Egypt, Senegal, and Ghana are under pressure to relaunch their drive for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after lackluster performances in their qualifying matches. Egypt's Mohamed Salah will sit out their match against South Sudan due to concerns over the artificial pitch in Juba. The Egyptian Football Association made the decision to protect the star player, who recently moved from Liverpool to Trabzonspor. Egypt's match against Angola ended in a goalless draw, with Salah being replaced by Zico after 61 minutes.
Senegal, led by new coach Patrick Vieira, were held to a 1-1 draw against Mozambique in their Group J opener. Vieira, a Senegal-born former France international, is tasked with turning the team's fortunes around. Despite the draw, Vieira expressed optimism about his team's performance and attitude, stating that they showed a desire to secure a victory but were unlucky. Senegal will face Ethiopia in their next match, just before the Court of Arbitration for Sport considers their appeal against the stripping of their 2025 Cup of Nations title.
Ghana, under coach Carlos Queiroz, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in Bouaké. Queiroz conceded that Côte d'Ivoire was better in terms of possession but felt that Ghana had more attacking penetration and created better opportunities. Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1982, but have since slumped to group stage exits and failed to advance to the 2025 competition in Morocco. Queiroz emphasized the importance of learning from the past and moving forward, stating that the team must support the players to perform.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have seen several upsets and surprising results. Malawi took the top spot in Group B after beating South Sudan 2-1, while Morocco began their quest to qualify with a 2-0 win over Gabon. Nigeria, Cameroon, and Algeria also secured opening round wins, while Cape Verde suffered a 3-1 defeat in Mali. The qualifiers have highlighted the competitiveness of the tournament, with several teams vying for a spot in the 2027 competition.
Ghana's Carlos Queiroz is focused on getting his team back on track, stating that they must fight to have the ball and play with a positive mindset to score goals. Queiroz, who steered Ghana into the knockout rounds at the 2026 World Cup, emphasized the importance of supporting the players and moving forward as a team. Ghana's next match is against Gambia, who opened their Group C campaign with a 2-1 win over Somalia.
Senegal's football federation chiefs drafted in Patrick Vieira to replace Pape Thiaw, who left after the 2026 World Cup. Vieira's experience and stardust were expected to inspire the team, but they were held to a draw against Mozambique. Despite the setback, Vieira remains optimistic about Senegal's chances, stating that they will address their shortcomings through hard work and improve their performance.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will continue to be closely contested, with several top teams facing pressure to perform. Egypt, Senegal, and Ghana must regroup and refocus their efforts to secure a spot in the tournament. The qualifiers have shown that several teams are hungry for success, and the competition is expected to be fierce as the teams battle for a spot in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- Egypt's Mohamed Salah will sit out their match against South Sudan due to concerns over the artificial pitch in Juba.
- Senegal's coach Patrick Vieira expressed optimism about his team's performance despite being held to a draw against Mozambique.
- Ghana's coach Carlos Queiroz emphasized the importance of learning from the past and moving forward as a team.
