{
  "id": 10793138,
  "title": "Ghana, Nigeria and Cape Verde crash in Afcon qualifying",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/ghana-nigeria-and-cape-verde-crash-in-afcon-qualifying-10793138",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T22:06:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/30/ghana-nigeria-and-cape-verde-crash-in-afcon-qualifying"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, former champions Ghana and Nigeria, along with World Cup underdogs Cape Verde, suffered unexpected defeats. Accra witnessed Ghana lead by two goals before conceding twice in both halves against Gambia. Two goals came from Ebrima Colley, leaving the Black Stars with a 4-2 loss. Group L saw Nigeria beaten 3-0 by Guinea-Bissau, who are ranked 106 places lower in the world rankings. Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, held Spain to a draw and faced Argentina in extra time before falling 2-1 to Rwanda. Algeria, twice African champions, drew 2-2 with Burundi, while Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt secured Group I victories with comfortable away wins. Morocco defeated Lesotho 2-0, Senegal edged Ethiopia 1-0, and Egypt dominated South Sudan 5-0, resting Mohamed Salah due to concerns about the artificial surface in Juba.",
  "summary": "Ghana blew a two-goal lead in a 4-2 defeat to Gambia, while Nigeria fell 3-0 to Guinea-Bissau, ranked 106 places below them in the world rankings.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Guinea-Bissau defeat Nigeria 3-0 in AFCON qualifier",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/guinea-bissau-defeat-nigeria-3-0-in-afcon-qualifier",
        "published": "2026-09-29T18:10:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "Guinea-Bissau thrash Nigeria 3-0",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/guinea-bissau-thrash-nigeria-3-0",
        "published": "2026-09-29T18:37:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ghana, Nigeria and Cape Verde crash in Afcon qualifying",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/ghana-nigeria-and-cape-verde-crash-in-afcon-qualifying",
        "published": "2026-09-29T22:06:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Morocco call off Ghana friendly after Black Stars’ AFCON setback",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/morocco-call-off-ghana-friendly-after-black-stars-afcon-setback",
        "published": "2026-09-29T22:36:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Ghana, Nigeria and Cape Verde crash in AFCON qualifying",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/ghana-nigeria-and-cape-verde-crash-in-afcon-qualifying",
        "published": "2026-09-30T00:26:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}