Today’s CAF Afcon & UEFA Nations League Fixtures & Previews
Depleted Ghana side take on Ivory Coast at Bouake Stadium Ghana begin their quest to avoid missing out on consecutive Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday, as they take on Ivory Coast at Bouake Stadium. The West African derby will unfold against the backdrop of several significant withdrawals from the Black Stars squad, with […] The post Today’s CAF Afcon & UEFA Nations League Fixtures & Previews appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle .
Depleted Ghana side take on Ivory Coast at Bouake Stadium
Ghana begin their quest to avoid missing out on consecutive Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday, as they take on Ivory Coast at Bouake Stadium.
The West African derby will unfold against the backdrop of several significant withdrawals from the Black Stars squad, with Carlos Queiroz seeking to avoid a false start at the home of the AFCON 2023 winners.
If Herve Renard’s previous attempt at winning the Africa Cup of Nations with the Elephants serves as any indication, fans of the three-time African champions should be in an expectant mood.
The AFCON 2015-winning manager has returned to the role, coming back 11 years after steering Les Elephants to a second Cup of Nations triumph in Equatorial Guinea, where they ended a 23-year wait to secure their second continental title.
Facing Ghana on Thursday presents a challenging return for Renard, who may have privately preferred to meet either The Gambia or Somalia.
Nevertheless, the astute Queiroz is starting his ambition to lead the Black Stars back to continental qualification as their long-suffering fans hope to end their Cup of Nations drought at the 2027 finals.
Ghana, however, somehow managed to miss the 2025 finals, finishing bottom in a group that included Angola, Sudan and Niger, ending with three losses and as many draws.
Yan Diomande, Ivory Coast
While the Portuguese manager’s approach in tight matches may have frustrated neutrals during the World Cup, that kind of tactical discipline is likely what the four-time African champions require to not only return to the tournament but also have a substantial chance at claiming their first continental title since 1982.
Queiroz has had to contend with the withdrawals of captain Jordan Ayew, Manchester City star Antoine Semenyo and Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Mohammed Kudus this week. Alexander Djiku, Nathaniel Adjei, Ibrahim Sulemana, Felix Afena-Gyan and Ibrahim Osman are, however, back in the Black Stars squad.
However, Queiroz must navigate a tricky opener in Bouake, where he arrives without a few key players, leaving the squad somewhat depleted.
Although Ghana will be determined to bounce back from their previous qualifying disappointment, overcoming the Elephants on home soil will be tricky.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Cameroon** take on debutants Comoros in Afcon Qualifiers**
Cameroon will come into this campaign seeking redemption after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Indomitable Lions have an impressive record in African football and are five-time AFCON champions.
Mbeumo, Cameroon
Beyond the failed World Cup campaign, Cameroon’s overall form has been solid lately. They are unbeaten in seven of their last 10 matches in all competitions and claimed a 2-0 victory over China in a FIFA Series clash back in March.
Cameroon’s recent form appears to be driven by a solid defence. David Pagou’s team have kept clean sheets in two of their last three matches in all competitions.
Comoros do not have a great qualifying record, having only played in two AFCON tournaments. They featured at the 2025 edition but crashed out in the Group stage.
The Coelcanths’ last outing was a friendly back in June as they claimed a 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea. However, that was a rare win for Hubert Velud’s team, who were winless in their previous nine matches.
Comoros will head into this clash with six defeats in their last 10 matches in all competitions. They often struggle to find the cutting edge in attack and have failed to score in five of their last seven matches in all competitions.
** Head-to-Head**
Cameroon have never lost in this fixture, picking up two wins and playing out one draw in three previous matches. The most recent meeting was a round of 16 clash in the 2021 AFCON, with the Indomitable Lions earning a 2-1 victory.
Veteran forward Vincent Aboubakar and goalkeeper Devis Eppasy have not been included in Cameroon’s squad. Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Kofane should start in attack while Samuel Kotto is set to feature at the back.
Credit: freetips.com
Xavi**, Klopp make their international coaching debuts, as Netherlands host **Germany
Xavi and Jurgen Klopp will make their international management debuts on Thursday night when the Netherlands lock horns with Germany in a blockbuster UEFA Nations League opener in Amsterdam.
Jurgen Klopp clash with Xavi
These two European heavyweights will be competing in League A Group 2 alongside Serbia and Greece, with a top-two finish required to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.
**Xavi **
For the first time since 1978, the Netherlands have appointed Xavi as their first foreign coach, with the 46-year-old Barcelona icon penning a four-year contract to see him through to the next European Championship and World Cup.
Xavi is determined to build a Netherlands squad without “egos” and implement an attacking, possession-based brand of football contrasting the rigid and overly pragmatic approach under his predecessor Ronald Koeman, who resigned following the Oranje’s last-32 elimination at the 2026 World Cup.
The Oranje are two-time Nations League semi-finalists who reached the quarter-finals in the 2024-25 campaign; they drew 2-2 with Germany in Amsterdam during the group stage and finished in second place behind Die Mannschaft.
**Jurgen Klopp **
Two years after ending his legendary spell at Liverpool because he was “running out of energy”, Jurgen Klopp has now reached the “pinnacle” of his coaching career after stepping onto the international stage for the first time to spearhead a new era for his beloved Germany.
Klopp was the “unequivocal choice” to succeed Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned following Die Mannschaft’s shock penalty-shootout defeat to Paraguay in the last 32 of the World Cup.
Hailed as the messianic saviour of a fractured national team, Klopp is tasked with restoring Germany’s once-famous winning mentality while instilling a heavy-metal philosophy.
**Prediction **
Thursday’s contest promises to be a highly intriguing and unpredictable affair between two powerful nations entering new eras and keen to make a positive start under fresh management.
While the Netherlands boast an exceptional home record with just one defeat in Amsterdam since October 2023 (W11 D4), Germany have found the net in each of their last 13 internationals and we can see the spoils being shared here in an entertaining stalemate.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Afcon Fixtures
Group C
Group E
Congo DR 16:0 Equatorial Guinea
Group F
Mauritania 16:00 Central African Republic
Group G
Group H
UEFA Nations League** Fixtures**
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Kosovo 18:45 Republic of Ireland
Group 4
The post Today’s CAF Afcon & UEFA Nations League Fixtures & Previews appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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- September 24, 2026
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