Sports
Caf Hails ‘Miraculous’ Tournament
The Africa Cup of Nations
in Equatorial Guinea has been described as “miraculous” by the Confederation of African Football general secretary.
Only in November original hosts Morocco’s plea to delay the event was rejected , leading to its relocation.
And despite a riot and poor facilities, Hicham el Amrani rated it a success.
“Based on the time we had, and the circumstances, making it happen the way it happened was miraculous – nothing short of that,” he told BBC Sport.
“We’re happy about the whole organisation, in general, with the time we had and the resources we had, and I think it was quite something to have been able to have a tournament that ended up well.”
However, the tournament, which ended on Sunday with Ivory Coast beating Ghana on penalties to lift the trophy , will be remembered as a controversial and troubled one.
Crowd violence marred the semi-final between the hosts and Ghana, when play was interrupted for 30 minutes as missiles were thrown from the stands, forcing Black Stars fans to gather on the field behind a goal for their own safety.
And there was a hotly-disputed penalty decision in Equatorial Guinea’s quarter-final win over Tunisia, whose players needed to be restrained as they chased referee Rajindraparsad Seechurn off the pitch at the end of the match.
Tunisian Football Association president Wadie Jary was suspended from all activities relating to Caf and Tunisia must apologise to Caf by 31 March for accusing the body of cheating or be banned from the 2017 tournament.
Caf also banned Seechurn for six months for his “poor performance” in the match.
“We are not pleased with some incidents that happened in a couple of games, but this is part of football,” said El Amrani in an exclusive interview with our source.
“Thank God no casualties happened (at Equatorial Guinea’s semi-final in Malabo), or no major injuries happened on the pitch. We had a few people injured but those were very light injuries.
“We are very sad and sorry about that [crowd trouble] happening – but the best way of dealing with it is to work on its prevention in the future, rather than just try to find the wrong causes that created that.”
El Amrani also defended Caf’s decision not to punish Equatorial Guinea fans for their violent behaviour, instead fining the football federation and warning the team would have to play behind closed doors if there was a repeat offence.
“After everything Equatorial Guinea did, and the fans as well, in general they were very peaceful, supportive, we realised that the guarantees received by the security authorities for the third-place play-off were sufficient to allow the fans to watch their team for the last time in the competition,” he said.
“We felt it would have been really unjust and unfair to spoil the whole party of a month that was organised, a party also for the youth. We told them we were extremely disappointed.”
Overall, El Amrani believes the tournament was “better than expected”.
“We were delighted by the crowds that came, delighted by the beauty of the smaller sites that were unknown to the public in general before, Mongomo and Ebebiyin, Equatorial Guinea did a fantastic job.
Pics 1: Fencing in action.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has said the country will host a unique 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships as the first sub-Saharan nation to stage the tournament, Tidesports source reports.
The championship will be held in Lagos from August 9 to 14, with the federation announcing that Rugby School Nigeria will host the event.
The Commonwealth Fencing Federation formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 championships to Nigeria in March 2025.
“It is the third international tournament the country will host, having also become the first to stage a junior épée World Cup, which was held in Lagos in December 2024. Nigeria also hosted the 23rd African Fencing Championships last year.
Nigeria’s hosting will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the inaugural edition on African soil, giving it historic significance. Second, we are integrating development initiatives such as an international training camp to foster technical exchange. Finally, the event will showcase African hospitality, culture, and energy, offering athletes a rich experience beyond the competition,” Samuel said on Wednesday.
“Preparations have advanced steadily across competition planning, venue readiness, logistics, athlete services, and partnerships.”
He also noted that over 24 Commonwealth nations have already registered.
“We are organising a pre-championship international training camp in Lagos to unite athletes ahead of the competition. Everything is moving in the right direction, and our focus is on delivering a world-class event that reflects Nigeria’s ability to host major international tournaments.”
The last two tournaments hosted by Nigeria were held at Charterhouse Lagos, and Samuel explained the choice of Rugby School Nigeria for this championship.
“The venue was selected for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities and its proximity to hospitality, tourism, and entertainment hubs. This ensures athletes and officials will enjoy excellent accommodation, transport, and leisure options during their stay.”
While thanking the private sector for its support in organising the championship, the president also called for greater government intervention in the fast-growing sport.
“The private sector has shown encouraging support, with institutions like Rugby School Nigeria and companies such as Flour Mills of Nigeria backing the championships. However, stronger government involvement is needed. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a milestone achievement, and we believe institutional support will help Nigeria maximise the opportunity and deliver a truly memorable event.”
The final draw was concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday and posted on the body’s website.
Notably, hosts Morocco will face a North African showdown in Group A, drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A particularly competitive.
Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
In Group C, 2015 and 2017 champions and last year’s runners-up, Mali, will meet Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is led by 2023 champions Senegal, who will face South Africa (2015 runners-up),
The eight quarter-finalists from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The teams finishing third in each group will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers, bringing the total number of African representatives at the global finals to ten nations.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
- Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
- Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
- Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
- Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will not feature at the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, dashing their hopes of advancing to the finals.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their title defence at the 2026 Unity Cup with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on May 26 at The Valley in South London, Tidesports source reports.
The four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and India, returns to its historic venue after the success of the 2025 edition in Brentford, where Nigeria emerged champions.
The competition, scheduled to run from May 26 to 30, blends elite football with cultural celebration, bringing together Afrocentric and global diaspora communities.
Nigeria’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe serves as a rematch of their recent encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest.
The winner will progress to the final on May 30, while the second semi-final between Jamaica and India will be played a day later.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is pleased with another opportunity to see the Super Eagles compete at the highly exciting and entertaining Unity Cup Tournament,” Gusau said.
“As perennial champions, the Super Eagles will look to retain their title again this summer, even as they will not underrate the other participating teams viz India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The tournament promises to be explosive and that is the setting in which the Super Eagles thrive best.”
The Unity Cup will culminate in a finals day featuring both the third-place play-off and the final, alongside a festival atmosphere that includes cultural showcases, food exhibitions, and live performances.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi described his nation’s participation as a landmark moment, highlighting the opportunity to compete on an international stage in England for the first time.
“The Unity Cup represents far more than a celebration of football and culture, it is a powerful platform that reflects Zimbabwe football’s growing ambition to compete, perform, and excel on the global stage,” Magwizi said.
With Nigeria seeking to retain their crown and rivals eager to make their mark, the opening clash against Zimbabwe is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested and culturally vibrant tournament.
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