Junior Agogo
AFCON 25
BY STEPHEN BYRNE
Being a supporter of Bristol Rovers, you could be excused for not knowing that the continent of Africa is about to be gripped by its most enthralling regular competition.
For a continent whose first World Cup semi finalist was in the most recent tournament, it serves as an hors d’oeuvre for future delights, and it began in Morocco on 21st December and lasts until the final on 18th January 2026 The opening game of the tournament saw the hosts beat Comoros 2-0.
No Rovers player past or present will be taking part, perhaps as Kamil Conteh’s Sierra Leone have not qualified. This has, of course, not always been the case, as is witnessed by Junior Agogo scoring in the third place play off between Ghana and Ivory Coast in 2008, four years after Jean-Paul Kalala had represented the Democratic Republic of Congo in all three of their group matches.
Similarly, several players who have recently opposed The Gas are not in their country’s squad, a prime example being Cameroon’s Leoandro Fuchs who played two years back for Peterborough but now, playing professionally in Azerbaijan, has missed out on a place in the national squad.
In this latest edition, however, 13 players represent their nations who have also opposed Rovers in the Football League, and there are three others who have played against The Gas in cup competitions. And what a varied crew they are, three each from Nigeria and Uganda, two who have scored against Rovers in the League (Mo Eisa and Ademola Lookman) and two who have been sent off against The Gas (Junior Tchamadeu and Haji Mnoga).
So, Semi Ajayi, who played twice against Rovers for a Rotherham United side managed by Steve Evans, Sheffield Wednesday’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Charlton Athletic’s Ademola Lookman make up the Nigerian triumvirate, whilst Bright Osayi-Samuel, who is also in their squad, scored against The Gas with QPR in the League Cup in August 2018. The Ugandan trio is Wycombe Wanderers’ Jordan Obita, Toby Sibbick (Wigan Athletic and Wimbledon) and Uche Ikpeazu of Port Vale.
There are two Zimbabwe squad members who have played League football against Rovers, Plymouth Argyle’s Brendan Galloway and Macauley Bonne (on the losing side with both Charlton Athletic and Cambridge United). To this list can be added squad member Andy Rinomhota, who was in the Cardiff City side which knocked Rovers out of the League Cup last season.
Then there is one representative each from five countries: Haji Mnoga of Tanzania was sent off at The Mem this September with Salford City; Benin’s Sessi d’Almeida played twice for Blackpool against Rovers in 2017/18; Rocky Bushiri is the only member of this tournament’s Democratic Republic of Congo squad to have opposed The Gas, playing for Blackpool in August 2019; Mo Eisa has played for Peterborough United, MK Dons and Exeter City against Rovers and represents Sudan; and Cameroon’s Junior Tchamadeu was sent off when Rovers drew 1-1 at Colchester United in October 202.
Of these 13 League opponents, Nigeria’s Semi Ajayi has the most caps to his name, his 46 being one more than Sessi d’Almeida has played for Benin. It is also very possible that one or more of these players could become an African champion during January, but we shall just have to wait and see.
