ROAD TO AFCON 2027: Qualifiers Kick Off as Africa Begins Journey to PAMOJA Finals
The road to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 officially begins this week, with 48 nations starting their quest for a place at East Africa’s historic tournament.
Matchdays 1 and 2 of the qualifiers will be played from Thursday, 24 September to Tuesday, 6 October 2026, marking the start of the group stage campaign that will decide the 24 teams to join hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
A total of 24 matches will be played across 12 groups in the opening three days, with some heavyweight clashes lined up.
Cote d’Ivoire vs Ghana Headlines Opening Day
Thursday’s action will see eight fixtures across Groups C, E, F, G and H.
The standout tie is a West African derby between former champions Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana in Bouake at 19h00 GMT. The match marks a new chapter for the Elephants with the return of Herve Renard, who has handed call-ups to eight newcomers, while Ghana have recalled several stars who missed the 2026 World Cup.
Elsewhere on Thursday, DR Congo host Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone face Zimbabwe, Cameroon take on Comoros, Namibia play Congo, and co-hosts Uganda begin their campaign away to Tunisia. Libya will welcome Botswana and Mauritania face Central African Republic.
Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Nigeria in Action on Friday
Friday, 25 September will be the busiest day with 14 matches.
Group A favourites Morocco launch their campaign against Gabon at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Complex in Rabat. It will be a fresh start for the Atlas Lions under new coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who has included uncapped youngsters Abdellah Ouazane, Soufian El Faouzi and Yassir Zabiri. Gabon also begin life after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has retired from international football, under new coach Sebastien Migne.
Record seven-time champions Egypt host Angola in Cairo, Algeria welcome Zambia in Tizi-Ouzou, and Burkina Faso face Benin in a tight West African duel.
In other fixtures, Senegal host Mozambique, Nigeria without injured Victor Osimhen take on Madagascar, Sudan face Ethiopia, Mali battle Cape Verde, Rwanda play Liberia, and co-hosts Tanzania open against Guinea-Bissau.
Mosimane’s South Africa Return
Matchday 1 concludes on Saturday, 26 September with Group D.
South Africa host Guinea in what will be Pitso Mosimane’s first competitive game since returning for a third spell as Bafana Bafana coach. Co-hosts Kenya, who are already qualified, will face Eritrea in the group’s other match.
In Groups D, H and L where Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are placed as co-hosts, only the highest-ranked team outside the host nation will qualify for the finals.
The 2027 AFCON, to be held from 19 June to 17 July 2027, will be the first time East Africa hosts the tournament since Ethiopia in 1976. Dubbed PAMOJA – Swahili for “Together” – the tournament celebrates unity as three nations co-host for the first time.
After this window, the qualifiers will resume from 9-17 November 2026, with the final two rounds scheduled for 22-30 March 2027.
