AFCON
WHY NIGERIA WILL LIKELY GET MORE EGYPTIAN SUPPORT IN AFCON SEMI-FINALS CLASH WITH ALGERIA
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles may likely profit from the long term sporting feud that exists between Egypt and Algeria as Nigeria face Algeria in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday night.
Already, the Super Eagles appeared to be the adopted home team for the Egyptians after their painful exit via a late goal by South Africa. Incidentally, it was also by a late goal that Nigeria applied to eliminate South Africa, as if avenging for the Egyptians.
The Super Eagles were greeted with deep rooted chants of Nee-ge-ria! as the Nigerian team arrived Cairo from Alexandria earlier in the week for their last Wednesday grudge-filled match with South Africa. Nigeria did a good ‘job’ for the Egyptians by eliminating their eliminator.
Now it is another grudge laden encounter with Algeria. For 41 years since the Algiers ’78 All Africa Games, there have been strained sporting relationship between Algeria and Egypt and this had often degenerated to violence and diplomatic row.
At the height of the tension, Egypt, in the same Group A with hosts, Algeria, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire initially refused to send a team to the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria until they were threatened with an outright ban as later happened to Nigeria which pulled out of the !996 tournament.
Egypt later sent a second string side to the tournament, leaving at home, their stars, who were later to feature at Italia ’90 World Cup.
Incidentally, both Algeria are
Arab countries in North Africa and separated by Libya. Football matches between
them are fiercely contested and often lead to violence and sometimes
necessitating taking the fixtures to a neutral ground as was the case in a 2010
World Cup qualifiers which had to be taken to Sudan.
As a way of easing tension with the Algerians at the on-going Africa Cup of Nations, Egyptian ticketing company Tazkarti published a statement to help Algerian fans that attended the country’s quarter-final game against Cote d’Ivoire. The statement included some rules such as every fan should have their fan ID in during the period of the African tournament whether in Cairo or any other city.
“There is a Tazkarti outlet at Cairo International Airport which will help the fellow Algerians to get the fan ID and the tickets easily,” Tazkarti’s statement revealed.
“To facilitate for our Algerian brothers [only], owing to the narrow time and the large number of fans arriving at the airport, the fans can attend the games with the passport and the match ticket only,” the statement added.
The Egyptian feud with Algeria started in 1978 at the All Africa Games in Algiers. During a riot that followed a Libya versus Egypt match, Algerian fans reportedly aided the Libyans prompting Egypt to withdraw midway into the All Africa Games, even though leading on the overall medals’ table.
Later in 1989, Egypt eliminated Algeria at the final stage for the qualification for 1990 World Cup in Italy. It was a bloody battle as the Algerian felt that the Tunisian referee for the match was bias.
An Egyptian player, Ayman Younes reportedly remarked: “”It was a battle, not a football match”. In Egypt, Algerian player, Lakhdar Belloumi was convicted in absentia for glass attack which blinded Egypt’s team doctor in one eye.
Tension has not abated ever since. A defeat of Algerian teams is always a source of joy for a typical Egyptian.
TALE OF EGYPT-ALGERIA FOOTBALL FEUD
- 1978: Egyptian team recalled part-way through 3rd All Africa Gamesin Algeria after brawl following win over Libya. Algerian spectators joined in on Libyan side
- 1989: Egypt beat Algeria to reach Italia 90. After the match, midfielder Lakhdar Belloumi allegedlyblinded the Egyptian team doctor with a bottle. He remained subject to an Interpol arrest warrant, although he claimed goalkeeper Kamel Kadri had been the true perpetrator.
- 1990: Egypt initially refused to send its team to African Nations Cupin Algeria. It later benched its main squad at home and sent a second string squad which expectedly crashed out at group stage.
· 2009: Striker Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan, banned indefinitely by FIFA after a brawl following a club game in Algeria
·
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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