The time has come for Patrick Vieira to step into international management.Senegal will kick off their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign away at Mozambique, in what could be a battle for top spot in Group J.##TWITTER_<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇸🇳 "I was born here, my parents were born here, and it really is a homecoming"<br>Patrick Vieira says it is "an honour" to become Senegal head coach, with the decision to take the job "one from the heart".<br>, <a href="https://t.co/ERdjyIezlL">pic.twitter.com/ERdjyIezlL</a></p>— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) <a href="https://x.com/BBCAfrica/status/2101247034976010501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>##Sudan will also look to stun the favorites, while Ethiopia are long shots to qualify for only their third AFCON in the last 44 years.Mozambique and Senegal have met seven times so far, and the Lions of Teranga have triumphed each time, with their last clashes coming in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, when Sadio Mane and Co. beat the Mambas 5-1 at home and 1-0 in Maputo.##LINKED_NEWS_69319##Nevertheless, Mozambique could have an advantage in the form of manager Chiquinho Conde, who has been in charge since 2021, while Vieira is still getting to know his squad, which, truth be told, is star-studded even without Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy, who recently announced their international retirements.Therefore, anything other than a Senegal win would come as a surprise.##LINKED_NEWS_69314##On the other hand, Nigeria are beginning their road to recovery after missing out on the 2026 World Cup, to the disappointment of the entire nation.Head coach Eric Chelle has been given a vote of confidence, while Super Eagles' biggest stars, such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and others, are in the squad.##TWITTER_<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇳🇬 TRAINING UNFILTERED 🦅<br><br>The <a href="https://x.com/NGSuperEagles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NGSuperEagles</a> put in the work before matchday. 🔥<br><br>Tonight, Nigeria 🇳🇬 face Madagascar 🇲🇬 in their opening AFCON 2027 qualifier in Uyo. ⚽<br><br>Time to turn preparation into performance. 👊🏽<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SuperEagles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperEagles</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/NGA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NGA</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AFCON2027?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AFCON2027</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/FootballNigeria?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FootballNigeria</a> <a href="https://t.co/CKvN7etEyn">pic.twitter.com/CKvN7etEyn</a></p>— Football Nigeria (@Footballnigera) <a href="https://x.com/Footballnigera/status/2103396507701637388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>##Hence, anything but a home victory against Madagascar would be an underwhelming way to start the new campaign.The stakes are even higher, with only the Group L winner advancing to the 2027 AFCON, as Tanzania have qualified automatically as one of the three host countries.All in all, the Super Eagles have little room for error.2027 AFCON QUALIFIERSRound 1ThursdayNamibia – Congo 1-0 (0-0)/Muzeu 47/DR Congo – Equatiorial Guinea 2-0 (1-0)/Mbemba 4, Wissa 72/Libya – Botswana 2-2 (0-2)/Al Hbeishi 87, Al Mariami 90+6 pen – Orebonye 30,42/Mauritania – CAR 3-1 (1-0)/Koita 32 pen, Camara 69, Diallo 89 – Koyalipou 48/Cameroon – Comoros 2-1 (1-0)/Nyengue 39, Mbeumo 48, Namaso 81 – Omari 51/Ivory Coast – Ghana 2-0 (1-0)/Yalcouye 44, Kessie 58 pen/Sierra Leone – Zimbabwe 2-3 (2-0)/Conteh 7, Tarawallie 27 – Munetsi 72,88, Chireva 76/Tunisia – Uganda 1-1 (1-0)/Arous 12 – Mato 68/Friday16.00: (2.40) Tanzania (2.70) Guinea-Bissau (3.40)18.00: (1.55) Niger (3.50) Lesotho (6.75)19.00: (1.15) Gambia (7.00) Somalia (15.0)19.00: (1.67) Malawi (3.45) South Sudan (5.20)19.00: (1.20) Nigeria (5.80) Madagascar (13.0)19.00: (1.80) Rwanda (3.35) Liberia (4.40)19.00: (1.77) Sudan (3.35) Ethiopia (4.60)19.00: (1.58) Togo (3.45) Burundi (6.25)22.00: (1.23) Algeria (5.50) Zambia (12.0)22.00: (1.50) Burkina Faso (3.60) Benin (7.25)22.00: (1.38) Egypt (4.20) Angola (8.50)22.00: (2.00) Mali (3.05) Cabo Verde (3.90)22.00: (1.18) Morocco (6.50) Gabon (13.0)22.00: (1.25) Senegal (5.20) Mozambique (11.0)Saturday16.00: (1.40) Kenya (4.20) Eritrea (7.75)19.00: (1.85) S.Africa (3.30) Guinea (4.20)***odds are subject to change***##SOFASCORE_<iframe id="sofa-standings-embed-59847-90940" src="https://widgets.sofascore.com/embed/tournament/59847/season/90940/standings?widgetTitle=Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Qualification+2027%2C+Group+J&showCompetitionLogo=true&widgetTheme=light" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="width:100%!important; height:431px!important;max-width:768px!important;"></iframe><div style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;text-align:left"> Standings provided by <a target="_blank" href="https://sofascore.com/">Sofascore</a> </div>####SOFASCORE_<iframe id="sofa-standings-embed-59839-90940" src="https://widgets.sofascore.com/embed/tournament/59839/season/90940/standings?widgetTitle=Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Qualification+2027%2C+Group+L&showCompetitionLogo=true&widgetTheme=light" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="width:100%!important; height:431px!important;max-width:768px!important;"></iframe><div style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;text-align:left"> Standings provided by <a target="_blank" href="https://sofascore.com/">Sofascore</a> </div>##
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