2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon Start Strong as Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco Begin Campaign
The race for places at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda got underway on Thursday, with eight opening-day fixtures producing important victories for Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, DR Congo, Mauritania and Namibia.
The qualifying campaign features 48 nations divided into 12 groups, with the top two teams in most groups advancing to the 24-team finals. However, because Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are automatic qualifiers as co-hosts, only one additional team will qualify from each of their respective groups.
Côte d’Ivoire make strong statement
Côte d’Ivoire delivered the standout result of the opening day, defeating West African rivals Ghana 2-0 in Bouaké.
Malick Yalcouyé opened the scoring before captain Franck Kessié converted a second-half penalty to give the Elephants a winning start in Group C.
The result leaves Ghana with an early setback in a group that also contains The Gambia and Somalia.
Cameroon also began strongly, defeating Comoros 3-1, while DR Congo recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea, with Chancel Mbemba and Yoane Wissa finding the net.
Mauritania defeated Central African Republic 3-1, while Namibia edged Congo 1-0.
The most dramatic contest came in Freetown, where Zimbabwe produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Sierra Leone 3-2 after falling two goals behind.
Libya also recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Botswana, while Tunisia and Uganda played out a 1-1 draw.
The opening results have already created an early separation in several groups, with the victorious nations taking an immediate advantage before the second round of fixtures.
Nigeria begin against Madagascar
Attention now turns to Friday, when several of Africa’s biggest football nations enter the competition.
Nigeria open their Group L campaign against Madagascar, with the Super Eagles seeking a positive start to their qualification bid.
The group presents an unusual qualification situation because Tanzania, one of the three co-hosts, is already guaranteed a place at the finals. Consequently, only the highest-ranked team among the other three nations in Group L will join Tanzania at AFCON 2027.
Nigeria’s opening fixture therefore carries considerable significance, particularly with Victor Osimhen unavailable through injury.
Friday’s fixtures
Afternoon
- Tanzania vs Guinea-Bissau — 2:00pm
- Niger vs Lesotho — 4:00pm
- Malawi vs South Sudan — 5:00pm
- The Gambia vs Somalia — 5:00pm
- Togo vs Burundi — 5:00pm
- Sudan vs Ethiopia — 5:00pm
- Rwanda vs Liberia — 5:00pm
- Nigeria vs Madagascar — 5:00pm
Evening
- Morocco vs Gabon — 8:00pm
- Egypt vs Angola — 8:00pm
- Burkina Faso vs Benin — 8:00pm
- Algeria vs Zambia — 8:00pm
- Senegal vs Mozambique — 8:00pm
- Mali vs Cape Verde — 8:00pm
All times are Nigerian time.
Heavyweights take centre stage
Morocco host Gabon in Group A, while seven-time African champions Egypt welcome Angola in Group B.
Algeria face Zambia in another heavyweight encounter, while Mali take on Cape Verde in a potentially significant Group K battle.
Senegal, meanwhile, begin their campaign away to Mozambique under new coach Patrick Vieira.
The opening round concludes on Saturday with Kenya facing Eritrea and South Africa taking on Guinea, before the second matchday begins next week.
The qualification campaign will continue through November and March, with the 2027 AFCON finals scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
