AFCON
ANXIETY GRIPS BAFANA BAFANA AHEAD OF AFCON CLASH WITH SUPER EAGLES
The Times of South Africa has reported that Bafana Bafana striker, Lebo Mothiba has warned his team-mates not to underestimate Nigeria’s attack after their key man up front and Afcon qualifiers leading scorer, Odeon Inhale pulled out of Saturday’s clash at FNB Stadium.
Ighalo, who has scored six goals – including five in two games against Libya – in the qualifiers for next year’s Afcon, was excused from the Bafana tie after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for his Chinese Super League team Changchun Yatai last week.
The forward’s place was given to Henry Onyekuru, another Nigerian danger man who is on loan to Galatasaray in the Turkish league from English club Everton.
Mothiba, who has scored three goals in four appearance for Bafana and is leading scorer with seven league goals for RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1 in France this season, said Nigeria always have options and won’t be short of firepower up front because of Ighalo’s absence in Saturday’s all important match.
“We know that their best striker is injured but still we can’t say everything is done for us,” said Mothiba of the team that has defeated Bafana seven times in the previous 13 clashes between the two sides.
“We can’t relax because they have Ighalo out. We know that Nigeria have good striker with physic, strong and fast. So we just have to prepare ourselves by doing well at training for our game on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a difficult game but we have to work hard at training, focus during game, play as a team and give everything.”
Bafana did beat Nigeria 2-0 in the first round tie in Uyo in June last year in a match that marked Stuart Baxter’s return as Bafana coach.
It was a game that Mothiba missed as the 22-year-old striker was not yet part of Bafana – and it was Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau who got the goals for Baxter’s men in what was a first victory for Bafana in an official clash against the highly-rated Super Eagles.
Bafana’s only other victory (2-1) against Nigeria, also engineered by Baxter in his first spell with Bafana, was in an international friendly at Ellis Park in 2004.
While Nigeria need just one point to confirm their participation in next year’s showpiece in Cameroon, Bafana can only do so if they gain three points on Saturday – a task that is feasible given their home ground advantage and a number of Super Eagles stars who will be missing due to injuries and suspensions.
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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