2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Ivory Coast-Ghana and Algeria-Zambia, the two clashes of the first day, Senegal and Morocco expected

More than eight months after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, won by Senegal against Morocco, African nations resume their qualifying campaign for the tournament. The first two matchdays, scheduled over a twelve-day period, will begin this Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Group G will be the first to take to the field with the match between Namibia and Congo-Brazzaville. Having missed out on the last Africa Cup of Nations, both teams will be looking to kick-start their campaigns with a victory. In the other match in the group, Cameroon will host Comoros.

In Group F, Mauritania will host the Central African Republic, while in Group E, DR Congo will face Equatorial Guinea in a duel between two Central African selections.

The marquee match of this opening day will take place in Group C, with Ivory Coast facing Ghana. A highly anticipated encounter between two giants of African football.

Reigning African champions Senegal (Group J) will begin their qualifying campaign with a trip to Mozambique on Friday, September 25. In the other group match, Sudan will host Ethiopia.

Last year's AFCON runners-up Morocco, drawn in Group A, will also kick off their campaign at home against Gabon. Nigeria, third in the last edition held in Morocco, will host Madagascar in Group L.

In Group B, Mohamed Salah's Egypt will host Angola, managed by former Senegal coach Aliou Cissé. In Group I, Algeria will welcome Zambia in one of the other key matches of this opening round.

Finally, Cape Verde will travel to Mali in Group K, while Serhou Guirassy's Guinea will be away to South Africa in Group D.

The first day promises to be particularly lively, with several matches between major African nations and highly anticipated debuts for Senegal and Morocco, two of the main figures of the last AFCON.

Day One (Times in Universal Time)

Thursday, September 24

1 p.m. Namibia - Congo-Brazzaville (Group G)

4pm Mauritania - Central African Republic (Group F)

DR Congo - Equatorial Guinea (Group E)

Libya - Botswana (Group H)

7pm Ivory Coast - Ghana

Sierra Leone - Zimbabwe (Group E)

Cameroon - Comoros (Group G)

Tunisia - Uganda (Group H)

Friday, September 25

1 p.m. Senegal-Mozambique (Group J)

Tanzania - Guinea-Bissau (Group L)

3pm Niger - Lesotho (Group A)

4pm Malawi - South Sudan (Group B)

Gambia - Somalia (Group C)

Togo - Burundi (Group I)

Sudan - Ethiopia (Group J)

Rwanda - Liberia (Group K)

Nigeria - Madagascar (Group L)

7pm Morocco - Gabon (Group A)

Egypt - Angola (Group B)

Burkina Faso - Benin (Group F)

Algeria - Zambia (Group I)

Mali - Cape Verde (Group K)

Saturday, September 26

1 p.m. Kenya - Eritrea (Group D)

4pm South Africa - Guinea (D)