Mauritania

With Reigning African Champions, Esperance de Tunis players dominate the list but Al Ahly’s left-back Ali Maaloul was the biggest casualty in the team after he was omitted despite enjoying an impressive season, scoring six goals while assisting seven in 24 games.

President Muhammadu Buhari has accused ethnic, political and religious leaders of sponsoring and inciting inter-communal and inter-religious strife and violence in the country.

Contrary to speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari fell to pressures from leaders of the South-West geopolitical zone to recognize June 12 as national Democracy Day over political interest, the President on Wednesday said his decision was hinged on the need to correct alleged injustice meted out on the entire country by the military government.

None of the former heads of state and presidents was present at the commemoration of the maiden edition of the newly recognised June 12 Democracy Day celebration on Wednesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari played host to visiting world leaders at a dinner last night in Abuja, ahead of the country’s Democracy Day, which is being marked today.

French head coach Corentin Martins has called-up experienced forwards Moulaye Ahmed Khalil and Ismael Diakhite as well as youngsters Mohamed Dellah Yali and El Hacen El Id who plays for Real Valladolid in Spain for the competition.

Bakary Sako has sent a message of appreciation to Premier League side Crystal Palace.

A presidential aide, Garba Shehu, has reacted to criticisms over President Muhammadu Buhari’s latest trip to Saudi Arabia for a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Trade Unionists from 18 African countries and Global Union Federations (GUFs), as well as some Regional Economic Communities (RECs) will on Monday converge in Kigali, the Rwanda capital, to discuss how to attain fair recruitment and secure the rights of African migrants.

Patrice Neveu has been named Gabon manager on a two-year contract to replace Daniel Cousin.

Ahead of the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt, the official mascot of the tournament has been unveiled by the Local Organizing Committee and it is called The child “Tut”.

The African Development Bank (AfDB), says Governing Committee of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) has approved $61.8 million funding allocation for its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) programme.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) may have declared operation only the best is good enough at the intensive training for over 56 referees and their assistants in Rabat Morocco ahead of the 2019 Nations Cup in Egypt.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised aid to strengthen security in jihadist-hit Burkina Faso. Merkel, who also attended a G5 meeting of Sahel country leaders in Ouagadougou, is due in Mali and Niger.

Updated fixtures for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after organisers announced details of knockout rounds (all kick-off times GMT).

Former Egypt international Ahmed "Mido" Hossam says his country are favourites to win this year's Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.

The headquarters of Operation Whirl Stroke, an ongoing special military operation in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States, says it has arrested two suspected arms manufacturers in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Sierra Leone has banned industrial fishing in its territorial waters for a month from Monday in a move to try to shore up stocks that were applauded by environmental activists.