Ghana AFCON Roadmap: With the Black Stars out of the 2026 World Cup, attention turns to AFCON 2027 qualifiers in Sept 2026, with Ghana drawn in Group C against Ivory Coast, Gambia and Somalia. Security & Borders: Nigeria’s UN envoy Jimoh Ibrahim says the UN will back a regional border-policing push to tackle Sahel insecurity, proposing a West African border force with shared standards and tech. Somalia One-Man-One-Vote: Somalia’s transition politics face renewed pressure as AU, IGAD, EU and UN call for talks to restart after President Mohamud’s term dispute. East Africa Energy Push: Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji pledges $100m to co-invest in Aliko Dangote’s planned Kenya refinery, betting on local value-add. Cocoa Value Shift: Ghana secures Gulf offtake commitments for semi-finished cocoa products, aiming to earn more than raw beans. Sahel Diplomacy Thaw: Mali and Algeria fully restore ties, returning ambassadors and reopening airspace after a drone-triggered crisis. Ghana Coaching Change: Roger De Sa confirms his Ghana assistant role ends with the World Cup contract. Humanitarian & Health: Reports from Equatorial Guinea claim deported migrants were quarantined alongside a suspected Ebola patient. World Cup Reality Check: Despite Morocco’s exit, analysis says Africa’s World Cup slot expansion still delivered strong knockout results, with late goals a recurring worry.