The race for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda under the “Pamoja 2027” banner, kicked off on Thursday with eight fixtures delivering goals, upsets and statement wins across the continent and a packed programme of 14 more matches lands today, Friday.
Côte d’Ivoire served early notice of their credentials, brushing aside Ghana 2-0 in a heavyweight clash between two of West Africa’s traditional powers. The Elephants controlled the contest from start to finish and put down a marker for the group.
Cameroon also flexed their muscle, cruising past Comoros 3-1 to open their campaign with maximum points. The Indomitable Lions found the net three times and never looked troubled by their opponents.
DR Congo produced a clinical display to sink Equatorial Guinea 2-0, while neighboring Congo fell 1-0 to Namibia in a tight, tactical battle decided by a single strike.
Mauritania delivered one of the day’s more emphatic results, routing Central African Republic 3-1 to announce themselves as genuine contenders in their group.
Zimbabwe pulled off arguably the biggest shock of the round, edging out Sierra Leone in a five-goal thriller that finished 3-2. The Warriors twice came from behind before snatching the win late on.
Libya and Botswana shared the spoils in a pulsating 2-2 draw, while Tunisia dropped points at home, settling for a 1-1 draw against Uganda.
Attention now turns to Friday’s action, which brings several continental heavyweights into the fray for the first time. Morocco open their Group A campaign at home to Gabon, with the Atlas Lions entering a new era under coach Mohamed Ouahbi and Gabon fielding a fresh look of their own following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s international retirement. Niger host Lesotho in the group’s other fixture.
Record seven-time champions Egypt welcome Angola in Group B, while Malawi take on South Sudan. Gambia face Somalia in Group C, and Burkina Faso host Benin in an intriguing West African contest in Group F.
Algeria face Zambia in one of the day’s headline clashes in Group I, with Togo hosting Burundi in the group’s other tie. Senegal open their Group J campaign at home against Mozambique, while Sudan take on Ethiopia. Mali host Cape Verde and Rwanda face Liberia in Group K, and Nigeria kick off their qualifying bid against Madagascar in Group L, with Tanzania hosting Guinea-Bissau completing the day’s fixtures.
With qualification for the expanded 24-team tournament in East Africa still wide open, Thursday’s results have already separated early pacesetters from sides needing to regroup.
Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, DR Congo and Mauritania head into the coming rounds with maximum points, while Ghana, Congo, Central African Republic and Sierra Leone look to respond fast and Friday’s fixtures will show whether Africa’s giants can match that early pace.
