AFCON
Morocco Handed Comfortable AFCON 2027 Qualification Draw
By Kunle Solaja.
Defending African champions Morocco national football team were handed a favourable route to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after Tuesday’s qualifying draw in Cairo placed the Atlas Lions in Group A alongside Gabon, Niger and Lesotho.
Morocco, still riding on the momentum of their historic FIFA World Cup semi-final achievement and recent continental resurgence, are expected to dominate the section as they begin preparations for another attempt to extend their growing influence in African football.
The North Africans will enter the qualifiers as one of the continent’s strongest sides, with coach Walid Regragui expected to use the campaign not only to secure qualification but also to further strengthen a squad many observers already regard as Africa’s benchmark.
Although Gabon possess enough experience to pose occasional resistance, particularly at home, Morocco are overwhelming favourites to top the group comfortably. Niger and Lesotho are widely viewed as outsiders in a section where the Atlas Lions’ superior depth, technical quality and international experience should prove decisive.
The draw, conducted in Cairo on Tuesday, produced several heavyweight clashes elsewhere across the continent ahead of the finals scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17 next year.
The biggest headline matchup came in Group C, where defending AFCON champions Côte d’Ivoire national football team were paired with fierce rivals Ghana national football team alongside Gambia and Somalia in what is widely considered the toughest section of the qualifiers.
African champions Senegal national football team were drawn against Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia in Group J, while Cameroon national football team face Comoros, Namibia and Congo in a potentially tricky Group G.
Seven-time African champions Egypt will battle Angola, Malawi and South Sudan in Group B, while Algeria’s national football team must negotiate a difficult Group I featuring Zambia, Togo and Burundi.
Morocco’s relatively smooth draw immediately reinforced growing expectations that the Atlas Lions could arrive at the 2027 finals not only as qualifiers but as one of the tournament favourites.
The qualification structure also creates unique scenarios in three groups involving co-host nations Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, who automatically qualify for the finals.
As a result, only the highest-placed team apart from the hosts will progress from Groups D, H and L. This affects Group D containing Kenya, South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea; Group H involving Uganda, Tunisia, Libya and Botswana; and Group L where Nigeria face Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau.
The qualification campaign will be played across three international windows, beginning from September 21 to October 6 this year, followed by matches from November 9 to 17 before concluding between March 22 and 30 next year.
Each country will play two qualifying matches during every international window.
For Morocco, however, the focus will be less about simply qualifying and more about maintaining the consistency and authority that have transformed the Atlas Lions into one of Africa’s most admired football projects ahead of another continental title challenge.
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Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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