The first round of the AFCON 2026 qualifiers was played from September 24 to 26. A few teams disappointed during the opening round, including Egypt, Tunisia and Senegal. Overall, however, there were no major surprises. The second round will be played from September 28 to October 6 and will feature several intriguing matchups.
The results from the first round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, played from September 24 to 26, produced a few surprises that show the continued leveling of African football. Egypt and Tunisia, both playing at home, disappointed in the opening round by drawing with Angola and Uganda, respectively. Senegal and new coach Patrick Vieira also failed to do better than a 1-1 draw against Mozambique in Maputo.
Apart from those three matches, the expected results largely prevailed elsewhere. That includes the two biggest clashes of the opening round, with Côte d’Ivoire beating Ghana 2-0 and South Africa defeating Guinea 2-1.
Read also : Morocco beat Gabon 2-0 to make winning start to AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign
The other leading teams in African football also lived up to expectations. That includes Morocco, quarterfinalists at the last World Cup and winners of the last AFCON. The Atlas Lions beat Gabon 2-0. Cameroon also defeated Comoros 3-1, Algeria beat Zambia 3-1, and Nigeria edged Madagascar 2-1.
Coming just over two months after the World Cup in the United States, this opening round featured several new coaches taking charge of African national teams, including World Cup participants Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Cape Verde and Algeria. Many teams also introduced younger players and new faces, including Alaa Bellaarouch and Abdellah Ouazane for Morocco, Malick Yalcouyé and Patrick Zabi for Côte d’Ivoire, and Malang Sarr for Senegal.
The Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana clash was notable for Malick Yalcouyé’s first appearance for the national team. The young Brighton player scored the opening goal and won the penalty converted by Franck Kessié, making him the standout player of the match and a new discovery for many Ivorians.
Read also : AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Ouahbi’s expected lineup for Morocco-Gabon clash
The second round will take place from September 28 to October 6. For some teams, it will be a chance to strengthen their position at the top of their group, while others could see their qualification hopes severely weakened by a second consecutive defeat.
The second round promises to be fiercely contested, even without direct clashes between some of Africa’s biggest teams.
The West African clashes between Ghana and Gambia, on the one hand, and Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau, on the other, will also be closely watched. After losing their opening game to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana’s Black Stars have no choice but to beat Gambia if they are to avoid falling behind in a group where the battle for the second qualifying spot is expected to be between the two teams. The Nigeria-Guinea-Bissau clash between the two group leaders should also be fiercely contested, especially since only the group winner will qualify because Tanzania, one of the AFCON co-hosts, is in the group.
Read also : AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Full schedule for first two rounds and key clashes
While matches between Morocco and Lesotho, Algeria and Burundi, South Africa and Eritrea, Côte d’Ivoire and Somalia, Egypt and South Sudan, and Senegal and Ethiopia should be straightforward for the continent’s leading teams, other major African sides will already be fighting for survival in the competition. This is especially true in groups that include one of the tournament’s host nations.
Tunisia, which is in Group H alongside Libya, Botswana and Uganda, is in this position. After drawing with Uganda at home, the Carthage Eagles now face Botswana. A defeat or draw could make qualification difficult in a group where Uganda is already qualified as an AFCON co-host. As a result, only the highest-placed team among the other three sides will qualify for the final tournament. The draw against Uganda at home could therefore prove costly for Tunisia’s qualification hopes. However, with Botswana visiting, Tunisia has an opportunity to make up for the setback against a direct rival for qualification.
Guinea are also in a similar situation as they host Kenya, one of the co-hosts and therefore already qualified. After losing to South Africa, only a win will prevent Guinea from falling further behind the Bafana Bafana.
In short, the second-round matches will be decisive for many teams and are expected to be fiercely contested.
Here is the full schedule for the second round of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers
Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger and Lesotho
First-round results
Morocco - Gabon: 2-0
Niger - Lesotho: 2-1
Second-round schedule
Lesotho - Morocco: September 29 at 1 p.m.
Gabon - Niger: September 29 at 7 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Morocco (3 pts, +2), 2nd Niger (3 pts, +1), 3rd Lesotho (0 pts, -1) and 4th Gabon (0 pts, -2)
Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi and South Sudan
First-round results
Egypt - Angola: 0-0
Malawi - South Sudan: 2-1
Second-round schedule
South Sudan - Egypt: September 29 at 1 p.m.
Angola - Malawi: October 6 at 7 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Malawi (3 pts, +1), 2nd Angola (1 pt, 0), 3rd Egypt (1 pt, 0) and 4th South Sudan (0 pts, -1)
Group C: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Gambia and Somalia
First-round results
Côte d’Ivoire - Ghana: 2-0
Gambia - Somalia: 2-1
Second-round schedule
Somalia - Côte d’Ivoire: September 29 at 4 p.m.
Ghana - Gambia: September 29 at 7 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Côte d’Ivoire (3 pts, +2), 2nd Gambia (3 pts, +1), 3rd Somalia (0 pts, -1) and 4th Ghana (0 pts, -2)
Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya and Eritrea
First-round results
South Africa - Guinea: 2-1
Kenya - Eritrea: 1-1
Second-round schedule
Guinea - Kenya: October 1 at 4 p.m.
Eritrea - South Africa: September 30 at 4 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st South Africa (3 pts, +1), 2nd Kenya (1 pt, 0), 3rd Eritrea (1 pt, 0) and 4th Guinea (0 pts, -1)
Group E: DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe
First-round results
DR Congo - Equatorial Guinea: 2-0
Sierra Leone - Zimbabwe: 2-3
Second-round schedule
Zimbabwe - DR Congo:
Equatorial Guinea - Sierra Leone:
Standings after the first round: 1st DR Congo (3 pts, +2), 2nd Zimbabwe (3 pts, +1), 3rd Sierra Leone (0 pts, -1) and 4th Equatorial Guinea (0 pts, -2)
Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania and Central African Republic
First-round results
Mauritania - Central African Republic: 3-1
Burkina Faso - Benin: 1-1
Second-round schedule
Central African Republic - Burkina Faso: September 28 at 4 p.m.
Benin - Mauritania: September 29 at 7 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Mauritania (3 pts, +2), 2nd Burkina Faso (1 pt, 0), 3rd Benin (1 pt, 0) and 4th Central African Republic (0 pts, -2)
Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia and Republic of the Congo
First-round results
Namibia - Congo: 1-0
Cameroon - Comoros: 3-1
Second-round schedule
Comoros - Namibia: September 29 at 11 a.m.
Congo - Cameroon: September 29 at 7 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Cameroon (3 pts, +2), 2nd Namibia (3 pts, +1), 3rd Congo (0 pts, -1) and 4th Comoros (0 pts, -2)
Group H: Tunisia, Uganda, Libya and Botswana
First-round results
Tunisia - Uganda: 1-1
Libya - Botswana: 2-2
Second-round schedule
Tunisia - Botswana: September 28 at 7 p.m.
Uganda - Libya: September 29 at 4 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Botswana (1 pt, 0), 2nd Libya (1 pt, 0), 3rd Uganda (1 pt, 0) and 4th Tunisia (1 pt, 0)
Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo and Burundi
First-round results
Algeria - Zambia: 3-1
Togo - Burundi: 1-0
Second-round schedule
Burundi - Algeria: September 29 at 1 p.m.
Zambia - Togo: September 29 at 4 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Algeria (3 pts, +2), 2nd Togo (3 pts, +1), 3rd Burundi (0 pts, -1) and 4th Zambia (0 pts, -2)
Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia
First-round results
Senegal - Mozambique: 1-1
Sudan - Ethiopia: 1-0
Second-round schedule
Mozambique - Sudan: September 29 at 1 p.m.
Ethiopia - Senegal: September 29 at 1 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Sudan (3 pts, +1), 2nd Senegal (1 pt, 0), 3rd Mozambique (1 pt, 0) and 4th Ethiopia (0 pts, -1)
Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda and Liberia
First-round results
Rwanda - Liberia: 3-1
Mali - Cape Verde: 3-1
Second-round schedule
Liberia - Mali: September 29 at 4 p.m.
Cape Verde - Rwanda: September 29 at 7 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Mali (3 pts, +2), 2nd Rwanda (3 pts, +2), 3rd Liberia (0 pts, -2) and 4th Cape Verde (0 pts, -2)
Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau
First-round results
Tanzania - Guinea-Bissau: 0-2
Nigeria - Madagascar: 2-1
Second-round schedule
Madagascar - Tanzania: September 29 at 1 p.m.
Guinea-Bissau - Nigeria: September 29 at 4 p.m.
Standings after the first round: 1st Guinea-Bissau (3 pts, +2), 2nd Nigeria (3 pts, +1), 3rd Madagascar (0 pts, -1) and 4th Tanzania (0 pts, -2)
