African champions Ivory Coast will kick start their journey towards defending their title when they take on Zambia in Friday’s opening AFCON 2025 Qualifiers Group G contest at Stade Bouake from 2200 Hrs EAT.The Elephants, who won the continental tournament on home soil in the most dramatic style earlier this year, will also be looking to improve on the form they showed in back-to-back 2026 World Cup qualifiers back in June.##NAJAVA_MECA_8316058##Then, Ivory Coast defeated Gabon 1-0 at home, before a somewhat disappointing goalless stalemate away to Kenya.In front of them will be a Zambian side who exited the last AFCON in the group stage after returning to the tournament for the first time since 2015.Chipolopolo also endured a rough start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying by losing back-to-back matches against Morocco and Tanzania.In other high-profile qualifying contests on Friday, 2019 champions Senegal will seek to bounce back from their rather shocking Round of 16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Burkina Faso at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium from 2200 EAT.🇹🇬 Togo – Liberia 🇱🇷 (18:00)🇪🇬 Egypt – Cape Verde 🇨🇻 (21:00)🇨🇮 Ivory Coast – Zambia 🇿🇲 (21:00)🇲🇱 Mali – Mozambique 🇲🇿 (21:00)🇸🇳 Senegal – Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 (21:00)#NationsLeague #Afcon— Lylynau (@Lylynau) September 6, 2024 Following two friendly victories over Gabon and Benin, Senegal played to a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, before beating Mauritania 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.The Stallions, on the other hand, suffered a 2-1 loss to Egypt and drew 2-2 with Sierra Leone in their qualification matches in June.Morocco vs GabonDespite having automatically qualified for the championships as hosts, Morocco will seek to regain some confidence as they build from their humiliating loss to South Africa at the last AFCON.2025 AFCONq: Pale Black Stars suffer a shocking home upset, Massanga’s missile saves CongoThey will in Agadir host Gabon, who in the last window secured a pulsating 3-2 victory over Gambia to end their three-game winless run.In the recent matches, the Atlas Lions have since returned to winning ways, securing 1-0 and 2-1 victories over Angola and Zambia respectively, while also annihilating the Republic of Congo 6-0 in the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.Elsewhere at the Cairo Stadium, Egypt will host Cape Verde, as Bafana Bafana welcome Uganda for their opening Group K contest at the Orlando Stadium.AFCON QUALIFIERS – Friday fixtures1600: 2.55 Kenya 2.90 Zimbabwe 2.901900: 1.63 South Africa 3.50 Uganda 6.251900: 1.62 Togo 3.50 Liberia 6.501900: 1.97 DR Congo 3.30 Guinea 4.201900: 1.75 Sierra Leone 3.45 Chad 5.202100: 1.25 Morocco 5.70 Gabon 13.02200: 1.50 Egypt 4.00 Cape Verde 7.252200: 1.45 Ivory Coast 4.30 Zambia 7.752200: 1.42 Senegal 4.20 Burkina Faso 9.002200: 1.40 Mali 4.30 Mozambique 9.50
