By Kunle Solaja.

Former African champions Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana are set for an explosive start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign after being drawn to face each other in the opening round of Group C fixtures.

The heavyweight West African clash on September 21, 2026 is already shaping up as one of the standout ties of the qualifiers, with both nations eager to stamp their authority early in a group that also includes Gambia and Somalia.

While Côte d’Ivoire host Ghana in the headline fixture of Matchday One, Gambia will entertain Somalia in the group’s other opening encounter.

The Ivorians, reigning continental heavyweights in recent years, will then travel to Somalia on October 6 for Matchday Two, while Ghana welcome Gambia in another potentially decisive contest.

Group C is expected to revolve around the fierce rivalry between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, whose return clash on March 22, 2027 could ultimately determine the group winners and qualification positions.

Gambia, however, are expected to pose a serious challenge after their impressive rise in African football over recent years, while Somalia will be hoping to produce surprises and gain valuable experience against elite opposition.

The qualification race intensifies with back-to-back fixtures between Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia on Matchdays Three and Four, while Ghana also face consecutive ties against Somalia during the same period.

The final round of fixtures on March 30, 2027 could provide late drama as Côte d’Ivoire host Somalia and Gambia welcome Ghana.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers – Group C Fixtures (Chronological Order)

Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026

• Côte d’Ivoire vs Ghana
• Gambia vs Somalia

Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026

• Ghana vs Gambia
• Somalia vs Côte d’Ivoire

Matchday 3 — October 2026

• Côte d’Ivoire vs Gambia
• Ghana vs Somalia

Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026

• Gambia vs Côte d’Ivoire
• Somalia vs Ghana

Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027

• Ghana vs Côte d’Ivoire
• Somalia vs Gambia

Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027

• Gambia vs Ghana
• Côte d’Ivoire vs Somalia

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By Kunle Solaja.

Seven-time African champions Egypt will begin their quest for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a blockbuster home clash against Angola after the release of the Group B qualifying fixtures for the continental showpiece.

The North Africans, widely regarded as favourites in the four-team group, will host Angola on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Malawi take on South Sudan in the other opening fixture.

Group B is expected to provide a fierce battle for qualification, with Angola hoping to build on their recent resurgence in African football and Malawi seeking to upset the traditional heavyweights.

Egypt’s campaign continues away to South Sudan on October 6 before back-to-back encounters with Malawi in Matchdays Three and Four, fixtures that could prove decisive in determining the group leaders.

Angola, meanwhile, face Malawi in Luanda on Matchday Two before hosting South Sudan in their third fixture. The Palancas Negras are expected to rely heavily on their home form as they chase one of the qualification spots.

The return fixtures in November 2026 could shape the destiny of the group, with Malawi hosting Egypt and South Sudan entertaining Angola on Matchday Four.

One of the standout fixtures of the campaign is expected on March 22, 2027, when Angola welcome Egypt in a potentially explosive penultimate-round showdown that may decide top spot in the group.

The final round of matches comes on March 30, 2027, with Egypt hosting South Sudan while Malawi take on Angola in what could become a decisive battle for qualification.

With only the top teams guaranteed progress to the tournament, every point is expected to matter in a group that combines pedigree, ambition and emerging African football rivalries.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers – Group B Fixtures

Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026

• Egypt vs Angola
• Malawi vs South Sudan

Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026

• Angola vs Malawi
• South Sudan vs Egypt

Matchday 3 — October 2026

• Egypt vs Malawi
• Angola vs South Sudan

Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026

• Malawi vs Egypt
• South Sudan vs Angola

Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027

• Angola vs Egypt
• South Sudan vs Malawi

Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027

• Malawi vs Angola
• Egypt vs South Sudan

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By Kunle Solaja.

Nigeria will begin their quest for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a home clash against Madagascar on September 21, 2026, after the full fixture schedule for the qualifying campaign was released following Tuesday’s draw in Cairo.

The Super Eagles, drawn in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau, face a demanding six-match programme spread across three international windows before the qualification series concludes in March next year.

Nigeria open the campaign at home against Madagascar in what could immediately revive memories of the Islanders’ shock 2-0 victory over the Super Eagles at the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt. On the same day, Tanzania will host Guinea-Bissau in the group’s other opening fixture.

The second round of matches on October 6 will see Nigeria travel to face the Guinea-Bissau national football team, one of the Super Eagles’ most troublesome recent opponents.

In the past three years, Guinea-Bissau have consistently pushed Nigeria to the limit, including a famous 1-0 AFCON qualifying victory in Abuja and another fiercely contested meeting at the 2023 AFCON finals in Abidjan.

Madagascar will host the Tanzania national football team in the other Group L encounter on Matchday Two.

The third round of fixtures on November 9 could prove decisive as Nigeria welcomes Tanzania in what many observers expect to become the group’s defining contest. Tanzania’s steady rise in African football and the advantage of automatic qualification as co-hosts of the 2027 finals add further intrigue to the fixture.

Madagascar will simultaneously take on Guinea-Bissau.

Eight days later, on November 17, the Super Eagles travel away to Madagascar in a potentially dangerous fixture, while Guinea-Bissau hosts Tanzania.

The final phase of the campaign comes in March 2027.

Nigeria will again face Madagascar away from home on March 22, while Guinea-Bissau host Tanzania. The qualification series then concludes on March 30 with Tanzania taking on Madagascar and Nigeria hosting Guinea-Bissau.

The group carries a special qualification format because the Tanzania national football team are already guaranteed a place at the finals as one of the tournament co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda.

As a result, only the highest-placed team apart from Tanzania will secure qualification from Group L to the 24-team finals scheduled to hold from June 19 to July 17 next year.

That arrangement places additional pressure on Nigeria to avoid slip-ups, especially in away fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, both of whom have caused major problems for the Super Eagles in recent years.

The full Group L fixtures are:

Matchday 1 – September 21, 2026
Nigeria vs Madagascar
Tanzania vs Guinea-Bissau

Matchday 2 – October 6, 2026
Madagascar vs Tanzania
Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria

Matchday 3 – November 9, 2026
Nigeria vs Tanzania
Madagascar vs Guinea-Bissau

Matchday 4 – November 17, 2026
Madagascar vs Nigeria
Guinea-Bissau vs Tanzania

Matchday 5 – March 22, 2027
Madagascar vs Nigeria
Guinea-Bissau vs Tanzania

Matchday 6 – March 30, 2027
Tanzania vs Madagascar
Nigeria vs Guinea-Bissau

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