Category: Football Africa

CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 Final Draw confirmed
by Football Sierra Leone

CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 Final Draw confirmed

A North African showdown is on the horizon at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.

The host nation, Morocco, has been drawn into Group A alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia for the finals, which will take place from May 13 to June 2, 2026, at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat.

The Final Draw was held at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday, featuring current African stars like Fiston Mayele (Pyramids FC and DR Congo), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly and Mali), and Ahmed Belhadji (Ceramica Cleopatra and Morocco), who helped kick off the event.

With only the top two teams from each group moving on to the quarter-finals, this competitive group echoes the recent UNAF qualifiers in Libya, which Morocco won.

In Group B, former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon will square off against Uganda and debutants DR Congo. Two-time winners Cameroon claimed the title as recently as 2019, while Côte d’Ivoire celebrated their triumph in 2013.

Meanwhile, last year’s runners-up, Mali, find themselves in Group C, where they will face Southern African nations Angola and Mozambique, along with East African side Tanzania. Mali previously lifted the trophy in 2015 and 2017.

Finally, Group D features the reigning champions, Senegal, who will take on the 2015 silver medalists, South Africa, Algeria, and two-time winners Ghana. Ghana enjoyed success as champions in 1995 and 1999.

The eight teams that reach the quarter-finals will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, set to be hosted in Qatar later that year. Additionally, the third-placed teams in each group will compete in two playoff matches to determine the final two qualifiers.

Ten African nations will again be present at the global finals. 

TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026:

GROUP A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia

Groupe B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroun, Ouganda, RDC

GROUP C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique 

GROUP D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana 
Historic East Africa 2027 AFCON dates for tournament confirmed
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Historic East Africa 2027 AFCON dates for the tournament confirmed

CAF has announced that the tournament will take place from June 19 to July 18 in East Africa, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

This will be the first time three East African nations host AFCON together, and the first in the region since 1976, when it last occurred in Ethiopia.

This edition marks the 70th anniversary of AFCON and will be the last held in an odd-numbered year, with the tournament switching to every four years starting in 2028.

The Local Organising Committee of Uganda confirmed the tournament dates. Uganda will use two main stadiums: Mandela National Stadium and Hoima City Stadium. Host cities in Kenya include Nairobi, Eldoret, and Kakamega, while Tanzania will see matches in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, and Zanzibar.

Kenya recently met a key CAF deadline by paying a Ksh3.9 billion ($30 million) hosting fee, showing its commitment to the tournament. Uganda announced it will waive visa fees for visitors for three months around the event.

Qualifying matches took place during the March FIFA international break, with teams from Burundi, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea advancing. AFCON follows the 2024 African Nations Championship, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, where Morocco defeated Madagascar.

First leg AFCON 2027 preliminary qualifying advantage for Eritrea
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Eritrean athletes abscond in South Africa after qualification for AFCON qualifiers

Since 2009, more than 60 Eritrean football players have fled during international matches, prompting the Eritrean Football Federation to withdraw from significant competitions like the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers.

A few days ago, seven more players from the national team reportedly disappeared in South Africa after making history by advancing to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying stage for the first time in 19 years.

The players’ decision not to return home after their match against Eswatini has overshadowed Eritrea’s achievement. Out of ten locally based players, only three—Ablelom Teklezgi, Nahom Tadese, and Romel Abdu—returned.

Often called “African North Korea,” Eritrea faces criticism for its human rights and political repression. The national football team’s struggles reflect the government’s fear of athletes seeking asylum abroad.

Since 2009, a trend of defection during international fixtures has caused many players to flee, leading the Eritrean Football Federation to avoid major competitions due to potential political fallout. Since 2019, Eritrea has not competed internationally, driven by concerns over player defection.

Kalidou Koulibaly could announce international retirement from the World Cup
by Football Sierra Leone

Kalidou Koulibaly could announce his international retirement from the World Cup

Kalidou Koulibaly has hinted that the upcoming 2026 World Cup might be the last opportunity for Senegal fans to see him wearing the national team colours.

The 34-year-old centre-back made his debut for the Lions of Teranga against Namibia on September 5, 2015, and since then, he has accumulated over 100 caps for his country, often serving as captain.

Koulibaly secured his place in Senegalese history when he led Aliou Cisse’s team to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in February 2022, and he celebrated a second victory this year.

However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently stripped Senegal of the trophy, declaring Morocco the champions after ruling that Pape Thiaw’s squad had forfeited the final match by leaving the field for 16 minutes.

As he gears up to captain the Lions of Teranga once again at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Koulibaly acknowledges it may be time to pass the torch to younger players after this tournament.

“I believe this will be my last World Cup; I can’t see myself playing when I’m 39,” he shared in an interview with the Senegalese website ‘Media Car’. “There are young talents eager to represent the national team, and they deserve their chance. We’ll see what unfolds after the World Cup.

“When the moment is right, we’ll hand over the baton. I haven’t completely made up my mind yet; I have a general idea, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I prefer not to dwell too much on the future, but it’s clear that I’m approaching the end of my journey.”

Burundi and Ethiopia progress to Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Burundi and Ethiopia progress to Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers

Burundi and Ethiopia secured spots in the next round of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers with strong performances on Tuesday.

Burundi defeated Chad 4-0, winning 8-0 On aggregate, while Ethiopia beat Sao Tome and Principe 1-0, advancing with a 4-0 aggregate score.

Burundi’s Strong Win Over Chad  

Burundi dominated Chad, following their 4-0 win in the first leg. They took control early, with Bienvenue Kanakimana scoring twice in the first half. Justin Girumugisha added a goal in the 70th minute, and Abdoul Karim scored the final goal. Burundi’s performance ensured its advancement to the next stage.

Ethiopia’s Solid Win at Home

Ethiopia continued their strong form with a 1-0 win at home, having already won 3-0 in the first leg. Chernet Gugsaa scored early, sealing Sao Tome’s hopes of a comeback. Ethiopia managed the match well, keeping their opponents at bay.

Looking Ahead

Both teams capitalised on their first-leg advantages, allowing them to play confidently in the second matches. Moving on is a significant step toward reaching the AFCON 2027 finals, hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. With improved performances, both teams aim to carry their momentum into the tougher rounds ahead.