Follow live from Stade de Kegue as Togo host Libya in the first leg of the first-round qualifying tie for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations – Egypt 2027.

Patrick Vieira is already facing pressure as Senegal manager after his first two matches in charge produced an unconvincing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Senegal began with a 1-1 draw against Mozambique before edging past Ethiopia 1-0. While those results represent a reasonable return on paper, the team’s performances have failed to convince.

Local media have criticised the quality of Senegal’s play, particularly their lack of attacking ideas. For a team of Senegal’s standing, the overall display has been judged insufficient.

Concerns have also emerged inside the dressing room and among the supporters. Vieira’s decision to leave captain Kalidou Koulibaly on the bench for the entirety of both matches has caused widespread confusion.

Senegal supporters have made their frustration clear both in the stands and on social media, with many judging the Lions of Teranga’s performances to have been too cautious.

Vieira, who arrived with high expectations, now finds himself under pressure after only two competitive outings. The French coach will need to make improvements in Senegal’s next fixtures if he is to prevent the unease surrounding the team from developing into a wider crisis.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear the Senegalese Football Federation’s appeal against CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation on 8 October 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The case follows CAF’s decision to award the CAN 2025 final to Morocco by a 3-0 forfeit.

The hearing will be held behind closed doors. CAS said the parties had not requested an expedited procedure, meaning the appeal will proceed according to the standard timetable.

Once the hearings have concluded, the arbitration panel will begin its deliberations.

No verdict will be delivered on 8 October, and CAS said it was not yet able to announce a date for the decision.

Reports of a disagreement between Ramy Bensebaini and Algeria manager Brahim Hemdani have been dismissed as “a complete lie” by a source within the national team setup.

The rumour emerged on Wednesday and suggested the Borussia Dortmund defender had left the Algeria camp early following a confrontation with Hemdani. It was claimed the incident came less than a week before Algeria’s friendly against Niger in Tizi Ouzou on 6 October.

The report appeared to support suggestions that Hemdani had adopted an increasingly strict approach after Rayan Ait-Nouri was sent away from the squad last Saturday. However, the story was quickly rejected.

Speaking to La Gazette du Fennec, an internal source described the claim as “a complete lie” and said the atmosphere within the group was “serene”.

The account was also backed by winwin, which reported that there had been no dispute between Bensebaini and Hemdani and that the player had not rebelled against the manager.

Bensebaini, 31, remains with the Algeria squad and has been training normally ahead of the meeting with Niger. The defender has made three appearances for Borussia Dortmund this season.

A photograph shared on Instagram Stories by Ibrahim Maza appears to show Bensebaini in the gym alongside Anis Hadj Moussa and the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder. That image provides further evidence that he remains involved with the group.

Bensebaini was appointed captain after Riyad Mahrez retired from international football. He played every minute of Algeria’s two qualification matches for CAN 2027 during the current international window.

Algeria began that sequence with a 3-1 home victory over Zambia on 25 September before drawing 2-2 with Burundi on Tuesday. The result leaves the team top of Group I, ahead of Zambia, Togo and Burundi.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has cancelled Morocco’s planned friendly against Ghana and confirmed that Mali will take the place of the Black Stars.

The decision follows internal problems within the Ghana squad and the players’ reluctance to travel to Morocco. The FRMF announced the change in a statement on Wednesday, ending the uncertainty over whether the fixture would go ahead.

The federation had been waiting for a response from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), as reported by insider Youssef the previous day. At the same time, the FRMF was exploring alternatives and had opened discussions with both Mali and Cape Verde.

Mali’s replacement fixture was made possible after a change to their schedule involving Tunisia. The Eagles were originally due to play Tunisia on 3 October at Rades, but that match was rearranged following discussions with Tunisia manager Mouine Chaabani and the agreement of the Malian Football Federation (Femafoot), according to Ettachkila.

The switch means Mali will now face Morocco instead of Ghana, with the Moroccan federation formally confirming the arrangement after consultations between the relevant national associations.

Mali have made a strong start to their qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, winning both of their matches so far. They defeated Cape Verde 3-1 before securing a 0-1 victory against Liberia.

Morocco have also won both of their matches in the campaign. They beat Gabon 2-0 in Rabat on 24 September, before overcoming Lesotho 0-2 on Tuesday in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Mohamed Ouhabi and his players therefore approach their next fixture as group leaders, with two wins from two matches and confidence high after their results in the opening rounds.

Morocco claimed their first victory in the UNAF U20 qualifying tournament with a 3-1 win over Algeria at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, on Wednesday.

The match was the third round of the north African tournament, which will determine qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations Under-20 tournament in Ghana.

Algeria made the stronger start, with Mouhammad Valmy testing Morocco goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch in the ninth minute after capitalising on a loose ball near the edge of the penalty area. The 16-year-old Rennes forward’s effort took a deflection and was turned behind.

Lille forward Saad Boussadia went close two minutes later after beating several defenders before seeing another shot saved by Bellaarouch. Algeria continued to threaten, with Morocco fortunate to survive a 12th-minute opportunity after two Algerian players got in each other’s way as they attempted to meet a chance from the left.

Morocco gradually grew into the game. Ilies Belmokhtar, the Monaco winger, forced Mohammed El Koubi of Paradou into action in the 15th minute, cutting in from the right before seeing his effort diverted for a corner.

The Lionceaux de l’Atlas then missed the clearest opportunity of the first half. Hamza Raji was unmarked when he met Belmokhtar’s cross in the 38th minute but lifted his finish over the bar from close range.

Mohamed Mounssef went close three minutes before half-time, holding off Adam Letlat of West Bromwich before forcing a save from El Koubi. Morocco finished the half strongly, although Valmy nearly gave Algeria a lead against the run of play in the fourth minute of added time.

Algeria captain Yanis Sellami of OM tested Bellaarouch again early in the second half with a long-range effort, which the goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt. It proved to be the final notable chance for the Fennecs, who were dressed entirely in white.

Morocco then scored three times in 11 minutes to take control.

Substitute Safouane Benzahra of Monaco supplied Sami Bouhoudane, whose powerful strike from the right flew under El Koubi’s crossbar in the 53rd minute. Bouhoudane turned provider three minutes later, heading the ball across goal for Mounssef to score into an empty net after El Koubi had come off his line unsuccessfully.

Belmokhtar delivered the free-kick for Ilyas Hidaoui to head home with a fine angled finish in the 64th minute, effectively securing the points.

El Koubi denied Raji five minutes later, while Letlat cleared another effort off the line in the 73rd minute to prevent further damage.

Algeria pulled one back in the 84th minute when Amdjed Niou of ES Ben Aknoun calmly beat Bellaarouch with a precise shot across goal.

The substitute goalkeeper then denied Algeria again in the first minute of stoppage time, before Mohamed Mehdi Meziane of Olympique Akbou fired over from the penalty spot with the goal at his mercy in the fourth added minute.

Morocco had drawn 0-0 with Tunisia in their opening match and now move back into contention. Algeria must produce a result against Egypt to keep their qualification hopes alive, while Morocco face Egypt and Libya in their remaining matches.

France host Italy at the Stade de France on Friday as both sides prepare for their third match of the Nations League group stage.

Les Bleus are unbeaten after their opening two fixtures and will be aiming to extend that run on home soil. Italy, meanwhile, arrive with renewed confidence after a convincing 4-1 victory in Turkey and will look to build on that result.

Both teams are dealing with a number of absences, making the likely starting line-ups a key focus before kick-off.

France

Zinedine Zidane will be without Kylian Mbappe, who is recovering from a left knee injury. France are also missing several established players, including William Saliba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery and Ibrahima Konate.

Despite those setbacks, the France manager has alternatives available. Desire Doue, Lucas Da Cunha and Jeremy Jacquet have all strengthened their claims with recent performances.

France's predicted XI is:

Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan

Defenders: Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Truffert

Midfielders: Rayan Cherki, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot

Forwards: Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue

Italy

Italy also travel with a depleted squad. Federico Dimarco, Andrea Cambiaso, Alessandro Buongiorno, Bryan Cristante, Manuel Locatelli and Nicolo Zaniolo are all unavailable, while Giacomo Raspadori has been ruled out.

Roberto Mancini could nevertheless be boosted by the possible returns of Nicolo Barella, Gianluca Mancini and Samuele Ricci. Their availability would provide further options as Italy seek to continue the momentum gained from their win in Turkey.

Italy's predicted XI is:

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Defenders: Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori

Midfielders: Davide Frattesi, Sandro Tonali, Nicolo Barella

Forwards: Moise Kean, Pio Esposito, Sebastiano Esposito

The match will be France's third game of the Nations League group phase, with Italy their opponents at the Stade de France.

The odds listed by 1xbet price a France victory at 1.41, with a draw at 5.10 and an Italy win at 6.50.

France host Italy on Friday, 2 October 2026, in the third round of Group 1 in Nations League A, with the hosts targeting a third successive victory.

Les Bleus lead the group after winning their opening two matches, while Italy are aiming to produce a major result in Paris and move closer to second place.

The match will be played at the Stade de France in Paris, with kick-off scheduled for 18:45 GMT.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the game will be shown on SuperSport and New World TV, as well as DStv Stream. beIN SPORTS holds the broadcast rights in the MENA region, while viewers in Germany and Canada can watch on DAZN.

In France, the match will be available on La chaine L’Equipe and TF1. Coverage in Turkey will be provided by ATV and S Sport TV, with Ziggo Sport 3 showing the game in the Netherlands. In the United Kingdom, it will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.

Previous meetings

France and Italy have met 41 times, with Italy holding the stronger overall record. The Azzurri have won 19 of those matches, compared with 12 victories for France, while 10 encounters have ended in draws.

Recent history has been more favourable to France, however, with Didier Deschamps' side winning four of the teams' past five meetings.

Form guide

France began their Nations League campaign with narrow 1-0 wins away to Turkey and Belgium. Those results have given them six points from two matches, and they have also kept two clean sheets.

Italy suffered a 2-0 defeat by Belgium in their opening fixture but responded emphatically by beating Turkey 4-1. The result left the Nazionale third in the group on three points and means they now need a strong performance against the leaders to fully revive their campaign.

Match prediction

France are the clear favourites in the available odds, with an estimated 69% chance of victory. The probability of a draw is placed at 20%, while Italy are given an 11% chance of winning.

Africafoot's prediction is a 2-0 victory for France.

The betting company 1xbet lists France at 1.41 to win, with the draw priced at 5.10 and an Italy victory at 6.50.

Real Betis are keeping close watch on Olympiacos defender Bruno Onyemaechi, although the Spanish club have not made an offer or opened negotiations for the Nigeria international.

According to journalist Ekrem Konur, Onyemaechi’s situation is being followed by Real Betis, who are assessing the 27-year-old’s profile. No formal approach has yet been made, and the player remains under contract with Olympiacos until June 2028.

Olympiacos value Onyemaechi at €6m and would reportedly consider his departure only if that fee is met.

The Greek club signed the defender from Boavista for €2.5m. As part of that transfer, the Portuguese club also negotiated a 10% sell-on clause, meaning Boavista could receive a share of any profit generated by a future move.

Onyemaechi has established himself as an experienced international defender, having made 32 appearances for Nigeria. His current market value is estimated at €2.5m by Transfermarkt, significantly below the €6m price reportedly set by Olympiacos.

For now, Real Betis’ interest remains at the monitoring stage. The club are watching developments but have not taken concrete steps towards a deal. Any future approach could depend on their defensive requirements and whether they are prepared to meet Olympiacos’ financial expectations.

Real Betis are due to play Osasuna in their next La Liga fixture, the seventh matchday of the Spanish championship.

Atletico de Madrid are considering a move for Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari as they begin planning for the winter 2027 transfer window.

The 22-year-old Sweden international, who is of Tunisian origin, has emerged as a potential midfield target for the Spanish club, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. Atletico are understood to be monitoring his situation closely and could decide to make an approach during the next winter transfer window.

However, the La Liga side face significant competition for Ayari’s signature. Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United and AC Milan are also reported to be interested in the midfielder.

Atletico scouts have already watched Ayari in action for Sweden during their recent Nations League matches against Romania and Poland. He started both games and made a notable contribution, scoring once and providing an assist.

Versatility appeals to Atletico

Ayari’s ability to operate as either a defensive midfielder or a more advanced player is believed to be one of the main reasons for Atletico’s interest.

That flexibility could suit the needs of the Madrid club’s coaching staff as they look to gradually reshape their midfield and add more options in possession and in the team’s attacking play.

The Swedish midfielder’s capacity to perform in different roles has become an important part of his profile, while he continues to establish himself at Brighton.

Brighton seek contract extension

Ayari joined Brighton from AIK in January 2023 for about 4 million euros. Since then, he has become part of the first-team group at the English club.

He has made 82 appearances for the Seagulls, scoring seven goals and creating four assists.

His current contract runs until June 2027, although Brighton are expected to activate a clause that would extend the agreement until June 2028.

A new deal would strengthen Brighton’s position in any negotiations and could make it more difficult for interested clubs to secure Ayari. Atletico Madrid, however, now appear intent on being a leading contender for the player.

Brighton are due to face Sunderland in their sixth match of the English league season.

Ghana’s scheduled friendly against Morocco on 4 October in Tangier has been cancelled, with Mali set to replace the Black Stars against the Atlas Lions.

The change comes during a difficult period for Ghana, who have failed to collect a point from their opening two matches in the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers.

The Black Stars lost 2-0 to Cote d’Ivoire before suffering a 4-2 home defeat by The Gambia. Ghana had taken a 2-0 lead in that match but were unable to hold on.

Once regarded as one of Africa’s leading football nations, Ghana have also endured disappointing recent Africa Cup of Nations campaigns. They were eliminated in the group stage at the 2021 and 2023 tournaments before failing to qualify for the 2025 edition.

Mali will now face Morocco in the friendly that had been intended to provide Ghana with an opportunity to prepare during the international break.

Senegal’s men’s national teams will all play friendly matches during the final days of the international break, with the Football Federation announcing the full programme on Tuesday.

The country is preparing for several international commitments across different age groups. Senegal will feature at the upcoming FIFA U17 World Cup, while the U20 side is working towards the UFOA A U20 tournament and the U23 team is involved in preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations U23 qualifiers.

Senegal’s U20 team will begin the schedule with two matches against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Dakar. The games will take place at Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor on 1 and 3 October.

The same stadium will then host a meeting between Senegal and Gambia at U23 level. The two sides will play twice, on 3 and 5 October, as both teams continue their preparations for the next stage of their international programme.

Senegal’s U17 team, meanwhile, will travel to Paris for two fixtures against France. Those matches are scheduled for 2 and 4 October as the young Lions prepare for the FIFA U17 World Cup.

The senior side will complete the international break with a friendly against Comoros in Marseille on 4 October. The fixture will provide another opportunity for the Lions of Teranga to continue their preparations during a period featuring matches for several Senegalese teams.

Senegal’s beach soccer team also has two games planned. The Lions “of the sand” are preparing for the Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations and will face Nigeria after recently playing a three-match series against the United Arab Emirates.

The programme gives Senegal a particularly busy finish to the international break, with men’s teams at senior, youth and beach-soccer level all involved in friendly fixtures.

Count around 400. Use CAS or Court of Arbitration for Sport? Names exactly officially used requirement. Source TAS = Tribunal arbitral du sport, English officially Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Keep CAF etc. "presided over by French professor Gerald Simon." Good.

Need perhaps "Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time before CAF Appeal Commission withdrew title from Lions." Strong angle no verdict hearing day. Let's write. Ensure first paragraph headline. Could headline itself be first paragraph. Double newline.

Word count roughly 425. No invented "appeal hearing". Let's go.

Algeria’s 2-2 draw away to Burundi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has underlined the challenge facing the team as it begins a new era without Riyad Mahrez and Aissa Mandi.

The international retirements of Mahrez and Mandi have created more than two vacancies in the starting XI. The pair also took with them substantial experience and authority within the Algeria squad, leaving coach Brahim Hemdani searching for a figure capable of taking control when matches become difficult.

Ramy Bensebaini was the natural candidate. The Borussia Dortmund defender had already been viewed as the leading contender to succeed Mahrez as captain, and Hemdani confirmed that expectation by handing him the armband.

But Bensebaini’s first away match as captain, in Bujumbura on Tuesday, showed that leadership requires more than seniority or reputation.

He was involved in the sequence of mistakes that led to Burundi’s opening goal and was then directly at fault for the hosts’ second. The two incidents left Algeria 2-0 down after only 12 minutes and contributed heavily to one of the clearest conclusions from the draw.

That difficult individual display does not, on its own, justify questioning Bensebaini’s position as captain. Even a leader can have a poor match, while the defender retains the experience, character and legitimacy that come with being a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winner.

The role will, however, demand greater consistency. Bensebaini must organise a defence undergoing reconstruction, remain available despite recurring physical problems and control a temperament that has sometimes led to avoidable bookings. The armband should not change his personality, but it should help him manage it more effectively.

No obvious alternative

Hemdani’s main problem is the lack of an unquestionable alternative.

Nabil Bentaleb has the necessary experience and had been identified as a possible rival to Bensebaini for the captaincy. His lack of physical continuity and inconsistent performances for Algeria have nevertheless weakened that case.

Ismael Bennacer could become a genuine technical leader if he returns permanently to his best form, but he remains some way from that level. Amine Gouiri, Anis Hadj Moussa and Ibrahim Maza represent the future more clearly, yet none currently carries enough authority to lift the team when it begins to lose control.

Algeria’s recent history includes several players who were able to impose their voice on the side. Moussa Saib, Yazid Mansouri, Anthar Yahia, Adlene Guedioura, Mahrez and Mandi did not share the same style or ability, but they could unite, calm or galvanise their team-mates.

When Algeria fell 2-0 behind in Bujumbura after 12 minutes, no such figure emerged clearly.

Bensebaini remains the strongest candidate to occupy that position. His next challenge is to give the armband genuine authority on the pitch. Hemdani may have found his captain, but it would be premature to say he has found his leader.

Cote d’Ivoire continued their winning start to the CAN 2027 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Somalia at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Tuesday.

The Elephants followed up their opening win against Ghana to claim six points from their first two matches. They have also yet to concede a goal, although their latest performance was below the level expected of them for long periods.

Herve Renard’s side dominated possession against a deeply organised Somalia team but struggled to create clear openings or build enough tempo to break through. The breakthrough did not arrive until the closing stages, when the introduction of Yann Gboho and Bazoumana Toure added greater pace and purpose to the attack.

Young players provide the decisive impact

Gboho made an immediate contribution after coming on, finding himself in the right position at the right time to put Cote d’Ivoire ahead. The forward, formerly of Toulouse and now playing for Coventry in England, scored his first goal for the national team.

A few minutes later, Bazoumana Toure added a second to secure the result and remove any remaining doubt about the outcome.

For Arthur Boka, the performance of the two substitutes offers an encouraging sign during the new cycle being developed under Renard. The ability of younger players to make an impact from the bench gives the manager additional options as he continues to shape the team.

Substitutes change the pace

The match also underlined the importance of the solutions available to Cote d’Ivoire beyond the starting XI.

While the initial line-up found it difficult to unsettle Somalia’s defensive block, the changes gave the Elephants more speed in their attacking moves. The increased intensity eventually created the openings required to turn territorial control into goals.

However, Boka remained far less convinced by the overall content of the performance than by the final score. Cote d’Ivoire controlled the ball but lacked movement and acceleration for much of the game, allowing Somalia to remain competitive deep into the second half.

More clinical finishing still required

The home side could have settled the contest considerably earlier. Inaccurate finishing and some poor choices in the final third meant Somalia stayed within touching distance until the closing stages.

That lack of efficiency remains an area for improvement, despite the positive outcome. The Elephants created enough control to win, but not enough consistent danger to suggest they had fully solved the problems posed by a compact defence.

Boka’s assessment is therefore balanced: the result should not be overstated, but neither should the slow start overshadow the significance of two victories, six points and two clean sheets.

Cote d’Ivoire’s next fixture is a friendly against Cameroon on 3 October. The match will provide a stronger test of the progress made by Renard’s team, which has begun the campaign successfully but still needs greater control and cohesion in possession.

Galatasaray are preparing for the January transfer window and are considering reviving their interest in Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki, according to Fotomac.

The Istanbul club want to strengthen their midfield and have placed the 21-year-old on their recruitment list. Sadiki currently plays for Sunderland in the Premier League, having joined the English club from Union Saint-Gilloise in the summer of 2025.

Sadiki can operate either as a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced central role. His ability to win possession, energy in midfield and involvement in building play are understood to match the requirements of Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk.

The Turkish club’s directors are reportedly planning to travel to England in January to progress discussions over a possible deal. Sadiki’s age is also viewed as an advantage, with Galatasaray’s recruitment policy including players under the age of 23.

Sunderland signed the DR Congo international from Union Saint-Gilloise for about 17m euros in 2025. Fotomac reports that the Premier League club would now seek a fee above that figure.

Sadiki’s contract with Sunderland runs until 2030, leaving the English club in a strong negotiating position should Galatasaray make a formal approach. The midfielder is valued at 35m euros by Transfermarkt.

His annual income in England is reported to be 2,412,490 euros, equivalent to 1,568,118,500 FCFA.

Sunderland are due to play Brighton in their sixth match of the English league season.

Belgium host Turkey at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on Friday, 2 October 2026, in the third round of the Nations League group stage, with Mark van Bommel expected to keep faith with the side’s recent shape.

Senne Lammens is set to start in goal in the absence of Courtois, while Nathan Ngoy and Brandon Mechele are likely to continue together at the heart of the defence. The pairing has been solid since the World Cup.

Timothy Castagne and Joaquin Seys are expected to complete the back four. In midfield, Romeo Lavia should partner Youri Tielemans, combining defensive balance with experience.

Dodi Lukebakio is in line to replace the suspended Diego Moreira on the wing. Charles De Ketelaere is expected to lead the attack, with the forward preferred to Lukaku. Lukaku could still be introduced during the match.

Belgium’s probable XI

Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens

Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys

Defensive midfielders: Romeo Lavia, Youri Tielemans

Attacking midfielders: Dodi Lukebakio, Kevin De Bruyne, Mika Godts

Centre-forward: Charles De Ketelaere

Turkey arrive in poor form but are also expected to retain a three-man defensive system under Vincenzo Montella. Merih Demiral and Ozan Kabak are likely to form part of the back three, with Zeki Celik completing the defensive line.

Oguz Ayd?n and Eren Elmal? should operate as wing-backs, providing width while Orkun Kokcu and Salih Ozcan form the central midfield partnership.

Arda Guler remains Turkey’s main creative outlet and is expected to support Can Uzun and Bar?s Alper Y?lmaz in attack. Montella must work around the absences of Calhanoglu and Kenan Y?ld?z, who are both injured, as he seeks a balanced team combining youth and experience.

Turkey’s probable XI

Goalkeeper: Altay Bay?nd?r

Defenders: Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Ozan Kabak

Midfielders: Oguz Ayd?n, Orkun Kokcu, Salih Ozcan, Eren Elmal?

Attackers: Arda Guler, Bar?s Alper Y?lmaz, Can Uzun

The match is the third group-stage fixture in the Nations League for both Belgium and Turkey. The odds listed by 1xbet make Belgium favourites at 1.40, while a draw is priced at 4.50 and a Turkey victory at 5.20.

Yoane Wissa is among 11 players released by the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the Leopards made a winning start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The decision follows victories over Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe, which have put the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the top of their qualifying group. They opened with a 2-0 win against Equatorial Guinea before beating Zimbabwe 2-1 in Harare.

Head coach Sebastien Desabre will now use the remainder of the international window to assess other members of his squad, with two friendly matches against Uganda ahead.

The Federation Congolaise de Football Association confirmed the departures of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Arthur Masuaku, Axel Tuanzebe, Samuel Moutoussamy, Edo Kayembe, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Meschack Elia, Brian Cipenga, Yoane Wissa, Fiston Mayele and Simon Banza.

Wissa, who scored in both of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s opening qualifying matches, is one of several established players and regular starters to leave the camp. Their departures are part of Desabre’s original plan for the international window and do not indicate any problem within the squad.

Desabre selected two different groups for a programme containing four matches and 14 new call-ups. The intention was to avoid using all of his senior players throughout the entire period.

Having taken six points from a possible six in the competitive fixtures, the released players can return to their clubs without affecting the main objective of the window.

The remaining members of the delegation have travelled to Pretoria for a second training camp, which will run until 6 October. The Democratic Republic of the Congo will face Uganda at FNB Stadium on 2 and 5 October.

Those matches will give Desabre the opportunity to examine players who have yet to establish themselves in the national team. Willy Kambwala, Brandon Ndezi, Jorthy Mokio and Jordy Makengo are among those hoping to strengthen their positions in the squad.

Anthony Musaba of Norwich will not take part after withdrawing from the camp.

The focus of this second phase is therefore different from the opening two matches. Rather than pursuing points in the qualifying table, Desabre wants to expand his options and determine whether the newcomers can move closer to the level of the established players.

The Uganda fixtures are expected to feature a side with less experience and fewer established partnerships, but that is precisely what the coach intends to evaluate. With the senior players having set the team on course in qualification, the opportunity now belongs to those seeking a place in the starting line-up.

Desabre’s task is to discover whether the Leopards can build more than one competitive team as they prepare for the challenges ahead.

Mohamed Bachir Belloumi and Adil Boulbina scored as Algeria recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Burundi in Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, offering Brahim Hemdani encouragement from an often underestimated domestic talent pool.

The result should not reopen the familiar argument over players developed in Algeria and dual nationals educated in European academies. All represent the same team, and a player’s training background offers no guarantee of success at international level.

But in difficult conditions in Bujumbura, on an artificial pitch during the afternoon, Belloumi and Boulbina produced the moments that allowed Algeria to rescue a point.

Belloumi, who began his development at GC Mascara before joining MC Oran and later continuing his progress in Portugal and England, brought the visitors back into the game by reducing the deficit after 30 minutes.

Boulbina then levelled with an excellent direct free-kick. The two forwards had already emerged as among the few positive aspects of the draw, despite neither producing a flawless performance.

Boulbina, in particular, struggled for parts of the match before his goal. Yet both players delivered what is required from an international in a demanding contest: a decisive contribution when their side needed it most.

The contrast with some of Algeria’s Europe-trained players was apparent. Himad Abdelli found it difficult to influence the game before going off injured, while Fares Chaibi endured a particularly challenging afternoon that included an own goal.

That should not be treated as evidence of a wider rule. Saadi Radouani and Achraf Abada, who represent the Algerian league, also found the match difficult. Belloumi and Boulbina’s achievement was based on their individual performances, not simply where they were developed.

For Hemdani, however, their display is a significant boost. He understands the potential of Algeria’s domestic game, having coached an Algeria U21 side made up exclusively of players from the Algerian league at the Mediterranean Games only weeks before taking charge of the senior team.

That group went on to win the gold medal in Taranto after an almost perfect campaign.

Belloumi now has a strong opportunity to establish himself in the rotation on the right, while Boulbina has demonstrated both his striking technique and his ability to change a game. The presence of Mohamed Amoura makes a place in the starting XI more difficult to secure, but Boulbina’s position in the pecking order is now considerably stronger.

History nonetheless counsels caution. In 2017, Rabah Madjer attempted to give a much greater role to players from the Algerian league. That approach soon revealed its limitations, and Algeria subsequently returned to a team structure dominated by players developed or playing in Europe.

Hemdani does not need to impose a quota. His responsibility is to choose the best players, regardless of where they were trained. But the U21 triumph in Taranto and the goals scored by Belloumi and Boulbina in Bujumbura have delivered a clear message: Algeria’s domestic system can offer more than occasional depth.

The race for the 24 places at the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 is under way, with the tournament scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

Morocco and DR Congo are among the teams to have won both of their opening matches and made perfect starts to the qualifying campaign.

Cote d’Ivoire and Gambia, along with Mali and Rwanda, have already opened up a six-point advantage over third place in their respective groups. Ghana and Cape Verde, however, are already facing an uphill battle after taking no points from their first two games and falling six points behind the qualifying places.

There are still four rounds to play, in November 2026 and March 2027, meaning the standings can change significantly before the qualifiers conclude.

How qualification works

The final tournament will feature 24 teams and will be staged across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The three countries were appointed as co-hosts, despite persistent rumours that the 2027 edition could be moved to another country.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have qualified automatically as hosts. They are nevertheless taking part in the qualifying competition so they can play official matches in their respective groups.

A total of 48 teams are involved in the group stage. They have been divided into 12 groups of four. Before that stage began, 12 of the lowest-ranked nations contested a preliminary round, with the six winners joining the 42 teams admitted directly to the group phase.

The qualifiers are played as a mini-league, with each team facing every other side home and away. Each nation therefore plays six matches in total, including three at home and three away.

In the nine groups without a host nation - groups A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J and K - the top two teams qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.

The presence of the three hosts changes the number of qualifying places in their groups. Kenya are in Group D alongside South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea. Uganda are in Group H with Tunisia, Libya and Botswana, while Tanzania are in Group L alongside Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

Because the host nations are already certain of their places, only one additional qualification spot is available in each of those three groups. The highest-ranked team among the other three nations in each group will advance.

Contrary to some reports, results against the host nations are expected to count towards the group standings.

Tiebreaking criteria

Teams are first separated by points. A win is worth three points, a draw one and a defeat none, meaning a side can collect a maximum of 18 points across the six matchdays.

If two teams finish level, the CAF’s head-to-head criteria are applied first. These are points gained in matches between the teams, goal difference in those games, goals scored and away goals scored.

When more than two teams are tied, the head-to-head criteria are initially applied across all the teams involved. If only two remain level, the same criteria are then reassessed using only their matches against each other.

If they still cannot be separated, overall goal difference, total goals scored and away goals scored across the group are considered. A draw conducted by CAF is the final method of deciding the ranking.