AFCON
2019 AFCON QUALIFIERS GET TO HOME STRETCH
By Sunday, all the 24 qualifiers would have emerged. At the moment, 14 are already confirmed making some of the matches of the Match Day six mere formalities.
One of such is Friday encounter of Nigeria and Seychelles in duel that has largely turned the visiting side mere tourists. Another is the Niger versus Egypt encounter in Niamey.
The Egypt, the obvious super power of the Africa Cup of Nations have picked qualification ticket, even before getting the hosting rights in Nigeria.
Who will go to Egypt next June? There are many contenders but only 24 countries will have the privilege of playing in the TOTAL CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2019. Cafonline.com reviews last remains games before this coming sixth day.
Group A
Senegal and Madagascar meet again for a final without stakes for this last day. The Teranga Lions will hope to finish this qualifying round with a fifth win in front of their home crowd. Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly will be serious contenders for the title next June. Will this golden generation finally be crowned after many failures despite their undeniable talent? As for the Barea, this will be their last major test before their first appearance at an AFCON. Sudan and Equatorial Guinea, already eliminated, are back together.
Group B
Already eliminated, Malawi hosts the Atlas Lions. Hervé Renard’s Morocco qualified before this match and the Moroccan coach is counting on his team to win and ensure the FIFA ranking. The players will also have in mind the prestigious friendly match to be played in Tangier on March 26th against Argentina with a certain Lionel Messi. Cameroon, the reigning African champions, need only a point at home against the Comoros to defend their trophy in Egypt. The Indomitable Lions will not be able to count on Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik and striker Stéphane Bahoken
Group C
In Bamako, Mali should logically win against the young South Sudanese team, who have still not pocketed a single point in these qualifiers. First place in the group should remain Les Aigles’ property before competing next June in the AFCON. In Bujumbura, a fiery atmosphere for the Burundians, who are 90 minutes away from their first AFCON qualification. Gabon must absolutely win. Coach Daniel Cousin will be able to count on the return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Group D
The Mustapha Tchaker stadium in Blida will be filled to capacity to greet the Fennecs in a game with no stakes. Djamel Belmadi’s Algeria will finish first in this group unless there is an accident and the last match against Gambia will be an opportunity to shine in front of their 22,000 fans. In Cotonou, the Squirrels had to draw to eliminate Emmanuel Adebayor’s Togo. Without Stéphane Sessegnon, coach Michel Dussuyer is counting on the audience at the Stade de l’Amitié to support his team
Group E
The Super Eagles know they’ll fly to the land of the Pharaohs. In Asaba, the Nigerians will therefore play without pressure against the Seychelles. In Sfax, South Africa has its destiny in its hands and could settle for a draw against Libya to take second place in the group’s qualifying round.
Group F
Ghana hosts Kenya for first place in the group. Both teams have already qualified ahead of Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.
Group G
Anyone can still qualify even if Zimbabwe has a slight advantage over its competitors. First with 8 points, the Warriors host the Congo Red Devils, currently last in Group G. The Congolese will have to win in Harare and hope for a bad result from their neighbors in Kinshasa. The Leopards will welcome Liberia and any result other than a victory would eliminate Florent Ibenge’s men.
Group H
Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire are expected to qualify in this order. Except an accident in the Central African Republic, the Sily National will remain first in the group ahead of the Ivorian Elephants who will play against Rwanda, the last and already eliminated.
Group I
The surprising Mourabitounes will travel serenely to Ouagadougou. Already qualified, the Mauritanians will face with more than motivated Stallions. Burkina Faso must win, but above all they must count on a misstep from the Palancas Negras, who travel to Botswana, who have already been eliminated. Scenario more than improbable.
Group J
Tunisia and Egypt, the host country, have already qualified for the Total AFCON 2019. For prestige, Eagles of Carthage and Pharaohs will compete for first place at a distance in their respective matches against Eswatini and Niger.
Group K
Another open group! Although the Chipolopolos are mathematically eliminated, their match against Namibia is not without stakes. Visitors must take it with them as the Portuguese-speaking duel will take place in Bissau between Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. Woe to the loser of this game when the Djuturs could get their second qualification for a AFCON finals.
Group L
The Cape Verde Blue Sharks will have to win at home against Lesotho, who are one point clear at the start of the game. The first and already qualified Ugandan Cranes travel to Tanzania
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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