AFCON
Senegal Face Sudan as AFCON David-and-Goliath Drama Unfolds in Tangier
By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca, enroute Tangiers
Seven-time champions Senegal national football team will put their pedigree and title ambitions on the line when they clash with the Sudan national football team in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations at the imposing Grande Stade de Tanger.
On paper, it is a classic mismatch. Senegal, champions of the 2021 edition and among the continent’s elite, arrive as overwhelming favourites. Sudan, ranked 117th in the world and contesting their first knockout match at the Africa Cup of Nations in 14 years, carries the underdog tag — but also the freedom that comes with having little to lose.
The encounter pits pedigree against perseverance. Senegal have been one of the most complete teams at the tournament, blending physical authority with tactical discipline.
Their group-stage run was emphatic, capped by a commanding 3–0 victory over Benin, and they remain unbeaten as they enter the knockout phase.
With a squad shaped by repeated deep runs at major tournaments, the Teranga Lions are expected to control proceedings through midfield dominance, purposeful wing play and a defence that has rarely looked vulnerable.
Sudan’s journey has been markedly different but no less compelling. Qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams was itself a triumph, achieved against the backdrop of political turmoil and conflict at home.
Their campaign has been built on organisation, collective belief and sheer resilience. Compact in shape and tireless in effort, the Falcons have shown a willingness to suffer without the ball, frustrate opponents and strike through set-pieces or swift transitions.
For Senegal, patience will be crucial. Sudan are likely to sit deep and defend in numbers, forcing the favourites to probe carefully rather than chase early breakthroughs.
Precision in the final third and composure under pressure will be essential, particularly if the game stretches into its later stages, where Senegal’s experience in managing knockout football could prove decisive.
Sudan’s hopes rest on maintaining defensive concentration and seizing rare opportunities. An early goal or a sustained spell of pressure could ignite belief and turn the contest into a test of Senegal’s nerve. Any lapse, however, risks swift punishment from a side brimming with quality and confidence.
Tangier’s cool evening conditions and the fast surface at the Ibn Batouta Stadium are expected to favour Senegal’s tempo-based approach, but Sudan will draw strength from their underdog status and the absence of expectation. For them, this match represents more than football — it is a statement of resilience and national pride.
With a quarter-final place at stake, the clash promises a familiar Africa Cup of Nations narrative: a continental heavyweight seeking authority against a disciplined outsider daring to extend a memorable run.
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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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