AFCON
AFCON 2021 QUALIFIERS: SUPER EAGLES READY TO PERCH ON SQUIRRELS
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
The Super Eagles are set to arise in Uyo and go further to shine in all six matches leading to participation in the 33rd edition of Africa’s flagship football competition, the Africa Cup of Nations, to be staged next door, Cameroon.
Like Egypt 2019, 24 teams, including the host nation, will battle for the ultimate prize in Cameroon from June 11 to July 9, 2021.
Three-time winners, Nigeria ended Egypt 2019 as the third best team, achieving a tournament’s record of eight bronze medals. They have western neighbours Benin Republic as the first hurdle in their determination to continue from where they stopped in the competition.
Even as next door neighbours, the head-to-head clashes between Nigeria and Benin Republic are few and far between.
In competitive competitions, the Eagles were paired with the Squirrels in Group C of Angola 2010 Africa Cup of Nations with the “giants” managing a lone goal result, finishing behind leaders Egypt and ending the tournament in third position.
In the qualifiers for the last African Nations Championship hosted by Morocco last year, Nigeria encountered Benin Republic losing 0-1 in Cotonou and finishing the business at home 2-0.
Both sides were engaged in friendlies same day last month (October 13). The Super Eagles went to Singapore and were forced to 1-1 by Brazil, while Benin Republic played 2-2 with Zambia in Porto-Novo.
The Eagles have their captain Ahmed Musa back from the injury that kept him out of the Brazilian clash, just as the rest of the young squad appear ready to soar in two matches within five days – the second away to Lesotho on Sunday.
In Nigeria’s group, Sierra will host Lesotho at the same time of the Nigeria-Benin Republic encounter.
Title holders Algeria Algeria are in Group H of the qualifiers and welcome Zambia on Friday, while the other match in that group have Botswana away to Zimbabwe on Saturday.
Senegal, who lost painfully to Algeria in last July’s showpiece match of Egypt 2019, start the campaign tonight at home to Congo Republic in Group I after Guinea-Bissau would have hosted Eswatini a few hours earlier.
Tunisia, losers to Nigeria in the third place match of Egypt 2019, are in Group J along with Libya, Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea. All sides go to battle on Friday, Tunisia hosting Libya and Tanzania receiving Equatorial Guinea in Dar-es-Salam.
Cameroon will be involved in the qualifications only to keep in shape as their place in the finals is reversed as host nation. That leaves Group F, where the Indomitable Lions are placed, producing one more team from among Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique and Rwanda.
Matchday 1 fixtures
Wednesday…
Group L: Nigeria v Benin Republic, Sierra Leone v Lesotho (both 5pm)
Group B: Malawi v South Sudan (2pm), Burkina Faso v Uganda (8pm)
Group E: Central African Republic v Burundi (2pm)
Group A: Namibia v Chad Republic (5pm)
Group F: Cameroon v Cape Verde (5pm)
Group I: Guinea Bissau v Eswatini (5pm), Senegal v Congo Republic (8pm)
Group C: Sudan v São Tomé and Príncipe (8pm)
Group D: Angola v The Gambia (8pm)
Thursday…
Group F: Mozambique v Rwanda (5pm)
Group G: Egypt v Kenya, Togo v Comoros Islands (both 5pm)
Group A: Mali v Guinea (8pm)
Group C: Ghana v South Africa (8pm)
Group D: DR Congo v Gabon (8pm)
Group H: Algeria v Zambia (8pm)
Friday…
Group H: Zimbabwe v Botswana (5pm)
Group E: Morocco v Mauritania (8pm)
Group J: Tanzania v Equatorial Guinea (5pm), Tunisia v Libya (8pm)
Saturday…
Group K: Madagascar v Ethiopia (2pm), Côte d’Ivoire v Niger Republic (8pm)
—
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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