By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Forty-eight African Nations will continue the long and exciting journey to the Finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (“AFCON”) Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda 2027.
On Thursday, 24 September, the Group Stages of the Qualifiers will begin and will run until Tuesday, 6 October at the completion of Matchday 2.
A total of 24 matches will be played across 12 groups between Thursday and Saturday, 26 September, marking the start of the group stage on the road to the 24-team Finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda next year.
Match Day 1 will have a number of exciting fixtures including a heavyweight West African meeting between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana in Bouaké, Morocco against Gabon in Rabat, Egypt versus Angola in Cairo and Algeria hosting Zambia in Tizi-Ouzou.
The TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 will be staged from 19 June to 17 July 2027 and will mark the return of Africa’s flagship football competition to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the tournament in 1976.
Côte d’Ivoire v Ghana among opening-day highlightsThe action starts on Thursday with eight fixtures across Groups C, E, F, G and H.
One of the most anticipated matches of the opening round will see former African champions Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana meet at 19h00 GMT in Bouaké.
The fixture also marks the start of a new cycle for the Elephants under returning coach Hervé Renard, who has named eight newcomers in his squad. Ghana, meanwhile, have recalled some players who missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Elsewhere, DR Congo host Equatorial Guinea, while Sierra Leone take on Zimbabwe in Group E.
Cameroon open their Group G campaign against Comoros, with Namibia facing Congo in the group’s other match.
Co-hosts Uganda begin their Group H programme away to Tunisia, while Libya welcome Botswana.
Mauritania face Central African Republic in Group F to complete Thursday’s programme.
Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Nigeria enter the race Friday, 25 September will provide another packed programme of 14 matches.
Morocco start their Group A campaign against Gabon at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.
The Atlas Lions enter a new era under Mohamed Ouahbi, who has named uncapped youngsters Abdellah Ouazane, Soufian El Faouzi and Yassir Zabiri in his first senior squad.
Gabon also arrive with a new coach, Sébastien Migné, and begin a new chapter following former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s retirement from international football.
Record seven-time African champions Egypt host Angola in Group B, while Malawi welcome South Sudan.
Group F will see an intriguing West African contest between Burkina Faso and Benin, while Algeria and Zambia meet in one of the headline Group I fixtures.
Senegal begin their Group J campaign at home against Mozambique, while Sudan take on Ethiopia.
Mali welcome Cape Verde in Group K, with Rwanda hosting Liberia.
Nigeria will start their Group L campaign against Madagascar without Victor Osimhen after the striker was ruled out of the opening two qualifiers with a muscle injury. Co-hosts Tanzania face Guinea-Bissau in the group’s other fixture.
Mosimane starts new South Africa chapter Matchday 1 concludes on Saturday, 26 September with Group D, where South Africa host Guinea and co-hosts Kenya face Eritrea.
The meeting with Guinea will be Pitso Mosimane’s first competitive match since returning for a third spell as South Africa coach.
Guinea will look to Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy for attacking inspiration, while Ilaix Moriba is among the players recalled by coach Paulo Duarte.
Group D carries particular significance because Kenya are already qualified as co-hosts. Only the highest-ranked nation outside Kenya will join the Harambee Stars at the Finals.
The same qualification arrangement applies to Groups H and L, which contain co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania respectively.
Historic East African Finals await The 48 participating teams have been divided into 12 groups of four, with the Qualifiers contested over six matchdays.
The first two teams in each group will qualify, except in Groups D, H and L, where Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are automatically qualified and only the highest-ranked team outside the respective host nation will advance.
Following Matchdays 1 and 2, the campaign will resume from 9-17 November, before the final two rounds are played from 22-30 March 2027.
PAMOJA – the Swahili word for “Together” – reflects CAF’s vision of unity, cooperation and shared progress through football as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda prepare to become the first three nations to jointly host the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 Qualifiers – Matchday 1 Fixtures
Thursday, 24 September 2026 – All times GMT
Group G: Namibia vs Congo – 13h00
Group E: DR Congo vs Equatorial Guinea – 16h00
Group F: Mauritania vs Central African Republic – 16h00
Group H: Libya vs Botswana – 16h00
Group C: Côte d’Ivoire vs Ghana – 19h00
Group E: Sierra Leone vs Zimbabwe – 19h00
Group G: Cameroon vs Comoros – 19h00
Group H: Tunisia vs Uganda – 19h00
Friday, 25 September 2026 – All times GMT
Group L: Tanzania vs Guinea-Bissau – 13h00
Group A: Niger vs Lesotho – 15h00
Group B: Malawi vs South Sudan – 16h00
Group C: The Gambia vs Somalia – 16h00
Group I: Togo vs Burundi – 16h00
Group J: Sudan vs Ethiopia – 16h00
Group K: Rwanda vs Liberia – 16h00
Group L: Nigeria vs Madagascar – 16h00
Group A: Morocco vs Gabon – 19h00
Group B: Egypt vs Angola – 19h00
Group F: Burkina Faso vs Benin – 19h00
Group I: Algeria vs Zambia – 19h00
Group J: Senegal vs Mozambique – 19h00
Group K: Mali vs Cape Verde – 19h00
Saturday, 26 September 2026 – All times GMT:
Group D: Kenya vs Eritrea – 13h00
Group D: South Africa vs Guinea – 16h00.
