AFCON
Morocco’s Atlas Lions Begin Road to AFCON 2027 With Tough Gabon Clash
By Kunle Solaja.
Defending African champions Morocco national football team will begin their quest to retain the Africa Cup of Nations title with a high-profile opening clash against Gabon after the full fixture schedule for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers was released following Tuesday’s draw in Cairo.
The Atlas Lions, drawn in Group A alongside Gabon, Niger and Lesotho, appear to have been handed one of the more favourable qualification routes as they continue their dominance in African football following their historic FIFA World Cup semi-final achievement and recent continental success.
Morocco will open the campaign at home against the Gabon national football team on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be the toughest fixture in the group. Gabon’s experience and physical strength, especially in away conditions, could provide the Atlas Lions with their biggest challenge in the race for qualification.
On the same day, Niger will host Lesotho in the group’s other opening fixture.
The second round of matches on October 6 will see Morocco travel to face Lesotho, while Gabon host Niger in a fixture that could shape the early balance of the group.
One of the major talking points surrounding the schedule is Morocco’s renewed meetings with the Niger national football team after both countries were also paired together in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
That familiarity is expected to add extra tactical intrigue when the two sides meet on Matchday Three on November 9, with Morocco hosting Niger in a fixture that could effectively decide the group leadership.
Gabon and Lesotho will clash in the other Matchday Three encounter.
Morocco will then travel away to Gabon on November 17 in what could prove the most demanding away assignment of the campaign. Lesotho will simultaneously host Niger.
The final phase of the qualification series comes in March 2027.
Morocco are scheduled to face Gabon away again on March 22 according to the fixture release, while Lesotho host Niger. The campaign then concludes on March 30 with Niger hosting Gabon and Morocco entertaining Lesotho in their final group match.
The Atlas Lions are overwhelming favourites to secure qualification to the 24-team finals scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17 next year.
With the top two teams from each group advancing to the finals, Morocco are widely expected not only to qualify comfortably but also to use the campaign to further strengthen a squad regarded as one of the strongest on the continent.
The qualification campaign will be played across three international windows, with each national team playing two matches per window.
Morocco’s full Group A fixtures are:
Matchday 1 – September 21, 2026
Morocco vs Gabon
Niger vs Lesotho
Matchday 2 – October 6, 2026
Gabon vs Niger
Lesotho vs Morocco
Matchday 3 – November 9, 2026
Morocco vs Niger
Gabon vs Lesotho
Matchday 4 – November 17, 2026
Gabon vs Morocco
Lesotho vs Niger
Matchday 5 – March 22, 2027
Gabon vs Morocco
Lesotho vs Niger
Matchday 6 – March 30, 2027
Niger vs Gabon
Morocco vs Lesotho
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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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