Ghana U23 coach Desmond Ofei has selected a 25-player squad for the Black Meteors’ preparations for the CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2027 qualifiers.

The players are expected to report to the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. The training camp will allow the squad to step up preparations and play a series of friendly matches.

The Black Meteors are expected to remain in camp until the qualifying campaign begins in November. Some players may, however, be released temporarily to fulfil club commitments before returning to continue their work with the national team.

Ghana have been given a bye into the second round of qualifying. They will face the winner of the first-leg match between Togo and Libya, with that game scheduled for 9 November 2026 and the return fixture set for 17 November.

Should the Black Meteors progress, they will reach the final qualifying round. Their opponents at that stage will be the winner of the second-round tie involving Sao Tome-et-Principe, Equatorial Guinea or Niger.

The final round of qualifying is due to take place between 22 and 30 March 2027.

The three-round qualifying process will determine the seven teams that join hosts Egypt in the eight-team final tournament of the CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations.

Qualification would also give Ghana the chance to end a lengthy absence from the Olympic Games. The Black Meteors have not appeared in the men’s Olympic football tournament since Athens 2004.

Pitso Mosimane has welcomed Paulo Duarte’s assessment of South Africa as one of the three leading national teams in Africa, but says the Bafana Bafana still have plenty to prove.

Guinea head coach Duarte made the remark after his side’s 2-1 defeat by South Africa at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, in the opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

“For me, the three best teams on the continent are Morocco, Senegal and South Africa,” Duarte told reporters at his post-match news conference.

Mosimane, beginning his second spell in charge of the Bafana Bafana, said he appreciated the praise after an important Group D victory but insisted his team remained a work in progress.

“If that is his analysis, it is humbling,” Mosimane said.

“We won the bronze medal [at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations], so maybe that is why, yes. But we still have a long way to go. We are a good team, we played well, but we are still under construction.”

South Africa took control of the match when Germany-based defender Ime Okon opened the scoring before half-time.

Guinea responded through Seydouba Cisse, who brought the visitors level, but substitute Samukelo Kabini restored South Africa’s lead in the 77th minute.

The goal secured victory for Mosimane in his first competitive match since returning to the national team.

Guinea will need Serhou Guirassy to rediscover his scoring touch after South Africa beat them 2-1 in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Borussia Dortmund striker began the season in impressive form for his club, scoring four goals and providing two assists in six matches. He has also developed a strong record in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, finishing among the leading scorers in the 2025 campaign with six goals, a tally bettered only by Morocco’s Brahim Diaz.

But Guirassy did not score in the opening game of this new qualification campaign. Instead, he made his contribution by creating Guinea’s equaliser from a free-kick at the Orlando stadium.

South Africa were leading 1-0 when Guirassy stepped up to take a free-kick from a considerable distance in the 69th minute. His delivery went through the Bafana Bafana wall and dropped to the unmarked Seydouba Cisse.

Cisse controlled the ball before sending it past South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to make it 1-1.

Guirassy would not normally be expected to take set-pieces. His height and positioning in the penalty area usually make him more valuable as the player attacking such deliveries. On this occasion, however, he took the free-kick and unintentionally created the opportunity for Cisse.

The attempt appeared to be aimed towards goal, although it did not clear the South African wall. The ball nevertheless fell favourably for both Cisse and Guinea, eventually ending in the net.

It was a reminder of Guirassy’s wider influence, even on a difficult afternoon in front of goal. He had also won a free-kick in the fourth minute without Guinea being able to make it count, and was booked towards the end of the first half.

His involvement ultimately could not prevent defeat. South Africa scored again to secure a 2-1 victory, leaving Guinea with a difficult task in their next fixture against Kenya.

Kenya have already qualified as co-hosts, but the Harambee Stars will still be seeking to make life difficult for the Syli Nationale as they continue their preparations.

Guinea will play at home in Conakry on Thursday and will again look to Guirassy to produce opportunities of the quality that led to their goal in South Africa.

The greater hope, though, will be that the Dortmund forward can deliver the outcome for which he is best known in Africa and beyond: scoring goals.

Zimbabwe will play in front of home supporters for the first time in five years when they face the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday.

The fixture is a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the top of the standings, but it will also mark a significant return for Zimbabwean football.

The Warriors have been unable to host international matches in Harare since major renovation work began at the 60,000-capacity National Sports Stadium on the outskirts of the capital. As a result, Zimbabwe have been forced to stage their home fixtures abroad, with South Africa frequently used as their alternative venue.

Monday’s match will therefore be the national team’s first home game in five years.

The return will allow Zimbabwe to welcome supporters back to the stadium, after a prolonged period in which home advantage existed largely in name only. Matches designated as home fixtures were instead played outside the country because the National Sports Stadium was unavailable.

Zimbabwe’s situation is not unique in the qualifying campaign. Thirteen of the 48 teams competing for places at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations are currently without a permanent home venue.

The meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo consequently combines an important qualification fixture with Zimbabwe’s long-awaited return to Harare.

Togo manager Patrice Neveu says he will make changes to his side for Tuesday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia, with the aim of improving the team and securing another positive result away from home.

The Eperviers have arrived in Ndola ahead of their second qualifying match, where they will face the Chipolopolo. Neveu spoke to the Federation Togolaise de Football after the squad’s first training session in Zambia.

The French coach said he was encouraged by the attitude shown by his players during the session and believes the victory against Zambia has lifted the team’s confidence.

“We have a very good state of mind. This afternoon, we had a very good training session. The players were committed and focused, and there was quality,” Neveu said.

“A victory is always good for morale. We are playing away from home, so we must make use of our experience in managing matches on the road.”

Neveu also stressed that the circumstances in Zambia would not be the same as they were in Friday’s match against Burundi in Lome. He pointed to the absence of home support and the way Zambia typically approach the opening stages of their matches as factors that could influence the contest.

The Togo coach confirmed that changes would be made to his starting line-up to bring additional freshness into the team.

“We will not have our supporters, who played an important role and motivated some of the players enormously. That support will not be there,” he said.

“There will be changes in the team to bring freshness. It is important to continue along the path towards the objective we have set ourselves. The Zambians are used to starting matches very quickly.”

Neveu’s side will therefore need to adapt to a different environment in Ndola as they continue their campaign in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The match gives Togo an opportunity to build on the confidence gained from their previous result while addressing the issues identified by their manager.

Egypt arrived in Juba on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifier against South Sudan, with Mohamed Salah absent from the squad.

The Group B match will be played at Juba Stadium, where Egypt will be looking for a response after being held to a goalless draw by Angola in Cairo on Friday.

South Sudan also lost their opening fixture, going down 2-1 to Malawi. Malawi lead Group B after the first round of matches.

Egypt captain Salah will miss Tuesday’s game after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) agreed to rest him because the match is being played on an artificial surface.

The EFA said the decision was reached jointly by Salah and the coaching staff before the Angola match. It was intended to protect the forward from the physical demands associated with playing on synthetic turf.

The federation added that the decision was not connected to the result against Angola or Salah’s performance. The Liverpool forward started that match before being substituted in the second half.

Former South Sudan international James Joseph told Radio Tamazuj in Juba on Sunday that Salah’s absence should not have a major effect on Egypt, who have other high-quality players capable of influencing the match.

Joseph urged South Sudan’s players not to be distracted by the Egyptian media coverage surrounding the fixture and called on them to maintain their focus.

He acknowledged the difficulty of the contest given Egypt’s record as seven-time African champions. Although the heat could be a factor, Joseph said South Sudan could not rely solely on the climate against an Egypt side with considerable technical ability.

Joseph said South Sudan had a 50% chance of qualifying and encouraged the team’s players to use the fixture as an opportunity to showcase their talent.

Egypt and South Sudan are joined in Group B by Angola and Malawi. The top two teams in the group will qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, 29 September, at Juba Stadium.

Celtic were surprised to see Haissem Hassan named in Egypt’s starting line-up on Friday, only hours after his national manager had said the winger was unavailable because of injury.

The 24-year-old had joined up with his international team-mates, but an update from the Egypt camp appeared to suggest that he had suffered a fitness problem. Hossam Hassan had said the Celtic player required “intensive treatment” and that his latest issue had prevented him from linking up with the squad.

However, Hassan was subsequently selected to face Angola, starting alongside Mohamed Salah. He played for about an hour as Egypt were held to a goalless draw.

His involvement has inevitably raised questions over the precise nature of the problem that had reportedly ruled him out earlier in the day. From Celtic’s perspective, though, the key point is that Hassan was fit enough to take part in a competitive international fixture.

Martin O’Neill will hope the winger can complete his international commitments without suffering any further setback before Celtic return to Premiership action against Motherwell.

Hassan’s first appearances in Glasgow have been unconvincing, but Celtic will be hoping he can rediscover his best form and help improve the team’s fortunes.

The expectation is that any issue affecting him will have cleared up by the time Celtic play again, particularly after a difficult run of performances in recent weeks.

Celtic are also monitoring the condition of Yang Hyun-jun, who has confirmed that he sustained a hamstring injury while away with the South Korea national team.

Cameroon’s preparations for the UNIFFAC U17 tournament have raised questions over compliance with a national decree governing the country’s teams.

The competition serves as a qualifier for the CAN U17, and 23 players have been called up for a training camp currently taking place with the Cameroon national team.

However, an analysis of a 2014 decree setting out the rules for national selections suggests the camp may conflict with existing legislation.

Article 7, paragraph 3 of the decree states that “only players registered in competitions organised by FECAFOOT may be selected” for the U15 and U17 national teams.

The current squad appears not to meet that requirement, as all of the selected players are based outside Cameroon. They are playing in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy or elsewhere.

The decree has therefore prompted debate over the legal basis for the ongoing U17 camp and the eligibility of the players involved.

Spain have won the Women’s U20 World Cup in Poland after defeating North Korea in a final that remained undecided through 90 minutes and was settled by a penalty shootout.

Spain dictated possession from the opening whistle and looked to use short passing combinations to draw North Korea out of their defensive shape. The contest was particularly intense in midfield, where neither side was willing to give up control.

Despite the pressure and tension throughout the match, clear chances were rare. Both defensive units remained difficult to break down, with each team successfully preventing the other from creating sustained attacking opportunities.

Neither Spain nor North Korea managed to gain the decisive advantage during normal time, leaving the destination of the trophy to be determined from the penalty spot.

Choe Yon A, North Korea’s second penalty taker, missed her attempt, but the outcome remained in doubt until the final kicks. Daniel Agote converted for Spain, before Pak Il Sim was denied by Spanish goalkeeper Laia Lopez.

That save secured Spain’s second Women’s U20 World Cup title, following their triumph in 2022.

North Korea therefore missed the opportunity to become the most successful nation in the history of the Women’s U20 World Cup this year.

Chelsea are among the clubs monitoring highly rated Gambia Under-17 midfielder Adama Jeng.

The 15-year-old impressed while representing Gambia at the UFOA Zone A U17 tournament in Senegal this summer, with his performances drawing attention from clubs across Europe, according to The Sun.

Bayern Munich are also reported to have joined the list of interested sides. Benfica, Sporting Portugal, AS Monaco, Paris FC and Union Saint-Gilloise have likewise been linked with the young midfielder.

Nayef Aguerd has been officially ruled out of Morocco’s trip to South Africa, where the Atlas Lions will face Lesotho in an Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying match.

The defender did not travel with the rest of the squad and will remain in Morocco to continue his recovery programme at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora.

Aguerd’s individual return-to-fitness plan is being supervised there by members of the Morocco Under-23 national team’s technical staff. His absence leaves head coach Mohamed Ouahbi facing a defensive reshuffle ahead of the fixture.

The priority for Aguerd is to return to competitive action only when he has reached the best possible level of physical fitness.

Nigeria have travelled from their base in Uyo to Guinea-Bissau after opening their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar.

The Super Eagles departed on Sunday with confidence high as Eric Chelle’s side prepare to pursue a second consecutive win away from home. Their next fixture will have a major bearing on the early race for top spot in Group L.

Guinea-Bissau will provide a stern test after the Djurtus recorded an impressive 2-0 victory away to Tanzania in their opening match. That result has given the hosts momentum ahead of the meeting with Nigeria, which is expected to be a closely contested and significant encounter.

The second-round match will be played on Tuesday, 29 September, at 16:00 GMT. Nigeria will need to combine discipline with attacking efficiency against a Guinea-Bissau team known for its strength on home soil if they are to leave Bissau with all three points.

Burkina Faso will look to respond to their disappointing opening result when they face Central African Republic in the second round of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

The Etalons were held to a draw by Benin at home in their first match, leaving them with one point. The result has continued to weigh on the players as they prepare for their next fixture.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba said Burkina Faso must learn from the performance and approach the game with confidence and calmness.

“We are disappointed, but we have to move on. We learn from our mistakes. The match is already tomorrow, so there is no time to lose. We will turn this disappointment into strength for tomorrow’s match,” Tapsoba said at the pre-match news conference.

Burkina Faso will face a Central African Republic side that lost its opening qualifying match against Niger.

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly says his side must move on from their opening draw with Mozambique and claim victory against Ethiopia in their second Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying match.

Senegal were held by Mozambique on Friday in their first game of the campaign, a result Koulibaly described as a “trap match”. The defender believes the Lions must recover quickly when they face Ethiopia.

“We are going to Ethiopia to try to take the three points. It is important for us, for this Africa Cup of Nations qualification and to move forward,” Koulibaly said after Saturday’s training session in an interview with the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).

The Al Ahly defender, who is Senegal’s captain, remains confident but recognises the importance of a positive result in Ethiopia if the team are to revive their qualifying campaign.

The Senegal squad has been under a new technical staff since the end of the 2026 World Cup, with manager Patrick Vieira overseeing a period of renewal within the national team.

A number of players received their first senior call-ups during the current international window. Koulibaly welcomed the new arrivals and said their integration would be important for Senegal’s future.

“We have seen many new players who were here for their first international selection. That is very good,” he said.

“We need to continue integrating them because they are the future of this team. It is important that they feel comfortable within the national team. It is a new beginning.

“But we must not forget what we have achieved with this team. The young players are here, and we must continue to integrate them.”

Ghana have named a 25-player squad for a training camp ahead of their second-round tie in the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Black Meteors will begin their preparations at Prampram on Tuesday, 29 September, as they build towards the next stage of the qualifying campaign.

Ghana were given a bye through the first round and will face the winners of the tie between Togo and Libya. The two sides meet in Lome on 30 September, with the return leg scheduled to take place a few days later.

The winners will play Ghana in the first leg on 9 November, before the return fixture a week later.

The U23 Africa Cup of Nations serves as a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. Ghana have not appeared at the tournament since 2004 and are aiming to end more than two decades away from the event.

The players called up for Ghana’s preparations are:

Gidios Aseako, Roland Leveh, Adjetey Sowah, Ametepe Godwin, Owusu Agyapong, Hubert Gyau, Alidu Labaran, Sanja Emmanuel, Prince Amekorfia, Raymond Agyemang, Fildaus Mohammed, Razak Salifu, Ishmeal Addo, Daniel Kwame Awumi, Abdul Samed Yakubu, Sarkodie Demeterous, Anderstain Owusu Akwasi, Alhaj Umar Nauffal, Godfred John Arthur, Yakubu Saeed, Daniel Ofori, Shariff Alabani, Eric Darkwa Wiafe, Yeboah Paul and Antwi Dacosta.

Rayan Ait-Nouri could leave Manchester City this winter, with Juventus renewing their interest in the Algeria international and considering an initial loan move in January, according to new reports from Italy.

Ait-Nouri’s move to Manchester City has not developed as expected. The defender joined from Wolverhampton for £31m in June 2025, arriving with an established Premier League reputation and a transfer that was widely viewed as excellent business for the club.

Fifteen months on, however, his position has changed significantly. A succession of minor injuries has limited his involvement, while the emergence of Nico O’Reilly has also affected his opportunities.

O’Reilly surprised supporters by establishing himself as Manchester City’s first-choice left-back for much of Pep Guardiola’s last season. That progress has left Ait-Nouri facing increased competition for a regular place in the side.

The Algerian has made only 33 appearances for Manchester City and has yet to play a minute in the Premier League this season. He played fewer than 1,000 league minutes last term.

His limited involvement has prompted speculation about a move away from the club, with Serie A regarded as the most likely destination. Juventus have now revived their interest and could seek to take the left-back on loan when the January transfer window opens.

Yan Diomande’s performance in Cote d’Ivoire’s 2-0 victory over Ghana on Thursday has drawn praise from national team manager Herve Renard.

The young winger played a key role in the result, impressing not only with his ability to take on opponents but also with the discipline he showed when his side did not have possession.

Renard highlighted Diomande’s dribbling as one of the most notable aspects of his display. The manager also praised the player’s defensive work, underlining the contribution he made away from the attacking areas.

Diomande is expected to return to action for Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday, when they face Somalia. The winger will then take on Cameroon before leaving the squad to join Real Madrid.

His performances during the international period will be watched closely by Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese coach is expected to assess Diomande’s form as he continues to establish himself both for his country and at club level.

Diomande has produced an excellent run of form in recent weeks, with his displays for Real Madrid and Cote d’Ivoire strengthening his position. Should he maintain that level, he could become a leading option for Mourinho in the wide areas.

That form could also put pressure on the established choices in the starting line-up. Diomande may have the opportunity to replace Vinicius Junior or Arda Guler in the first XI if his performances continue to meet the same standard.

For now, his immediate focus will be on the next two Cote d’Ivoire fixtures. His showing against Ghana has increased attention on his contribution, while Renard’s comments have emphasised that his value to the team extends beyond his work with the ball.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has urged calm after 115 charges against the club were confirmed, insisting the Premier League champions remain confident they will prove their innocence.

Al Mubarak said the club’s position had not changed despite the attention surrounding the case and rejected any suggestion that Manchester City should already be considered at risk of being excluded from the Premier League.

Earlier on the same day, it had been reported that Manchester City could face expulsion from the competition if the verdict went against them. However, Al Mubarak said there was still a long process ahead and that the club expected to emerge from it with its reputation intact.

“While some people have been quick to draw their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed,” he said in a message circulated through other social media accounts.

“We have faced challenges together in the past and emerged victorious. There are still many people who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity.”

The chairman also referred to his 18 years leading Manchester City without expressing regret, while maintaining that the club’s confidence in its legal position remained unchanged since the beginning of the case.

“Our confidence and determination to prove the Club’s innocence are just as strong as they were at the start of this matter,” Al Mubarak said.

“There is so much I would like to share with you to help you understand why we are so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process, and our determination to respect it, mean that I cannot do so at this time.

“Even this letter has been through several legal checks to ensure that it complies.”

The charges relate to allegations concerning Manchester City’s conduct, although the source article does not provide further details of the case or set out a timetable for a verdict.

Manchester City’s chairman said the club would continue to focus on its immediate footballing commitments while the legal process continued. The side is preparing for its next match against Liverpool at Anfield and a reunion with PSG in the UEFA Champions League.

Al Mubarak’s comments represent the club’s latest public response following confirmation of the 115 charges. He said Manchester City would not be distracted by outside pressure and remained determined to defend its position through the legal process.

Benni McCarthy has defended Kenya goalkeeper Byrne Omondi after he came in for criticism following the Harambee Stars’ opening match in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Kenya were held to a 1-1 draw by Eritrea, with Omondi facing a wave of negative reaction after the match. But head coach McCarthy praised the goalkeeper and urged critics to give him time to develop.

McCarthy said Omondi had impressed him consistently since his appointment and compared him with former Kenya international Denis Onyango.

“He has been here since I arrived. When I look at him, I always see the stature of someone like Denis Onyango. He reminds me a lot of Denis Onyango,” McCarthy said at his post-match news conference.

“He has been exceptional every day in training and during the CHAN. I do not understand how he can still be playing in the Kenyan league.

“That is not intended as a lack of respect for Kenyan teams, but I believe he is a goalkeeper who can play in Europe, Egypt, Morocco or South Africa. Of course he is being criticised, but we have confidence in him.”

The South African coach, who is protecting his player from the criticism, then delivered a pointed response to the media.

“If you have played in a European Champions League final and won, then all right... otherwise, keep quiet and just watch football,” he said.

The draw with Eritrea was Kenya’s first result in the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. McCarthy’s comments made clear that he remains convinced Omondi has the ability to progress beyond the Kenyan domestic league.

His comparison with Denis Onyango was also significant, with McCarthy identifying the current goalkeeper as having qualities similar to a major figure in Kenyan football.

Rather than blaming Omondi for the dropped points, McCarthy chose to support him publicly and called for patience as the goalkeeper continues to develop under his management.

Manchester City could be expelled from the Premier League and potentially left without a competition in England if the charges against them are upheld.

The club are facing 115 allegations relating to breaches of financial regulations. The charges include claims that Manchester City submitted false or inaccurate financial information, provided incomplete details about payments to players and coaches, and failed to co-operate with the investigation.

The club are also accused of deliberately overstating sponsorship income linked to their owners.

Any punishment could include removal from the Premier League. English journalist Ben Jacobs reports that, if Manchester City were expelled, they could find themselves without a competition to play in within England.

The English Football League would support such a decision and could refuse to admit Manchester City to its competitions, according to the report. That would leave the club facing the possibility of being excluded from both the Premier League and the English Football League.

Manchester City have announced their intention to appeal the decision.