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CAF To Hold AFCON 2027 Qualifying Draw In Cairo On Tuesday.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will on Tuesday hold the official qualifying draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the start of the journey to the continental tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
CAF announced this in a statement on Sunday, confirming that the draw ceremony will take place at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo.
According to CAF, the event will set the stage for 48 national teams to discover their qualification paths to the finals of a tournament already generating major anticipation before kick-off.
The statement added that the draw officially ushers in the next phase of the competition, which CAF says is designed to promote unity across the region under the theme “PAMOJA”, a Swahili word meaning “together.”
The 2027 edition, tagged AFCON PAMOJA, is scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027, and will be the first time the tournament is hosted jointly by three countries. It also marks AFCON’s return to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted it in 1976.
CAF explained that the 48 participating teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams in each group qualifying automatically. However, due to automatic qualification for the host nations, only one additional team from each of their groups will advance.
The body also outlined that the qualifying matches will be played across three FIFA international windows between September 2026 and March 2027.
Fixtures for matchdays one and two are scheduled between 21 September and 6 October 2026, while rounds three and four will take place from 9 to 17 November 2026. The final round of qualifiers will be held from 22 to 30 March 2027.
CAF noted that traditional powerhouses such as Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa are expected to be strong contenders, though recent campaigns have shown increasing competitiveness across the continent.
It also highlighted the rise of smaller nations like Comoros and Gambia, pointing to a growing balance in African football.
For the host nations, CAF said the tournament represents more than sport, describing it as a major opportunity to boost infrastructure, tourism, and investment while showcasing East Africa’s culture and passion for football on a global stage.
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THE MILLION-DOLLAR HAND: Maradona’s Infamous ‘Hand Of God’ Match Ball Sells For £2.5m At Auction.
The football utilized by Diego Maradona to score his controversial “Hand of God” goal against England during the 1986 World Cup has been auctioned in the United States for £2.5m.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Adidas Azteca ball brought in $3.3m via Heritage Auctions on Saturday, which fell short of the estimated £7.3m ($10m) projection from experts.
Key details of the historic item and match include:
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The Match: The ball was in play for the entirety of Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final victory against England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
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The Infamous Goal: Maradona scored both of Argentina’s goals, with his first involving him punching the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton—an infraction missed by the referee. Post-match, Maradona famously attributed it to “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God”.
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Goal of the Century: Minutes later, the Argentina captain scored a legendary solo goal, weaving past five outfield players and rounding Shilton.
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Prior Ownership: The ball was kept for over three decades by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the match. He initially sold it in 2022 for £1.74m ($2.37m), though a subsequent attempt to sell it in 2023 did not meet the reserve price.
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Related Memorabilia: This auction follows the 2022 sale of Maradona’s Argentina shirt from the same match, which fetched £7.1m.
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“PLEASE FORGIVE ME”: Inside Ijebu’s Dramatic Public Plea After The Loss Of Veteran Icon Ogogo.
Nollywood actor Olatayo Amokade, widely known as Ijebu, recently took to social media to appeal to his family, friends, colleagues, and associates for forgiveness regarding any past grievances.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The emotional video message shared on his Instagram page followed the passing of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly called Ogogo, who died at the age of 66.
Key highlights from his statement include:
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Deep Reflection: Ijebu expressed that the veteran actor’s death weighed heavily on his heart, prompting him to reflect deeply on the brevity of life and the importance of resolving conflicts early.
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Public Apology: Addressing seniors, colleagues, staff, and younger actors in the industry, the actor asked everyone to overlook his shortcomings and pardon any offense.
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Call for Reconciliation: Emphasizing that human beings come into the world with nothing and leave with nothing, he urged people to let go of grudges because life is short.
The founder and General Overseer of Rock Word Church and Dominion International, Dr Adamson Aromaegbe, has passed away.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the late gospel preacher died on Friday, with the specific circumstances surrounding his death kept private.
Key takeaways from the announcement include:
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Official Confirmation: The church leadership formally announced his passing on Sunday through a statement issued by Rev. Nnamdy Echezona via the ministry’s official channels.
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Tributes to a Visionary: The ministry honored Dr. Aromaegbe as a dedicated Christian leader, mentor, teacher, and kingdom builder whose life and work deeply impacted countless individuals.
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Next Steps: The church has asked members, friends, and well-wishers to keep the family and the Dominion International community in their prayers, noting that details regarding his “Celebration of Life” ceremony will be shared later.
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