AFCON takeaways: Salah shines for Egypt, Auba back with a bang
From unforgettable debuts to African heavyweights being humbled, here's the current state of affairs across the continent following the first international break of the 2024-25 season.
From unforgettable debuts to African heavyweights being humbled, here's the current state of affairs across the continent following the first international break of the 2024-25 season.
Four points, three goals, two clean sheets, one win and one draw have seen Augustine Eguavoen guide Nigeria to the top of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group. But will he stay in the job?
Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen stole the headlines for Nigeria in their win against Benin on the weekend, but more will be required to make it through the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers successfully.
Nigeria striker Ademola Lookman continued his outstanding year with two goals to help his country to a 3-0 home win over neighbours Benin in their opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday.
The major talking points, the fixtures to watch, and some of the new faces set to earn their first caps.
Forward Victor Osimhen and vice-captain William Troost-Ekong are back in the Nigeria squad for new coach Bruno Labbadia's first assignment as Super Eagles coach.
A nervy Cameroon scored twice in the second half to beat Burundi 3-0 in Garoua on Tuesday and qualify for January's Africa Cup of Nations finals, overcoming their plucky opponents as André Onana marked his return to the team with a series of key saves.
DR Congo, Mauritania and Mozambique qualified for the next Africa Cup of Nations finals with wins on Saturday, but the games were overshadowed by the earthquake in Morocco that killed more than 1,000 people.
Ghana, Angola and Tanzania qualified for January's African Cup of Nations finals when they finished in the top two of their respective groups on Thursday.
Manchester United risk losing André Onana for a month in the new year after the goalkeeper confirmed his return to international duty with Cameroon.
Jose Peseiro's contract as Nigeria men's national team coach has been renewed after he agreed to take a significant reduction in wages.
Manchester United's new goalkeeper Andre Onana has been recalled to Cameroon's squad some nine months after he walked out on the team during the World Cup in Qatar.
Having qualified for AFCON with a game to spare, there are still a few talking points for Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro to consider... like whether he'll still have a job at the end of the month, and who the heck should wear number 1?
As the Super Eagles prepare to face AFCON qualifying this weekend, Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze is so confident of a Nigeria win against Sierra Leone he has advised fans they can begin to book their tickets to Ivory Coast already.
Egypt came from behind to beat Guinea 2-1 on Wednesday and secure a record-extending 26th appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations finals as they made sure of top spot in their qualifying group with one match to play in the preliminary competition.
The recent round of AFCON qualifiers saw teams like SA, Senegal, and Nigeria, qualify for the tournament proper... But will Cameroon miss out?
Defending champions Senegal, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Tunisia all qualified for next year's African Cup of Nations finals on Tuesday.
Nigeria were a subdued team in the wake of their 1-0 win over Guinea Bissau in AFCON qualifying on Monday, but they could breathe a sigh of relief.
Algeria secured a place at the next Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 win over Niger that ensured a top-two finish in their qualifying group.
Heading into gameweek 4 of the AFCON qualifiers, some big sides, like Nigeria and South Africa, need to improve and fast.
Bright Samuel was the standout for Nigeria in their defeat by Guinea-Bissau in the first of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header.
Seriously, when will Nigeria's Super Eagles be able to go into camp without controversy and financial drama taking focus away from their players?
Group A | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tunisia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 6 |
Comoros | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Gambia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
Madagascar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
Group B | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Morocco | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
Gabon | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
Central African Republic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Lesotho | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
Group C | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Egypt | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 6 |
Cape Verde Islands | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
Mauritania | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
Botswana | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 0 |
Group D | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Nigeria | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
Benin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
Rwanda | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Libya | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
Group E | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Algeria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
Togo | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Equatorial Guinea | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
Liberia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 1 |
Group F | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Angola | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 6 |
Sudan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Ghana | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
Niger | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
Group G | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Ivory Coast | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
Zambia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
Sierra Leone | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
Chad | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
Group H | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Congo DR | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
Tanzania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Ethiopia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
Guinea | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Group I | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Mozambique | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Mali | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Guinea-Bissau | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Eswatini | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Group J | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Kenya | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Cameroon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Zimbabwe | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Namibia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Group K | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Uganda | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
South Africa | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Congo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
South Sudan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Group L | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Burkina Faso | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
Senegal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
Burundi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Malawi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |