Senegal starting Vieira era but 2025 fallout still front of mind as AFCON qualifying begins

[p]A total of 48 ‌countries are divided into 12 groups and begin a six-round qualifying process running to March next ‌year, with the top two in nine of the groups advancing to ‌the finals.[/p][p]The tournament is being co-hosted by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kenya/CIAJw1QK/"]Kenya[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tanzania/KzAbFwJ7/"]Tanzania[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uganda/hnw06lwh/"]Uganda[/a], who are also ‌competing in the qualifiers. In the groups in which they play, only ‌one other side will go through to the 24-team tournament, which will take place from June 19 to July 17.[/p][infobox id="db74bfd9-cd62-42c7-8f2b-4dfcbe20d17f" /][p]However, with the finals less than a year away, the continent still awaits ‌a decision on the last Cup of Nations decider ⁠in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] in January.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/senegal/hOIsJLJr/"]Senegal[/a] beat the ‌hosts in the final but because they walked off the pitch in a 14-minute ​protest towards the end, they were stripped of the title and it was handed to Morocco.[/p][p]Senegal have appealed against the Confederation of African ​Football's decision and it will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on October 8.[/p][p]Morocco went on to be the best-performing African side ⁠at the World Cup, reaching ​the quarter-finals, and begin their Cup of Nations Group A qualifiers at home to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gabon/YJL8W78U/"]Gabon[/a] in Rabat before facing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lesotho/fTM4XmgO/"]Lesotho[/a] on September 29 in Bloemfontein, South Africa.[/p][p]Lesotho are one of 12 countries forced to play ‌home games at a neutral venue because they do not have a stadium that Africa's governing body CAF deems adequate for international competition.[/p][h2]Vieira beginning tenure[/h2][embed guid="44ebb7ec-6548-4b25-9c67-cb80f5696b8b" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2089709787369849118" social-type="twitter" /][p]Senegal have switched their home fixture against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mozambique/2aBNiivt/"]Mozambique[/a] because of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and start their Group J campaign in Maputo on Friday, with Patrick Vieira their new coach after a disappointing World Cup. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mane-sadio/xxskxOU0/"]Sadio Mane[/a] is one of several previously key players not in his first squad.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tunisia/QqZVYk95/"]Tunisia[/a] were the only one of 10 African countries at the World Cup who did not get past ‌the first round and have also made many changes, with only 14 ​players retained from this year's tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the US[/p][p]New ‌coach Moin Chaabani debuts against Uganda in Group H on Thursday as Tunisia look to extend their record number of successive finals appearances to 18.[/p][p]The opening round of games features a heavyweight derby between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/G2FRjBgn/"]Ivory Coast[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] in Group C on Thursday, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]South Africa's[/a] clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/guinea/lGDZlkOb/"]⁠Guinea[/a] in Johannesburg on Saturday is ⁠also vital for both countries ‌even at the start of the campaign.[/p]