By Amaechi Agbo
Senegal have been forced to surrender home advantage for their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mozambique after failing to secure a suitable stadium in Dakar.
The highly anticipated encounter will now be played in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, on September 25, meaning Senegal will effectively lose the benefit of playing the fixture on home soil.
The situation has been blamed on the unavailability of Senegal’s major stadiums.
The Abdoulaye Wade Stadium is currently unavailable as preparations continue for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, while the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium is reportedly unsuitable because of the poor condition of its playing surface.
The development represents a major setback for the Teranga Lions, who will now face Mozambique away from home rather than in front of their supporters in Dakar.
With the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign expected to be fiercely contested, Senegal’s inability to provide a suitable home venue adds an unusual dimension to the fixture and could have significant implications for their qualification campaign.
The September 25 clash will therefore take place in Maputo, with Senegal tasked with overcoming not only Mozambique but also the disadvantage of playing what was originally expected to be a home fixture on foreign soil.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
