AFCON
From AFCON Touchlines to an Open-Air Geography Class in Tangier
By Kunle Solaja, Cape Spartel in Tangier
Travelling, they say, is the most effective Geography teacher. Nowhere has that lesson been more vivid than in Morocco during the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, a competition that has doubled as a passport to discovery. Beyond goals and scorelines, the journey has unfolded across landscapes that explain why Moroccans affectionately describe their country as “The Kingdom of Light.”
Thanks to the thoughtful hospitality of the Moroccan National Association of Media and Publishers (ANME), the Africa Cup of Nations became far more than a football assignment. It turned into an excursion—one that carried me to places I would never have imagined visiting under the familiar routines of tournament coverage.
One such return journey on Tuesday led me back to Tangier, the legendary coastal city that has long served as Africa’s gateway to Europe. I arrived confident that I knew Tangier inside out. After all, this was my fourth visit. Its medina, cafés, sea breeze and cosmopolitan history felt familiar. Or so I thought.
Tangier, it turns out, always has another chapter.
Beyond Proximity to Europe
Yes, Tangier is famed as Africa’s closest point to Europe, gazing across the narrow waters at Spain. But the city is far more than a geographical footnote. It is a layered crossroads of continents, cultures and currents—both human and natural. This latest visit peeled back yet another layer, revealing landmarks that had somehow escaped me on previous trips.
The most breathtaking of them all was Cape Spartel, a place locals proudly describe as where two seas shake hands.
A Climb Through Living Landscapes
The journey itself set the tone. A tourist open-roof bus snaked its way up the undulating but impressively well-paved terrain, climbing steadily away from the city. From the elevated seats, Tangier unfolded in moving pictures: stretches of manicured botanical gardens, clusters of camels resting nonchalantly by the roadside, and pockets of small, inviting beaches tucked between rocky outcrops.
With every bend, the air grew cooler and the views wider. The road felt less like a commute and more like a guided lesson in physical geography, ecology and tourism planning—each curve revealing another postcard moment as we ascended toward the summit.
Where Two Seas Meet
Cape Spartel is not merely a scenic lookout; it is a living geography lesson. Here, the deep blue of the Mediterranean Sea meets the vast, restless Atlantic Ocean in a dramatic convergence that feels almost ceremonial. Standing at the edge, you sense movement, history and power—two great bodies of water acknowledging each other before continuing their separate journeys.
From the hilltop overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean flows eastward while the Atlantic pushes west toward the Americas, forming a two-layer exchange with currents moving in opposite directions at different depths. To the naked eye, the Mediterranean appears a calmer, deeper blue, contrasting with the visibly restless Atlantic.
The convergence of two great seas. The darker one is the Mediterranean, and the lighter coloured one is the Atlantic Ocean as viewed by Kunle Solaja
One member of Team ANME, Mamoune Kadiri, pointed to a cliff to my right and calmly noted that it was Spain, less than 14 kilometres away from Morocco and the African continent. In that instant, continents felt closer than ever.
Light, Wind and Memory
One historic feature anchoring the site is the Cape Spartel Lighthouse, a silent sentinel that has guided ships for generations. Around it, a beautifully organised tourist centre blends nature with thoughtful infrastructure, making the site accessible without diluting its raw grandeur.
Cliffs plunge toward the water below, winds whisper stories of ancient sailors, and the horizon stretches endlessly. Tangier, true to character, was windy. I paid the price for inadequate warm clothing, leaving with a cold and catarrh—small souvenirs from a place where the breeze never truly rests.
Yet what struck me most was not just the physical beauty, but the symbolism. Morocco, in calling itself the Kingdom of Light, seems to speak of clarity—of history, identity and place. At Cape Spartel, that light feels both literal and metaphorical, illuminating the meeting of seas, continents and cultures.
As the Africa Cup of Nations continues, the memories will naturally include goals, matches and stadium noise. But for me, one of the tournament’s most enduring legacies will be this rediscovery of Tangier—proof that even familiar destinations can still surprise, and that travel, when given the chance, remains the finest Geography teacher of all.
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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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