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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.
The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (KSPWA) has announced that it has successfully airlifted 1,158 intending pilgrims from the state to Medina, Saudi Arabia, for the 2026 Hajj exercise.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Mallam Ibrahim Makarfi.
According to him, the first batch of 426 pilgrims departed on May 14, followed by 389 pilgrims on May 15, while a third flight carrying 343 pilgrims left on May 16, with all flights arriving safely in Medina.
He added that pilgrims scheduled for the fourth flight were already at the Hassan Usman Katsina International Airport, awaiting departure later on Sunday.
Makarfi further noted that pilgrims for the fifth flight began arriving at the Transit Camp in Mando, Kaduna, from 10:00 a.m. on the same day.
He confirmed that Flynas Airline is the official carrier handling the 2026 Hajj airlift operations.
The agency expressed appreciation to pilgrims and stakeholders for their cooperation and patience, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a smooth and successful transportation process for all intending pilgrims from the state.
Yusuf Gagdi, the House of Representatives member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State, has lost his bid to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for a third term in the National Assembly.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Gagdi, who is serving his second term and currently chairs the House Committee on Navy, was defeated in the APC primary election conducted across the three local government areas within the constituency.
Announcing the outcome on Sunday in Pankshin, chairman of the electoral committee, Daspan Ishaya, said Dr. John Tongshinen emerged victorious after polling 29,968 votes.
According to Ishaya, Gagdi secured 5,849 votes, far behind Tongshinen, who was subsequently declared winner of the primary and the APC candidate for the Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency.
He also noted that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the exercise.
Former Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has openly declared his full support for the governorship ambition of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Al-Makura made his position known on Sunday at the Emir’s Palace in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, during the grand finale of consultative visits by Adamu’s campaign council to traditional rulers across the state.
According to the former governor, his endorsement of Adamu is based on his belief that the former police boss possesses the leadership qualities, experience, and capacity needed to govern Nasarawa State effectively.
Al-Makura explained that the final leg of the traditional consultation was held at the Lafia Emir’s Palace because Lafia is Adamu’s home base and ancestral community.
He said the visit was not merely ceremonial but a significant homecoming for Adamu after engaging with royal fathers and stakeholders across the state ahead of the APC governorship primary, which is just days away.
“It is not a courtesy; it is an obligation for the son, after having seen virtually every leader, every emirate, every chief, every royalty, to come back home as the grand finale to brief his father about the successes and gains he has had in the entire campaign, especially now that it remains just about three days before the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress,” Al-Makura stated.
He added that the visit was aimed at seeking royal blessings, guidance, and support from the Emir as Adamu’s father figure and traditional leader.
“The visit is to seek royal blessings, royal guidance and royal support from his father and father of the land. Therefore, we are before you today in the congregation of supporters and admirers of IGP Adamu, to pay what I call a special courtesy, different from all other courtesies paid in various palaces,” he added.
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