The Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers kicked off on September 24, producing a mix of expected wins and surprise results. Continental powerhouses Nigeria, Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, and Cameroon all secured victories in their opening matches. Nigeria came from behind to beat Madagascar 2-1, while Morocco and Côte d'Ivoire also made strong starts with 2-0 wins over Gabon and Ghana, respectively.
Guinea-Bissau pulled off a notable upset by beating co-hosts Tanzania 2-0 away. Franculino Djú and Mama Baldé scored the goals for Guinea-Bissau, who are now level on points with Nigeria in Group L. Tanzania, already qualified for the tournament as co-hosts, were unable to secure a win. Zimbabwe also produced a dramatic comeback, recovering from two goals down to beat Sierra Leone 3-2.
Egypt, a record seven-time African champion, were held to a goalless draw at home by Angola. The hosts thought they had taken the lead through Mostafa Zico, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Angola secured a valuable away point, while Egypt were left to rue their missed opportunity. In another match, Senegal were denied victory in their first competitive game under coach Patrick Vieira, as they drew 1-1 with Mozambique.
Côte d'Ivoire began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ghana, with Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié scoring the goals. The win puts Côte d'Ivoire top of Group C, alongside The Gambia. Algeria also secured a convincing win, defeating Zambia 3-1 in Group I. Jaouen Hadjam, Ibrahim Maza, and Anis Hadj Moussa scored for Algeria, who are now top of their group.
Cameroon made a strong start in Group G, defeating Comoros 3-1. David Ningo and Bryan Mbeumo put Cameroon two goals ahead, before Warmed Omari pulled one back for Comoros. Danny Namaso restored Cameroon's two-goal advantage in the 81st minute. Mauritania also scored three goals, beating the Central African Republic 3-1 in Group F.
Rwanda and Mali both recorded 3-1 victories in Group K. The Amavubi defeated Liberia, while Mali beat Cape Verde, with Nene Dorgeles scoring twice for the Eagles. The results put both sides on three points after the opening round. South Africa also began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Guinea, with Ime Okon and Samukele Kabini scoring the goals.
The second round of fixtures is scheduled to begin on September 28, with several teams that dropped points in their opening matches looking to respond immediately. The AFCON 2027 qualifiers will continue to be a thrilling competition, with many teams vying for a spot in the final tournament.
Key points
- Nigeria, Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, and Cameroon all began their AFCON 2027 qualifiers with victories.
- Guinea-Bissau pulled off a notable upset by beating co-hosts Tanzania 2-0 away.
- Egypt were held to a goalless draw at home by Angola.
