Egypt open the Ali Maher era against Malawi as AFCON qualifiers resume this weekend

International footie takes over the next three days. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers reach Matchday 3, and the UEFA Nations League heads into Matchday 5. The top two teams in each four-team qualifying group reach next summer’s finals in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. In Europe, the league phase ends on 17 November, with the quarterfinals to follow in March. All matches will be broadcast on beIN Sports channels, so check the full schedule here.

Tonight’s fixtures

In the AFCON qualifiers, there’s plenty to watch:

• Ghana vs. Somalia — 5pm;
• Guinea vs. Eritrea — 6pm;
• Madagascar vs. Guinea-Bissau — 6pm;
• DR Congo vs. Sierra Leone — 6pm;
• Ivory Coast vs. Gambia — 9pm;
• Benin vs. Central African Republic — 9pm;
• Cameroon vs. Namibia — 9pm;
• Senegal vs. Sudan — 9pm.

In the UEFA Nations League, here’s what’s scheduled:

• Turkey vs. Belgium — 7pm;
• Armenia vs. Cyprus — 7pm;
• Albania vs. Finland — 9:45pm;
• Czech Republic vs. Spain — 9:45pm;
• England vs. Croatia — 9:45pm;
• Italy vs. France — 9:45pm;
• Montenegro vs. Latvia — 9:45pm;
• San Marino vs. Belarus — 9:45pm.

Tomorrow’s fixtures

It’s the one every Egyptian will be watching. Egypt host Malawi at Cairo International Stadium at 9pm in Ali Maher’s first match as head coach. Maher was named on Saturday after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) ended Hossam Hassan’s tenure, with the association saying the decision followed a review of recent events.

He has had only a few days of training. His first squad brings back Mohamed El Shenawy, Mahmoud Hamdy, Nasser Maher, and Mahmoud Marei, and hands a first call-up to Modern Sport striker Mahmoud Mamdouh, the league’s top scorer with eight goals. Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush lead the attack. Egypt top Group B on four points after a 0-0 draw with Angola and a 5-0 away W against South Sudan, ahead of Angola on goal difference, with Malawi third on three.

Morocco, meanwhile, made a perfect start. The Atlas Lions host Niger at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca at 10pm. They snagged their first two Group A games 2-0 against Gabon and Lesotho to lead on six points. Niger are level with Gabon on three, having beaten Lesotho 2-1 and lost 2-0 to Gabon. Morocco arrive fresh off a World Cup quarterfinal run, and a victory would put them on nine points before Tuesday’s return leg in Rabat.

More AFCON qualifiers tomorrow:

• Mozambique vs. Ethiopia — 3pm;
• Zambia vs. Burundi — 3pm;
• Comoros vs. Congo — 3pm;
• Burkina Faso vs. Mauritania — 6pm;
• Equatorial Guinea vs. Zimbabwe — 6pm;
• Cape Verde vs. Liberia — 6pm;
• Gabon vs. Lesotho — 6pm;
• Nigeria vs. Tanzania — 6pm;
• South Africa vs. Kenya — 6pm;
• Tunisia vs. Libya — 6pm;
• Mali vs. Rwanda — 9pm.

In the UEFA Nations League:

• Moldova vs. Kazakhstan — 7pm;
• Netherlands vs. Greece — 9:45pm;
• Serbia vs. Germany — 9:45pm;
• Scotland vs. North Macedonia — 9:45pm;
• Slovenia vs. Switzerland — 9:45pm;
• Slovakia vs. Faroe Islands — 9:45pm;
• Bulgaria vs. Iceland — 9:45pm;
• Luxembourg vs. Estonia — 9:45pm;
• Andorra vs. Gibraltar — 9:45pm;
• Liechtenstein vs. Azerbaijan — 9:45pm.

Saturday’s fixtures

Saturday brings fewer fixtures, but plenty are worth your time. In the AFCON qualifiers, Uganda take on Botswana at 6pm, Algeria face off against Togo at 9pm, and Angola go head-to-head with South Sudan at the same time. All on beIN Sports.

In the UEFA Nations League:

• Norway vs. Wales — 7pm;
• Georgia vs. Hungary — 7pm;
• Portugal vs. Denmark — 9:45pm;
• Northern Ireland vs. Ukraine — 9:45pm;
• Austria vs. Ireland — 9:45pm;
• Romania vs. Poland — 9:45pm;
• Sweden vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — 9:45pm.

ICYMI-

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick with the club in the Premier League relegation zone after just one league W all season. Carrick, who took over as interim coach in January after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, recorded 12 victories from his last 17 games to finish third in the 2025/26 season and signed a two-year contract in May. A club statement said the call followed a “disappointing start to the season” and called him “a Manchester United legend.” United are now close to an agreement with Mauricio Pochettino, ESPN reports.