AFCON
TAKE-AWAYS IN THE UPCOMING NIGERIA-MADAGASCAR CLASH
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Both Nigeria and Madagascar meet in Alexandria on Sunday in continuation of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. With Madagascar defeat of Burundi on Thursday, the Sunday match has assumed greater importance that previously anticipated. As usual, Sports Village Square takes an insightful look at the encounter and comes out with the following points of interest.
- This is a match that the two topmost chieftains of CAF, Ahmad and Amaju Pinnick will naturally have vested interests. CAF president is from Madagascar and will wish his team make new marks by crossing the group stage at the very first attempt. Amaju Pinnick will want his Super Eagles to achieve a 100 per cent feat at the group stage for the first time ever.
- The match will be Nigeria’s 89th match in Africa Cup of Nations’ history. The Super Eagles have won 47 of the preceding 88 matches; lost 19 drew 22 and had scored 122 goals, conceding 84.
- The match will be the 32nd for Gernot Rohr as Nigeria’s manager.
- Gernot Rohr will be lining out a team against the country of his wife who is from Madagascar.
- Guinea provides a common denominator for both teams. While Nigeria beat Guinea, 1-0, Madagascar was forced to a 2-2 draw by Guinea.
- In beating Guinea on Wednesday, Rohr had his ‘Pound of Flesh’. He was shortlisted for the Guinea national team job in July 2016, but was not given the job, which was offered, to Paul Put. He not only beat the team that refused him, he showed he is better than Paul Put.
- A draw by both Nigeria and Madagascar will see both teams through as first and second respectively from the group. But a win by Madagascar, will alter the ranking, even though, both will still qualify.
- The Sunday match is Nigeria’s third group game in the current competition. Nigeria has never lost a third match in the Africa Cup of Nations since the 3-0 loss to Zambia in 1982. The worse results since had been the 0-0 to Algeria 1n 1984 and similar score line with Egypt in 1988.
- A win for Nigeria on Sunday makes it the first time Super Eagles will secure 100% record in Africa Cup of Nations’ group stage involving three matches.
- If fielded, Ahmed Musa who had his 80th cap in the match against Guinea, will be 19 games to clocking the milestone 100th cap.
- If fielded, Mikel Obi will be having his 89th cap, 11 more to get enlisted in the famed ‘Century Club’.
- Madagascar were close to recording an upset in duel with Nigeria 40 years ago when Bendel Insurance of Nigeria and AS Sotema clashed in the then African Winners’ Cup, now merged with CAF Cup and renamed CAF Confederation Cup. Bendel Insurance won the first leg in match of the quarterfinals encounter, 2-0 in Madagascar only to surprisingly lose by the same margin at the National Stadium, Lagos. Bendel however survived 5-3 by penalties.
- Also another Benin City team, Bendel United beat Madagascar’s FC BFV 4-1 in the semifinals of the African Cup Winners Cup 30 years ago and forced a goalless draw in Madagascar.
- Like most national football team in Africa, Madagascar’s team has a nickname. The team is called Barea, a specie of humped cattle which part of the country’s coat of arm.
- Madagascar conceded eight goals in 2019 AFCON qualifying; more than any other team that qualified for the tournament.
- Madagascar were the first team to qualify and for the first time, doing so with two matches to spare, after a lone goal victory over Equatorial Guinea last October in Antananarivo. Njiva Rakotoharimalala’s first half strike was all Nicolas Dupuis’ charges needed to achieve the biggest moment in their football history.
- This will be the fifth encounter of Madagascar and Nigeria at national team level. In the previous four matches, Madagascar has never scored a goal against the Super Eagles and had conceded five.
NIGERIA-MADAGASCAR HEAD-TO-HEAD
P W D L GF GA
Nigeria 4 3 1 0 5 0
Madagascar 4 0 1 3 0 5
- 7 Oct. 2000 (Afconq) Madagascar 0-0 Nigeria
- 2 June 2001 (Afconq) Nigeria 1-0 Madagascar
- 5 Sept. 2010(Afconq) Nigeria 2-0 Madagascar
- 3 Sept. 2011(Afconq) Madagascar 0-2 Nigeria
The Confederation of African Football has announced a major overhaul of its flagship competition, with the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to expand from 24 to 28 teams.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe disclosed the decision on Sunday following an executive committee meeting, describing it as part of the body’s commitment to elevating African football to global standards.
Motsepe said the expansion would create more opportunities for countries across the continent while ensuring that top African players worldwide return home to compete at the highest level.
“This is about our commitment to world-class football, bringing together the best African players from across the globe to compete on the continent,” he stated.
However, the CAF boss did not provide details on how the new 28-team format would be structured or when the expansion would take effect, leaving questions over qualification pathways and tournament scheduling.
Continuity for 2027, New Cycle from 2028
Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 AFCON will proceed as planned with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, maintaining the current 24-team format for that edition.
In a significant shift, CAF also announced that another AFCON tournament will be staged in 2028, after which the competition will move to a four-year cycle—aligning more closely with other major international tournaments.
CAF Nations League Introduced
In addition to AFCON reforms, CAF revealed plans to introduce an African Nations League starting from 2029. The new competition will be held annually, with a 16-team final tournament staged every two years.
The initiative is aimed at improving the competitiveness, structure and commercial value of the African national team football.
“We have to stop this situation where African fixtures are not predictable, consistent and reliable,” Motsepe said. “We must also focus on developing football in regions like East Africa, which has enormous potential.”
A New Era for African Football
The proposed changes mark one of the most ambitious restructurings of African football competitions in recent years, with CAF seeking to expand participation, enhance organisation and create a more predictable football calendar.
While details are still emerging, the decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for national teams, qualification formats and the overall growth of the game across the continent.
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The Confederation of African Football said it would implement changes and improvements to its statutes and regulations that would ensure that the farcical scenes at January’s Africa Cup of Nations final do not happen again.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the changes would strengthen trust and confidence in its referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies, but did not give concrete details.
The announcement followed a meeting of CAF’s executive committee in Cairo on Sunday and came on a tumultuous day for the organisation as its general secretary resigned.
African football’s governing body has been battling a crisis of confidence after its Appeal Board stripped Senegal of the Cup of Nations title in a decision that has been met with widespread derision.
Senegal were ruled to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 after walking off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco. They returned and scored a goal in extra time to win the game 1-0.
The decision is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and if Senegal win back their title it will be a further blow to CAF’s credibility.
“CAF has taken extensive legal advice from top African and international football lawyers and experts, to ensure that the CAF statutes and regulations adhere to and implement global football best practices, on and off the field,” Motsepe said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is important for the respect, integrity and credibility of African referees, VAR operators and the CAF Disciplinary Board and Appeal Board.
“CAF is working with FIFA for the ongoing training of African referees, VAR operators and match commissioners so that they are as good as the best in the world… CAF has made significant progress over the past five years in implementing governance, ethics, transparency and managerial best practices,” the CAF president added.
More precise details on the changes and how they would avoid a repeat of the Cup of Nations final controversy were not given by Motsepe, who earlier this month admitted his organisation was struggling with perceptions about its integrity.
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja
The Confederation of African Football may be considering possible disciplinary measures against Senegal following reports that the country’s national team has continued to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy despite being stripped of the title.
The development has triggered fresh debate within African football circles, with CAF understood to be treating the matter as a potential breach of its statutes and disciplinary code.
Sources close to the continental body indicate that Senegal’s actions could be interpreted as defiance of an official ruling, raising concerns about respect for regulatory authority and the precedent such conduct may set for other member associations.
CAF is believed to be weighing a range of sanctions, which could include financial penalties, formal reprimands, or restrictions on the country’s participation in certain CAF programmes and competitions.
While no final decision has been announced, insiders suggest that the governing body is keen to send a strong message on compliance and institutional discipline.
There are also indications that CAF’s disciplinary committee may be tasked with reviewing the circumstances surrounding the continued public display of the trophy, including whether the act constitutes misconduct under its regulations.
The issue is seen as more than a symbolic dispute over silverware. Analysts argue that how CAF handles the situation will reflect its ability to enforce decisions and maintain order among its 54 member associations.
“CAF cannot afford to appear weak on matters of discipline,” a source familiar with the situation said. “If a federation openly disregards a ruling, it undermines the entire governance structure.”
CAF is expected to provide clarity on the issue during an upcoming press engagement, where its president may outline the organisation’s position and any disciplinary steps to be taken.
For Senegal, the situation presents a delicate balancing act between national pride and compliance with continental football authority. For CAF, it represents a critical test of leadership and regulatory enforcement at a time when the credibility of African football governance remains under close watch.
The coming days are likely to determine whether the matter escalates into a full disciplinary case or is resolved through diplomatic engagement behind the scenes.
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