Round-up of friendly fixtures for TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finalists

Finalists for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco are using the November FIFA international window to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead at the end of the year. 

Only Botswana are not involved in matches, while Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Nigeria were competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers African Play-Offs. 

ANGOLA
The Palancas Negras celebrated 50 years of independence with a prestigious friendly against world champions Argentina in Luanda on Friday. Goals from Lautaro Martinez in the 43rd minute and captain Lionel Messi eight minutes from time sealed a 2-0 win for Argentina, but the defeat did not dampen the celebratory mood in the Estádio Nacional 11 de Novembro.

BENIN
After the disappointment of coming close but missing out on FIFA World Cup qualification, Benin prepare for the Cup of Nations with a clash against Burkina Faso in Morocco on Tuesday.

BURKINA FASO
Landry Kabore scored all three goals for Burkina Faso as they beat Niger 3-2 in Mohammedia, Morocco, on Friday. A second game for Les Etalons comes on Tuesday against Benin.

COMOROS
Remy Vita scored five minutes from time to hand Comoros a narrow victory over Namibia on Friday as they returned to Moroni for the first time in two years. It is the first of two matches against Namibia, with the next also in the Comoros capital on Monday.

COTE D’IVOIRE
The reigning African champions lost 1-0 in Jeddah on Friday against a Saudi Arabian team coached by Herve Renard, who led them to the Cup of Nations title in 2015. Next up for the Elephants is a clash with Oman in Seeb on Tuesday.

EGYPT
A 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan in Friday’s Al Ain International Cup semi-final means Egypt will face Cabo Verde in the third-place play-off on Tuesday. Egypt were 2-0 down before half-time against Uzbekistan, who, like the Pharaohs, have qualified for next year’s FIFA World Cup finals.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Nzalang Nacional are based in Antalya, Turkey, for the week and started their two-match programme by beating Kenya 1-0 on Friday, with Josete Miranda scoring on the brink of half-time. Their second game is against Madagascar on Monday.

MALI
Les Aigles have assembled in Tunis for their friendly against Jordan on Tuesday. The squad had their first training session on Friday under coach Tom Saintfiet, who will use the match to assess several potential newcomers.

MOROCCO
Azzedine Ounahi scored the only goal for Morocco in their win over Mozambique as they inaugurated the renovated Grand Stade de Tanger, extending the Atlas Lions' record-breaking run. The Cup of Nations hosts have now won a world record 17 internationals in a row. Ounahi struck after seven minutes before Ayoub El Kaabi missed a penalty.

MOZAMBIQUE
The Mambas are playing two friendlies in Morocco and lost the first to the hosts in Tangier. The match marked the return of captain Dominguez, two days after his 42nd birthday, following a year out of the national team due to disciplinary issues.

SENEGAL
Senegal were beaten by Brazil in London on Saturday as the South Americans avenged their 4-2 defeat three years ago. Estevão and Casemiro scored as Senegal struggled with Brazil’s pace and intensity. The Lions of Teranga face Kenya in Turkey on Tuesday.

SOUTH AFRICA
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said he did not want to overload his players, most of whom have had a heavy club schedule this season. They therefore played only one match in the window, beating Zambia 3-1 on Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.

SUDAN
Coach Kwesi Appiah took his side to Seeb on Friday, where they lost 2-0 to hosts Oman. Sudan will continue their Cup of Nations preparations at the FIFA Arab Cup later this month.

TANZANIA
The Taifa Stars were involved in a seven-goal thriller against Kuwait in Cairo on Saturday but lost 4-3. Charles M’Mombwa scored twice and Tarryn Allarakhia added the other in a losing debut for new coach Miguel Gamondi.

TUNISIA
Brazil await Tunisia in Lille on Friday in a stern test, but they go into the game in good spirits after a 1-1 draw with Mauritania on Wednesday and a 3-2 home win over Jordan on Friday. Tunisia are the only Cup of Nations-bound team playing three matches in the November window.

UGANDA
The Cranes warmed up for Tuesday’s friendly against Morocco in Tangier with a 2-1 victory over Chad in Berrechid, Morocco, on Friday. Uganda’s goals came from Uche Mubiru and Melvyn Lorenzen.

ZAMBIA
Zambia have changed their plans for the international window and arranged a second friendly against Angola in Luanda on Tuesday, having initially planned to face Burundi in Bujumbura. Their first match in the window was a 3-1 defeat to South Africa in Gqeberha on Saturday after falling 3-0 behind before a late consolation.

ZIMBABWE
New coach Mario Marinica saw his side fall three goals behind before half-time but pull one back with a late penalty as they lost to Algeria in Jeddah on Thursday. Zimbabwe have since travelled to Doha’s Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium to take on Qatar on Monday.