by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 22, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Teams from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone, Djibouti and South Sudan, will face each other in the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The draw for the preliminary stage was conducted on January 13 in Rabat, Morocco, featuring 12 lower-ranked nations based on the FIFA rankings. The winners of these ties will progress to the group phase of the qualification campaign.
Hosts Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have already secured automatic qualification for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2027, which will be jointly staged in East Africa.
In other preliminary-round matchups, Eritrea — returning to AFCON qualifiers after several years away — will take on Eswatini, while Ethiopia have been paired against São Tomé and Príncipe. Burundi will face Chad, Somalia will battle Mauritius, and Seychelles are set to meet Lesotho.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the preliminary round fixtures will be played over two legs during the FIFA international window scheduled for March 25–31, 2026.
The six winners from the preliminary round will advance to join the remaining 42 CAF Member Associations in the group stage of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
Preliminary Round Fixtures:
Djibouti vs South Sudan
Chad vs Burundi
Somalia vs Mauritius
Seychelles vs Lesotho
Eritrea vs Eswatini
São Tomé & Príncipe vs Ethiopia
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 22, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the timetable for the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), signalling the start of what promises to be an intense qualification battle across the continent.
CAF confirmed that the qualifying campaign will run in the latter part of 2026, beginning with a preliminary round set for March. This opening phase will feature selected nations, while teams exempted from the preliminary round — including the Leopards — will progress straight to the group stage.
The group phase of the qualifiers will be played across three FIFA international windows. Matchdays 1 and 2 are scheduled for September 21–30, 2026, with Matchdays 3 and 4 taking place from October 1–6, 2026. The final group fixtures, Matchdays 5 and 6, will be contested between November 9 and 17, 2026.
These matches will determine the teams that qualify for the 2027 AFCON, which CAF has confirmed will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The tournament will mark a historic milestone as the first Africa Cup of Nations to be staged across three East African countries.
The 2027 AFCON is set to kick off in June 2027, with anticipation already building for a colourful and highly competitive tournament.
CAF added that further details, including the official draw and full fixture list for the qualifiers, will be released in due course. As the countdown begins, national teams across Africa are expected to intensify preparations ahead of the decisive road to East Africa 2027.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 22, 2026 | Africa, Europe, International, Nigeria, Soccer
Nottingham Forest have officially included Ola Aina in their UEFA Europa League squad ahead of the club’s final two league-phase fixtures.
The Nigeria international was registered in time for Forest’s crucial encounter against Portuguese side SC Braga, scheduled for Thursday, and could make his first appearance in the competition this season.
Aina had been sidelined since September after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria. The full-back returned to action earlier this month and has since featured prominently under head coach Sean Dyche.
The defender has started three of Forest’s last four matches across all competitions, underlining his growing importance to the team.
In a further squad update, goalkeeper Angus Gunn has also been added to Forest’s Europa League list, replacing the injured John Victor.
Forest will be hoping the late reinforcements boost their chances as they look to finish the league phase strongly.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 22, 2026 | Africa, Europe, International, Soccer, World Cup
Paul Pogba has been backed to complete a surprise transfer to Wrexham as the next chapter of his football career — a move that could also help launch a future in acting.
The former Manchester United and France midfielder is currently rebuilding his career at Monaco after returning from a doping ban, but his long-term future at the Ligue 1 club remains uncertain. Former France international Louis Saha believes a switch to Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, could make perfect sense.
Pogba’s Return With Monaco
Pogba rejoined competitive football in June, signing a two-year deal with Monaco after leaving Juventus. His four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months on appeal, allowing him to resume his career in France.
The 32-year-old made his long-awaited debut in November, coming on as a late substitute during a 4-1 defeat to Rennes — his first competitive appearance since 2023. While Monaco players have reportedly been impressed by Pogba in training, injuries have disrupted his comeback, limiting him to just 30 minutes of action so far this season.
Monaco Open the Door to a Possible Exit
Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro has admitted Pogba’s return has not gone as planned and confirmed that a summer discussion over his future is possible.
“The program and the plan for Paul is not working the way we expected,” Scuro said. “He is very disturbed by the fact that he is struggling. He wants to be more available and increase his minutes on the pitch.
“If it does not work, for sure the parties can sit down in the summer and try to have another discussion about where we go.”
Saha Explains the Wrexham Link
Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, Louis Saha suggested Pogba may soon need to reassess his priorities.
“The French league is extremely hard,” Saha said. “He came back but had a few injuries. We all want Pogba to be at his best, and if he is, there’s no reason he can’t be in the France squad for the World Cup.
“But now he’s at a very pivotal moment. He has to really think about his future.”
Saha then floated the idea of a sensational move to Wrexham, highlighting the off-field appeal as much as the football.
“Paul Pogba at Wrexham? It would be fantastic for social media,” he added. “Paul has his eyes on Hollywood and wants to be an actor in some way, so it might make a lot of sense.”
What’s Next for Pogba?
Pogba has not featured for Monaco since early December and missed their recent Champions League trip to Real Madrid, where they suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat. He will be hoping to return soon as Monaco prepare for a Ligue 1 clash with Le Havre, followed by a Champions League meeting with his former club Juventus.
With questions surrounding his fitness, future, and ambitions beyond football, Pogba’s next move could be one of the most intriguing stories of the summer.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 22, 2026 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer, USA, World Cup
Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United future is back on track after an eye-catching performance in the Red Devils’ 2-0 derby win over Manchester City, with former Premier League stars backing him for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
The young midfielder delivered a standout display under interim boss Michael Carrick, operating impressively in a three-man midfield as United secured a crucial victory over their rivals.
Former Manchester City players Joleon Lescott and Shaun Wright-Phillips believe Mainoo is now firmly on course for England’s World Cup squad — provided he maintains his current form and enjoys regular game time.
Speaking on In The Mixer, Lescott was unequivocal when asked about Mainoo’s
World Cup chances:
“100 per cent,” he said.
Wright-Phillips agreed, adding:
“If he keeps up these performances, yeah.”
Mainoo had struggled for opportunities under former United manager Ruben Amorim, despite strong performances for both club and country. His lack of minutes led to loan speculation last summer and uncertainty around his future heading into January.
Following Amorim’s dismissal after 14 months in charge, Carrick has taken control until the end of the season — a move that appears to have immediately benefited Mainoo.
Lescott suggested Mainoo’s previous exclusion may not have been tactical.
“I think it was just a personal thing,” he said. “Managers don’t like certain players sometimes, regardless of ability. There’s got to be something there — because he can’t suddenly play like that and it be a surprise.”
Wright-Phillips added:
“It felt like the more people vouched for Kobbie, the more Amorim refused. Like he didn’t want to hear it.”
Carrick has previously spoken highly of Mainoo, stating on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast that players who come through the academy should form the backbone of Manchester United.
“For a club like United, you’ve got to have players who understand it,” Carrick said. “With a talent like Kobbie, there’s definitely a place for him. You build around that and stick with it.”
With renewed confidence, managerial backing, and influential performances, Mainoo’s England and Manchester United futures now look brighter than ever.
