by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 18, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Three nations have already booked their places at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after being confirmed as co-hosts of the tournament, even though one of them did not feature at the ongoing 2025/26 edition.
The current AFCON is being staged in Morocco, where hosts Morocco are set to clash with Senegal in the final on Sunday, January 18, in Rabat. Senegal, powered by stars such as Sadio Mané, Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye, are chasing a second continental title after their triumph in 2022.
Morocco, on the other hand, are dreaming of a fairytale victory on home soil. Led by Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, the Atlas Lions are hoping to lift the AFCON trophy for the first time since 1976, buoyed by strong support from home fans.
Earlier, attention turned to the third-place playoff on Saturday, January 17, where Nigeria defeated Egypt 4–2 in Casablanca, leaving Mohamed Salah and the Pharaohs to settle for fourth place.
As expected, the latter stages of the tournament have been dominated by West and North African nations. Nigeria and Senegal have carried West Africa’s hopes, while Egypt and Morocco have represented North Africa.
East Africa, however, once again endured a challenging campaign. Ethiopia, champions in 1962, and Sudan, winners in 1970, remain the only East African countries to have ever lifted the AFCON trophy.
Despite recent disappointments, the region has plenty to anticipate. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, marking a landmark moment for East African football.
The expanded 24-team tournament will take place across 12 venues in ten cities between June and July 2027, shining a continental spotlight on the region.
Three Countries Already Qualified for AFCON 2027
As co-hosts, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have all secured automatic qualification for the 36th edition of Africa’s premier football competition. Unlike traditional powerhouses such as Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Morocco—who must battle through qualifiers starting in March 2026—the three East African hosts will bypass the qualification process.
Tanzania and Uganda both participated in the 2025/26 AFCON but failed to make an impact, ending the group stage without a single win. They finished third and fourth respectively in Group C, behind Nigeria and Tunisia. Kenya, meanwhile, did not qualify for the current tournament and last appeared at the AFCON finals in 2019.
Looking ahead, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also announced that AFCON will switch to a four-year cycle from 2028, while a new African Nations League is set to be introduced as an annual competition.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 18, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
Super Eagles forward Akor Adams has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after its medical team stepped in to care for his mother during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking after Nigeria’s victory over Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday, Adams opened up about the emotional strain of dealing with family concerns while featuring in his first AFCON tournament. The striker revealed that his mother fell ill during the competition but was well looked after thanks to CAF’s intervention.
“Just like in every other tournament, there are always things happening in the background, and family matters don’t stop because you’re playing football,” Adams told reporters.
“I’m grateful it wasn’t anything too serious or out of control. I also want to thank the CAF medical team because they took really good care of her. She’s doing much better now, and I’m happy we were able to get through this together.”
Despite Nigeria’s win over the Pharaohs, Adams admitted to having mixed emotions, as the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
“I’m not very happy, but the most important thing is that we won,” he said. Reacting to suggestions that a bronze medal might be insignificant, Adams strongly disagreed.
“Don’t talk about a bronze medal like it’s something easy. Some teams came here and left without anything,” he stressed.
“For now, we’ll just head back to the hotel, eat, and see what happens. For me, everything is positive.”
Reflecting on his first-ever AFCON medal, Adams described the moment as special. “It’s my first, and there’s nothing else to compare it to, so it’s definitely a good thing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senegal are set to face Egypt in Sunday’s AFCON 2025 final.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 17, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations approaches its grand finale, an intriguing historical pattern has ignited debate among fans and pundits alike: whenever Nigeria lose an AFCON knockout match on penalties, the team that beats them has gone on to win the title.
With the Super Eagles suffering another shootout heartbreak against hosts Morocco in the semifinals, questions are being asked about whether history could be hinting at the identity of the next AFCON champions.
A Pattern Written in AFCON History
The trend dates back to AFCON 2000, co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria. In a dramatic final, Nigeria and Cameroon played out a 2–2 draw before the Indomitable Lions triumphed 4–3 on penalties to lift the trophy, denying the Super Eagles glory on home soil.
Four years later, the script repeated itself.
At AFCON 2004, Nigeria were eliminated by hosts Tunisia in the semifinals after a 1–1 draw and a 5–3 penalty shootout defeat. Tunisia carried that momentum into the final, defeating Morocco 2–1 to claim their first-ever AFCON crown.
AFCON 2025: Déjà Vu for the Super Eagles
Fast forward to AFCON 2025, and Nigeria once again fell on penalties, this time against Morocco. After a goalless semifinal, Atlas Lions goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero, saving two spot-kicks in a 4–2 shootout win that booked Morocco a place in the final against Senegal.
With Cameroon (2000) and Tunisia (2004) both going on to win the title after beating Nigeria on penalties, many are wondering if Morocco could be next—especially as they chase a first continental crown in half a century.
Superstition, Statistics, or Psychology ?
Historically, Nigeria have featured in eight AFCON penalty shootouts, winning six and losing only two—both defeats coming against eventual champions. While penalty shootouts are notoriously unpredictable, winning such high-pressure moments often provides a powerful psychological lift, reinforcing belief and unity within a squad.
Whether this recurring pattern is coincidence or a reflection of elite teams rising in decisive moments remains open to debate. What is clear, however, is that shootout victories at critical stages can act as catalysts for championship success.
Final Thoughts
As Morocco prepare to face Senegal in the AFCON 2025 final, the narrative of “beating Nigeria on penalties leads to the title” adds an extra layer of intrigue. Superstition or not, it has become part of AFCON folklore—one more storyline enriching the drama as Africa’s finest battle for continental supremacy.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 17, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Nigeria, Soccer
Nigeria sealed third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties in Casablanca on Saturday, following a goalless third-place playoff at the Stade Mohammed V.
The Super Eagles showed calm and resilience throughout the contest, rounding off their AFCON campaign with a hard-fought victory over the Pharaohs, just 24 hours before the final in Rabat.
Nigeria had booked their place in the third-place encounter after suffering a narrow semifinal defeat to hosts Morocco, a dramatic clash that was also decided by penalties after extra time.
by Emmanuel Atanga | Jan 17, 2026 | AFCON, Africa, Soccer
Sadio Mané once again proved decisive for Senegal, firing the Teranga Lions into their second Africa Cup of Nations final in three editions with a match-winning strike in the semi-finals.
As the first AFCON 2025 semi-final in Tangier drifted into the final 15 minutes goalless, Mané seized his moment. Latching onto a loose ball on the edge of Egypt’s penalty area, the Senegal captain unleashed a low, unstoppable drive inside the near post to break the deadlock and secure Senegal’s place in the final.
For Mané, it was another defining moment against familiar foes. Just as in the 2021 final, it was Egypt and former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah who felt the sting of his brilliance. Four years ago, Mané converted the decisive penalty in a shootout win over the Pharaohs to deliver Senegal’s first AFCON title. Now, he has steered them back to the grand stage once more.
Currently plying his trade with Al Nassr, Mané hopes to return to Saudi Arabia with another international trophy. Standing in his way, however, is another Riyadh-based star who emerged as a hero 24 hours later.
Morocco’s semi-final against Nigeria was a tense, tightly contested affair that ended goalless after extra time. In the ensuing penalty shootout, goalkeeper Yassine Bono rose to the occasion, saving two of Nigeria’s four spot-kicks to send the hosts into their first AFCON final in 50 years.
For history to repeat itself on home soil, Bono will need to overcome a Senegal side packed with Saudi Pro League experience.
Alongside Mané, Al Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Al Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly form the backbone of the Senegalese team. All four players moved to Saudi Arabia during the landmark summer of 2023 and have since left a major imprint on the league.
Bono and Koulibaly were key figures in Al Hilal’s record-breaking 2023–24 title win, with Bono named Goalkeeper of the Year. Mané’s Al Nassr finished runners-up that season, while Mendy helped Al Ahli claim a historic AFC Champions League Elite crown and the Saudi Super Cup.
At AFCON 2025, Bono has been formidable, keeping five clean sheets so far and closing in on Essam El Hadary’s all-time AFCON record of 14. After his Man of the Match display against Nigeria, the Al Hilal goalkeeper expressed confidence ahead of the final.
Mané, also a Man of the Match winner in the semis, is equally determined. “We’ll try to be ready for the final and, above all, give our best,” he said. “I hope to win and bring the trophy back to Dakar.”
Sunday’s final in Rabat promises a blockbuster showdown, rich with Saudi Pro League influence, as Mané and Bono—separated by a fierce Riyadh rivalry—face off for the most coveted prize in African football.
