When the Confederation of African Football ratified an expansion to the Africa Cup of Nations in July 2017, introducing eight more teams to the biennial competition, the dynamic of the qualifying program was always going to change.
As had been the case ahead of the European Championship in 2016, for which UEFA had instigated an increase from 16 to 24 teams, many of the continent’s heavyweights cruised to the tournament with games to spare.
However, an overall decrease in drama among the bigger nations…
Stoke’s Saido Berahino helped Burundi to qualify.
Saido Berahino’s decision to play for the country his family fled when he was 10 paid off at the weekend as the Stoke forward helped Burundi qualify for their first-ever African Nations Cup finals.
A 1-1 draw at home to Gabon in Bujumbura on Saturday ensured qualification for Burundi, sparking wild celebrations in the east African country.
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“It’s amazing, I cannot find the words. I need to take myself away for a moment to try and properly realise what has happened because I have not really been…
Angola striker Wilson Eduardo scored on his debut as they beat Botswana 1-0 to qualify for the expanded 24-team Africa Cup of Nations finals being hosted in Egypt from June 21-July 19.
Wilson, a former Portugal junior international, netted midway through the first half to ensure his side’s passage to the continental championships in a game that was delayed for 30 minutes after halftime by a partial floodlight failure.
Angola have missed the last two Nations Cup tournaments, but secured their passage…
Ahead of this weekend’s final round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, 13 teams have already qualified to join hosts Egypt at the continental showpiece, and South Africa should really be among them.
Their shocking failure to beat the Seychelles in Victoria in October has left Bafana Bafana with it all to do when they face Libya in Tunisia on Sunday.
At least Bafana are still in the driving seat; they enter matchday six on nine points to Libya’s seven, and will progress if they avoid defeat against…
Ahead of this weekend’s final round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, 14 teams have already qualified to join hosts Egypt at the continental showpiece, and South Africa should really be among them.
Their shocking failure to beat the Seychelles in Victoria in October has left Bafana Bafana with it all to do when they face Libya in Tunisia on Sunday.
At least Bafana are still in the driving seat; they enter matchday six on nine points to Libya’s seven, and will progress if they avoid defeat against…
The road to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations has been paved with troubles, with the tournament often appearing to be at the mercy of the Confederation of African Football’s internal politics and, notably, the regime change from Issa Hayatou to Ahmad Ahmad in March 2017.
The change in CAF presidency prompted the AFCON changes instigated at the CAF symposium in July 2017, where it was decided that the tournament would be expanded from 16 to 24 teams, even though the 2019 qualifying campaign had already…
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have never been short of inspiration for international games, especially when playing at home, and Friday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles will be no different.
Super Eagles fans, spoilt by the swashbuckling, winning fare served up by teams of yore, especially the famed Class of ’94, have come to expect nothing but victory on home ground, and react poorly when disappointed.
The constant fear of fan backlash acts as fuel for the players…
The final round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers runs from 22 to 24 March. Which teams have opted to rest some of their biggest stars?
Nigeria (vs Seychelles – 22 March):
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ez…
South Africa coach Stuart Baxter has recalled France-based midfielders Bongani Zungu and Keagan Dolly in naming his Bafana Bafana squad for their final Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifier against Libya.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns stars have each been absent since they sustained serious injuries playing for their Ligue 1 clubs in September, Zungu spraining an anterior cruciate ligament and Dolly fracturing a tibia.
“It’s good to have almost everyone back on board because there is no doubt how…
Uganda are targeting a spot at the 2026 World Cup after qualifying for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, according to President of the Federation of Uganda Football Association Moses Magogo.
No member country in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association has ever qualified for the World Cup, but Magogo is determined that Uganda will be the first.
“Uganda’s target is now qualifying for 2026 World Cup,” Magogo told ESPN. “We have made it to back-to-back AFCONs, and…