Five big observations from Africa Cup of Nations qualifying
Ed Dove runs through the key talking points from opening rounds of Afcon qualifiers across Africa.
Ethiopia stun Ivory Coast, Madagascar bag record win
Ethiopia caused the first real shock of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they came from behind to stun the Ivory Coast with a 2-1 vict
Salah-less Egypt held to draw by minnows Comoros
Egypt, without injured striker Mohamed Salah, lacked a cutting edge in front of goal as they were held to a 0-0 draw by tiny Comoros Islands.
Victor Osimhen one-man wrecking ball for Nigeria Super Eagles in Afcon qualifying
Victor Osimhen has finally broken through at international level with the Super Eagles, and coach Gernot Rohr deserves credit for his emergence.
Nigeria, South Africa get wins in AFCON qualifying
Nigeria and South Africa each won their games in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Sunday.
Kessie penalty fuels Ivory Coast in AFCON qualifying
AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie scored a second-half penalty as Ivory Coast laboured to a 1-0 victory over Niger.
Afcon qualifiers: Tunisia wins, Morocco held
Tunisia and Tanzania won their African Cup of Nations qualifying matches but Morocco was held to a scoreless draw.
Afcon qualifiers: Ghana beat Bafana; Algeria win
Thomas Partey's long-range shot gave Ghana the lead and 19-year-old debutant Mohammed Kudus added the second in a 2-0 home win over South Africa.
Afcon qualifiers: Nigeria, Senegal win; Cameron draw
Senegal eased to a 2-0 win over Congo while Nigeria could only scrape a 2-1 victory over Benin in the opening day of 2021 AFCON qualifiers.
Kalu, Osimhen star for Super Eagles in Afcon opener
Nigeria overcame a scare from Benin to eke out a win in their opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Here are three takeaways from the game
Scrutiny on coaches as Black Stars, Bafana Bafana open AFCON 2021 journey
Respective coaches James Kwesi Appiah and Molefi Ntseki will be under intense scrutiny when Ghana and South Africa clash.
Meet the air traffic controller directing Cape Verde's footballing ascent
When your day job is managing thousands of lives in criss-crossing aircraft across a continent, managing a football team holds few terrors.
Africa Cup of Nations 2021 qualifiers: The road to Cameroon begins
Wednesday's group stage openers mark the proper kickoff for the Cameroon 2021 campaign, less than four months after the 2019 final.
Salah out of Egypt games, in protective boot
Mohamed Salah has been ruled out of Egypt's African Cup of Nations qualifiers, and was pictured wearing a protective boot on his ankle.
Rohr must overcome more than Benin in Super Eagles' Afcon quest
Starting this Africa Cup of Nations campaign with anything other than a win against Benin is not a scenario that can be countenanced in Nigeria,.
The tie that bonds Australia and South Sudan
South Sudan's long road to AFCON 2021 begins next week. Remarkably, 12 players will travel 7,000 miles from Australia to play for the Bright Stars.
Desabre's Uganda spearheading East Africa's footballing ascent
The French coach is confident the region is beginning to realise its untapped football potential.
Amuneke aims to exceed achievements of 'Father' Keshi
The Nigerian legend says African coaches "can do much more if there is support from everyone instead of running to Europeans at every opportunity".
Afcon qualifying: Lesser lights take centre stage on final wee
Some of the continent's less-heralded sides have made the most of the Africa Cup of Nations' expanded format.
Child refugee Berahino realises Burundi dream
A 1-1 draw at home to Gabon in Bujumbura on Saturday ensured qualification for Burundi, sparking wild celebrations.
Burundi, Cameroon seal AFCON qualification
Burundi qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time on Saturday, and they were joined by Cameroon, Guinea Bissau and Namibia.
Super Eagles' Afcon qualifier scoreline flatters to deceive
Given the lack of pressure in facing Seychelles on Friday, having already qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria's display was... meh.
Angola seal Cup of Nations spot with Wilson goal
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.
Bafana face Libya with failure a sword over their heads
Ahead of the final round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, 14 teams have already qualified, and South Africa should really be among them.
What will Nigeria coach Rohr be looking for ahead of Afcon?
Nigeria have never been short of inspiration for international games, and coach Gernot Rohr wants them to be mentally tough against tiny Seychelles.
Standings
| Group A | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guinea | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Mali | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Namibia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| Chad | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| Group B | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Uganda | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Burkina Faso | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Malawi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| South Sudan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Group C | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Ghana | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
| South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| Sudan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 3 |
| Sao Tome e Principe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 0 |
| Group D | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Gambia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Gabon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Congo DR | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Angola | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| Group E | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Morocco | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
| Mauritania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Central African Republic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Burundi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 0 |
| Group F | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Mozambique | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 4 |
| Cameroon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Cape Verde Islands | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rwanda | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| Group G | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Comoros Islands | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Kenya | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Egypt | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Togo | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Group H | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Algeria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 6 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Botswana | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Zambia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -6 | 0 |
| Group I | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Senegal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
| Congo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Eswatini | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -6 | 0 |
| Group J | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Tunisia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| Libya | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 3 |
| Tanzania | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| Group K | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Madagascar | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
| Ethiopia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Ivory Coast | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Niger | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -5 | 0 |
| Group L | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Nigeria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
| Benin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Sierra Leone | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| Lesotho | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |