African countries have no competitive internationals in the October window but many of them are using the opportunity to get ready for key dates ahead.

All the continent’s top teams are in action over the following six days preparing for next month’s kick off of the World Cup qualifiers plus the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast in January.

The last of the qualifying matches for that tournament, which runs from January 13 to February 11, is played in Agadir on Tuesday when Morocco host Liberia. It was postpone last month after the horror earthquake that killed thousands in Morocco.

Portugal plays host to variety of friendlies involving not only former colonies like Angola, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique but also Nigeria’s Super Eagles, whose coach Jose Peserio is Portuguese.

Nigeria take on Saudi Arabia on Friday in Portimao and then the Mambas of Mozambique on Monday.

Egypt have a full squad, including Mohamed Salah, for their two friendlies in Abu Dhabi, first against Zambia on Thursday and then Algeria on Monday.

Cameroon are in Moscow on Thursday to offer Russia, banned from Fifa competition, a rare interview. After that, the Indomitable Lions fly to France where they will meet reigning African champions Seneghal in Lens on Monday.

Ghana’s Black Stars are doing the most traveling. They have flown across the Atlantic to North Carollina to meet Mexio and after that go to Nashville to meet the U.S

AFRICAN INTERNATIONALS THIS MONTH:

Thursday October 12

Russia v Cameroon, Moscow 

Algeria v Cape Verde Islands, Constantine 

Egypt v Zambia, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Friday October 13

South Korea v Tunisia, Suwon 

DR Congo v New Zealand, Murcia, Spain

Nigeria v Saudi Arabia, Portimao, Portugal 

South Africa v Eswatini, Soccer City 

Guinea v Gabon, Parchal, Portugal 

Mali v Uganda, Bamako 

Benin v Madagascar, Casablanca, Morocco

Equatorial Guinea v Burkina Faso, Malabo

Mozambique v Angola, Algarve, Portugal

Saturday October 14

Mexico v Ghana, Charlotte, USA

Ivory Coast v Morocco, Abidjan 

Monday October 16

Mozambique v Nigeria, Albuferia, Portugal 

Cameroon v Senegal, Lens, France 

Russia v Kenya, Antalya, Turkey

Egypt v Algeria, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Tuesday October 17 

Japan v Tunisia, Kobe 

Mali v Saudi Arabia, Portimao, Portugal 

Guinea v Guinea Bissau, Sao Joao de Venda, Portugal 

Morocco v Liberia, Agadir 

Angola v DR Congo, Algarve, Portugal

Benin v Botswana, Casablanca, Morocco

Ivory Coast v South Africa, Abidjan

Mauritania v Burkina Faso, Nouakchott

Wednesday October 18

USA v Ghana, Nashville