AFCON
Super Eagles to Start AFCON Quest at Home to Madagascar
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria will begin their quest for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a home clash against Madagascar on September 21, 2026, after the full fixture schedule for the qualifying campaign was released following Tuesday’s draw in Cairo.
The Super Eagles, drawn in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau, face a demanding six-match programme spread across three international windows before the qualification series concludes in March next year.
Nigeria open the campaign at home against Madagascar in what could immediately revive memories of the Islanders’ shock 2-0 victory over the Super Eagles at the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt. On the same day, Tanzania will host Guinea-Bissau in the group’s other opening fixture.
The second round of matches on October 6 will see Nigeria travel to face the Guinea-Bissau national football team, one of the Super Eagles’ most troublesome recent opponents.
In the past three years, Guinea-Bissau have consistently pushed Nigeria to the limit, including a famous 1-0 AFCON qualifying victory in Abuja and another fiercely contested meeting at the 2023 AFCON finals in Abidjan.
Madagascar will host the Tanzania national football team in the other Group L encounter on Matchday Two.
The third round of fixtures on November 9 could prove decisive as Nigeria welcomes Tanzania in what many observers expect to become the group’s defining contest. Tanzania’s steady rise in African football and the advantage of automatic qualification as co-hosts of the 2027 finals add further intrigue to the fixture.
Madagascar will simultaneously take on Guinea-Bissau.
Eight days later, on November 17, the Super Eagles travel away to Madagascar in a potentially dangerous fixture, while Guinea-Bissau hosts Tanzania.
The final phase of the campaign comes in March 2027.
Nigeria will again face Madagascar away from home on March 22, while Guinea-Bissau host Tanzania. The qualification series then concludes on March 30 with Tanzania taking on Madagascar and Nigeria hosting Guinea-Bissau.
The group carries a special qualification format because the Tanzania national football team are already guaranteed a place at the finals as one of the tournament co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda.
As a result, only the highest-placed team apart from Tanzania will secure qualification from Group L to the 24-team finals scheduled to hold from June 19 to July 17 next year.
That arrangement places additional pressure on Nigeria to avoid slip-ups, especially in away fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, both of whom have caused major problems for the Super Eagles in recent years.
The full Group L fixtures are:
Matchday 1 – September 21, 2026
Nigeria vs Madagascar
Tanzania vs Guinea-Bissau
Matchday 2 – October 6, 2026
Madagascar vs Tanzania
Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria
Matchday 3 – November 9, 2026
Tanzania vs Nigeria
Madagascar vs Guinea-Bissau
Matchday 4 – November 17, 2026
Madagascar vs Tanzania
Guinea-Bissau vs Tanzania
Matchday 5 – March 22, 2027
Madagascar vs Nigeria
Guinea-Bissau vs Tanzania
Matchday 6 – March 30, 2027
Tanzania vs Madagascar
Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau
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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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