defensive balance just as OM seemed to be finding rhythm.
Recovery Plan Underway
According to L’Équipe and Foot Mercato, Aguerd will undergo additional scans to determine the severity of the injury and outline a treatment plan.
The French club and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) are reportedly coordinating efforts to ensure the player’s recovery is handled carefully to avoid aggravating the condition.
For now, both sides are prioritizing caution, knowing that rushing his return could jeopardize Aguerd’s participation in the AFCON — a tournament Morocco is not only hosting but also widely tipped to contend for.
If the defender’s rehabilitation progresses as planned, he could still recover in time for the tournament’s final preparation phase. But for now, Morocco’s hopes rest uneasily on the outcome of his medical tests — and on Regragui’s ability to adapt his back line without one of his most trusted pillars.
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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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