| SHAWCROSS | David _, 1958-1965 Manchester City and 1965-1967 Stockport midfielder (9) 28 and 41 Down. 2023 AFCON winners (5,5) |
| IVORY | And 41 down. 2023 AFCON winners (5,5) |
| CLOUGH | Brian ___, 1965-1967 Hartlepool and 1973-1974 Brighton manager (6) |
| BEAUMONT | Chris ___ , 1989-96 Stockport midfielder at Chesterfield from 1996-2001 (8) |
| PERFECTPITCH | Something the eight people at 3-, 9-, 28- and 30-Down have all strived for? |
| CONTROLGROUP | Set of people receiving a placebo, perhaps ... or what the ends of 20-, 28- and 41-Across belong to? |
| POSTSCRIPTS | Words added to letters, or a hint to the ends of 17-, 28- and 41-Across |
| TITLETRACKS | Songs that share a name with their albums ... or a hint to 16-, 28- and 41-Across |
| CAPE | FIFA World Cup debutants in 2026; 2013 and 2023 AFCON quarterfinalists (4,5) |
| VERDE | FIFA World Cup debutants in 2026; 2013 and 2023 AFCON quarterfinalists (4,5) |
| COAST | 2023 AFCON winners (5) |
| SUMMERBEE | Mike ___, 1968-1973 England and 1965-1975 Manchester City midfielder (9) |
| RONWYLIE | 1950-58 Notts County, 1958-65 Aston Villa and 1965-70 Birmingham City midfielder; 1982-84 West Brom boss (3,5) |
| MANE | Sadio .... , Senegal, Al-Nassr and 2016-22 Liverpool attacker; AFCON 2021 Man of the Tournament (4) |
| SHEA | The last game there was played 9/28/2008 |
| COOLIO | "Gangsta's-Paradise"-rapper-who-passed-away-on-9/28/22 |
| KIX | "Kid-Tested. ParentApproved" cereal 9/28 |
| JANSEN | Wim ...... , 1967-80 Netherlands and 1965-80 Feyenoord midfielder/defender; 1997-98 Celtic manager (6) |
| WYLIE | Ron ..... , 1950-58 Notts County, 1958-65 Aston Villa and 1965-70 Birmingham midfielder; 1982-84 West Brom boss (5) |
| BALDERSTONE | 1958-65 Huddersfield and 1965-75 Carlisle midfielder; 1976 England Test cricket debutant (5,11) |
