Comoros islands, Madagascar
Football federation makes Comorians and Madagascans play away from home

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, Azali Assoumani, Ibrahim Foullah

Intrigues big and small – every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Ivory CoastOuattara serves up range of presidential plates

ComorosSeries of unfortunate events leads to Moroni's Sochi no-show

ChadEx-N'Djamena mayor Ibrahim Foullah sets sights on football federation

Somalia
Somali squad pulls out of African Nations due to lack of funds

Its withdrawal means Burundi qualifies automatically for the second round.

Madagascar
Still no AFCON 2025 home games for national football team

Without a Confederation of African Football-approved ground to use for their home games, Madagascar's men's team will once again be playing an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier 'away' in Morocco.

Chad
Authorities to mark inauguration of new sports stadium with great fanfare

The Mandjafa stadium on the outskirts of N'Djamena will be inaugurated in 2025. Built by a Chinese company and financed by Beijing, its construction is being closely monitored by President Mahamat Idriss Déby.

Comoros islands
Race against the clock to refurbish Moroni's stadium for ACN qualifiers

There is currently no indication that the Comoros-Gambia match, an African Cup of Nations 2025 qualifier, will be able to take place at the Iconi-Malouzini sports stadium, which the CAF has deemed to be in serious disrepair.

Madagascar
CAF snubs Antananarivo's refurbished Barea stadium

Despite Andry Rajoelina's grand €73m revamp, the country's biggest stadium has failed to make the Confederation of African Football grade. As a result, the Madagascar team will have to play two 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South Africa.

Morocco
African football boss Patrice Motsepe keeps Rabat waiting over AFCON

In recent weeks, the head of the Confederation of African Football's teams have been receiving increasingly urgent messages about the uncertainty surrounding the dates of several competitions.

Ivory Coast
Achi delegates management of AFCON budget

The $91m funds to cover delegation expenses for the next Africa Cup of Nations will be controlled by both the Ivorian football federation and the Confederation of African Football, but not the Ivory Coast's AFCON organising committee itself.