AFCON
Facts & Figures as AFCON 2025 qualifiers enter Matchday 3
As the road to the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 continues, Matchday 3 promises to deliver thrilling encounters across the continent.
With teams vying for qualification, the stakes are higher than ever as 48 teams are in action from Thursday in their quest to qualify for Africa’s flagship football competition.
Here are the key facts and figures ahead of the upcoming matches.
Namibia – Zimbabwe (10 October 2024)
- Namibia have lost their last three AFCON qualifiers, while they’ve conceded at least once in 12 of their 13 such matches (W4 D2 L7).
- Zimbabwe have drawn each of their two AFCON qualifiers in 2024 0-0, more goalless draws than in their previous 28 qualifying games combined (1).
- Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat has been involved in more shots (12—5 shots, 7 chances created) without registering a goal or assist than any other player in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers so far.
Cabo Verde – Botswana (10 October 2024)
- Only one of Cabo Verde’s last 10 AFCON qualifiers has ended in a draw (W6 L3), that was against Eswatini in March 2023 (0-0).
- Botswana have won only two of their last 22 AFCON qualifiers (D3 L17). These victories were against Zambia in November 2020 (1-0) and Libya in June 2022 (1-0).
- Cabo Verde’s all-time cap record holder and leading goalscorer Ryan Mendes has had only two shots in this AFCON qualification phase; he’s found the net with both attempts.
Burkina Faso – Burundi (10 October 2024)
- Burkina Faso have lost just one of their last 15 AFCON qualifiers (W8 D6), with their only defeat in this run coming against Cabo Verde in June 2023 (1-3).
- Burundi have alternated between defeat and victory in each of their last five AFCON qualifiers, losing 1-0 to Senegal in their most recent such match.
- Only four teams have had fewer shots than Burundi (15) in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers so far, yet while they’ve scored three goals, only Uganda (28.6%) and Egypt (28%) have a better shot conversion rate than Burundi (20%).
Algeria – Togo (10 October 2024)
- Algeria are unbeaten in their last 16 AFCON qualifiers (W12 D4). Their last defeat dates back to October 2018 against Benin (0-1), and they haven’t lost on home soil in the competition since June 2007 (0-2 against Guinea).
- Togo are unbeaten in their last five AFCON qualifiers (W2 D3), with their last three matches producing 11 goals (an average of 3.7 per game).
- Algeria’s Amine Gouiri has scored three goals in his last four international matches, including two in his last two AFCON qualifiers.
DR Congo – Tanzania (10 October 2024)
- DR Congo have won each of their last six AFCON qualifiers without conceding a goal, with their last defeat coming against Sudan in June 2022 (1-2).
- Tanzania are unbeaten in their last four AFCON qualifiers (W2 D2), with those four matches producing only four goals (3 for, 1 against).
- DR Congo’s Fiston Mayele has scored three goals in his last four AFCON qualifiers, all in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Madagascar – Gambia (11 October 2024)
- Madagascar are winless in their last 12 AFCON qualifiers (D6 L6), with their last victory dating back to November 2019 (6-2 vs Niger). They have only scored two goals in their last 10 qualifiers.
- Gambia have lost seven of their last nine matches in all competitions (W1 D1), with their only victory coming against Seychelles last June (5-1). Their last five matches have produced 21 goals (11 for, 10 against), an average of 4.2 per game.
- Only Cameroon’s Carlos Baleba (10) has completed more dribbles than Gambia’s Yankuba Minteh (8) over the first two matchdays of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Tunisia – Comoros (11 October 2024)
- Tunisia have won their last 16 AFCON qualifiers on home soil. The last team to avoid defeat against them was Sierra Leone in October 2012 (0-0).
- Comoros are unbeaten in their last four AFCON qualifiers (W1 D3), with each of the last three ending 1-1.
- Comoros’ Youssef M’Changama has had only two shots on target in these AFCON qualifiers but has scored with both attempts. Both goals have come from outside the box, including a direct free-kick against Gambia on matchday one.
Gabon – Lesotho (11 October 2024)
- Gabon have lost four of their last five AFCON qualifiers but were victorious in their last outing, beating Central African Republic 2-0 in September.
- Lesotho have won only one of their last 17 AFCON qualifiers (D6 L10), their victory coming against Seychelles in March 2022 (3-1). They have lost each of their last six matches in the competition.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in each of his last three matches for Gabon. He’ll be attempting to score in a fourth consecutive international match for the first time in his career.
Egypt – Mauritania (11 October 2024)
- Egypt are the leading scorers after the first two matchdays of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, netting seven times (without conceding a goal), with six different players scoring. Trézéguet is the only player to score more than once for Egypt.
- Egypt have won each of their last six AFCON qualifiers (16 goals for, 1 against). In total, they have lost only one of their last 19 AFCON qualifiers (W14 D4), with that loss coming against Ethiopia in June 2022.
- Mauritania have won only two of their last 14 matches in all competitions (D3 L9). Their wins were against Algeria at AFCON (1-0) and Botswana in the AFCON qualifiers in September (1-0).
Benin – Rwanda (11 October 2024)
- Benin have won only two of their last 11 AFCON qualifiers (D3 L6), with victories against Rwanda in March 2023 (3-0) and Libya in September 2024 (2-1).
- Rwanda have won only one of their last 22 AFCON qualifiers, with that victory coming against Mozambique in March 2021 (1-0). Since 2020, 67% of their AFCON qualifiers have ended in a draw (8/12).
- Benin’s Steve Mounié has contested 28 and won 16 more aerial duels than any other player in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers so far.
Nigeria – Libya (11 October 2024)
- Nigeria have won 14 of their last 19 AFCON qualifiers, losing only once (0-1 vs Guinea-Bissau in March 2023).
- Nigeria and Libya’s two previous clashes in AFCON qualifiers produced nine goals in total, with Nigeria winning both encounters in October 2018 (4-0 and 3-2).
- Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has scored 16 goals across the last three editions of AFCON qualifiers, more than any other player.
Equatorial Guinea – Liberia (11 October 2024)
- Equatorial Guinea have failed to win any of their last three AFCON qualifiers (D2 L1), their longest winless streak since 2018.
- Liberia have lost only one of their last seven matches in all competitions (W3 D3). Their defeat came against Algeria in this AFCON qualifying edition (0-3).
- Liberia’s 61.2% passing accuracy after two matches is the lowest among the 48 teams in this AFCON qualifying group phase.
Angola – Niger (11 October 2024)
- Angola have lost only one of their last nine AFCON qualifiers (W5 D3), with that defeat coming against Ghana in March 2023 (0-1).
- Niger are winless in their last 11 AFCON qualifiers (D4 L7). Their last victory was against Ethiopia in November 2020 (1-0).
- Only two players have made more tackles than Niger’s Youssouff Oumarou (9) in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers. He’s the only player to both concede (7) and win (8) at least seven fouls in the competition so far.
Ghana – Sudan (11 October 2024)
- Ghana have won only two of their last 11 matches in all competitions (D5 L4) and are winless in their opening two matches of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers (D1 L1).
- None of Sudan’s last 21 AFCON qualifiers has ended in a draw. They have won eight and lost 13 of those 21 matches.
- Jordan Ayew has scored eight of Ghana’s last 12 goals in all competitions. Five of those goals came from the penalty spot.
Zambia – Chad (11 October 2024)
- Zambia have lost only two of their last 10 AFCON qualifiers (W6 D2), both defeats coming against Côte d’Ivoire. They have won their last four AFCON qualifiers on home soil, scoring three goals in each of the last three home fixtures.
- Chad have averaged 30% possession over the first two matches in this AFCON qualifiers group phase, the lowest ratio of any team. They are also goalless after these opening two games.
- No player has attempted more dribbles than Zambia’s Yankuba Minteh (16) in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers so far. Only Cameroon’s Carlos Baleba (10) has completed more than Minteh (8).
Côte d’Ivoire – Sierra Leone (11 October 2024)
- Côte d’Ivoire have won eight of their last 10 AFCON qualifiers (D1 L1), their only defeat in that period coming against Zambia in June 2023. They have averaged 72% possession over the first two matches of this AFCON qualifiers group phase, more than any other team.
- Sierra Leone have won only two of their last 15 AFCON qualifiers (D8 L5), their victories coming against Benin in 2021 (1-0) and São Tomé and Príncipe in 2023 (2-0).
- Côte d’Ivoire’s Jean-Philippe Krasso is the top scorer after the first two matchdays of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers group phase (3 goals in 2 games). He’s found the net with three of his six shots.
Guinea – Ethiopia (12 October 2024)
- Guinea are winless in their last four AFCON qualifiers (D1 L3), their last victory coming against Ethiopia in March 2023 (3-2).
- Ethiopia are one of five sides yet to score in the main round of AFCON 2025 qualifying. They have hit the target with just one of their 19 shots in the competition so far, the worst shooting accuracy of any side (5%).
Mozambique – Eswatini (11 October 2024)
- Mozambique are unbeaten in their last four AFCON qualifiers (W3 D1). They last went five AFCON qualifiers in a row without a defeat in 2018.
- Eswatini’s sole victory in their last 10 AFCON qualifiers was against Somalia in March 2024 (3-0). They have lost both their matches so far in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, both by a 1-0 scoreline with a goal conceded in the opening 15 minutes.
- No goalkeeper has made more saves than Eswatini’s Mathabela Sandanezwe after the first two matchdays of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers (11).
Mali – Guinea-Bissau (11 October 2024)
- Mali have won 12 of their last 16 AFCON qualifiers (D2 L2). Their last defeat on home soil in the competition came 10 years ago, against Ethiopia in October 2014 (2-3).
- Guinea-Bissau have lost only two of their last 10 AFCON qualifiers (W7 D1) after a run of three consecutive defeats in November 2020.
- Mali’s Yves Bissouma has created more chances from open play (7) and had more shots from outside the box (8) than any other player in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. He has also scored both of Mali’s goals in the opening two qualifiers, one from distance.
Cameroon – Kenya (11 October 2024)
- Cameroon have lost only one of their last seven AFCON qualifiers (W3 D3). They have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three matches (W2 D1).
- Kenya are unbeaten in their last four AFCON qualifiers (W2 D2), since a 2-1 defeat against Comoros in November 2020.
- Cameroon’s Carlos Baleba has completed more dribbles than any other player in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers (10 over the first two matchdays).
Uganda – South Sudan (11 October 2024)
- Uganda are unbeaten in their last three AFCON qualifiers (W2 D1), their longest unbeaten run since March 2016 and November 2018 (8 games, W6 D2).
- South Sudan have won only one of their last 10 AFCON qualifiers (D2 L7). They are winless in their last seven matches, their last victory coming against Congo in March 2023 (2-1).
- Uganda have scored four goals from 14 shots in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers; it’s the best shot conversion rate (28.6%) in the competition so far.
South Africa – Congo (11 October 2024)
- South Africa’s last five AFCON qualifiers have produced 19 goals, an average of 3.8 per game (11 for, 8 against). Only Egypt (7) have scored more goals than South Africa (5) after the first two matchdays of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
- Congo have lost five of their last nine AFCON qualifiers (W3 D1), conceding two or more goals in all five defeats.
- Only Denis Bouanga and Ademola Lookman have had more shots on target (6 each) than South Africa’s Oswin Appollis (5, including 2 goals).
Senegal – Malawi (11 October 2024)
- Senegal are unbeaten in their last 28 AFCON qualifiers (W22 D6), their last such defeat coming 10 years ago against Tunisia in October 2014.
- Malawi are winless in their last seven AFCON qualifiers (D2 L5), with their last victory coming against Ethiopia in June 2022 (2-1).
- Malawi’s Chawanangwa Kawonga has delivered the joint-most assists in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers so far (2, level with Uganda’s Allan Okello).
Morocco – Central African Republic (12 October 2024)
- Morocco are unbeaten against Central African Republic in their five previous encounters, winning three times and drawing twice. Morocco have scored 10 goals and conceded just once in those matches.
- Morocco have lost only one of their last 17 AFCON qualifiers (W12 D4), their defeat coming against South Africa in June 2023.
- Over the last three editions of AFCON qualifiers, Louis Mafuta has scored 11 of Central African Republic’s 17 goals (65%).
-CAF
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, will discover their route to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when the Confederation of African Football (Confederation of African Football) conducts the qualifying draw on May 19, 2026.
This is an exercise that will define the country’s pathway to the historic PAMOJA 2027 tournament.
The draw, coming after the conclusion of the preliminary round, will feature 48 teams, including co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. They will be pooled into 12 groups of four teams each. Only the top two teams from each group will progress to the final tournament, setting up what promises to be a fiercely competitive qualification series.
For Nigeria, a three-time African champion and podium finisher in three of the last four editions, the qualification format is familiar, but the stakes are evolving. They will need a good head start to avert the type of tragedy that defined their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign.
The Super Eagles have maintained a strong record in AFCON qualifying campaigns in recent years, yet inconsistency at the tournament proper has raised expectations for not just qualification, but a deeper continental impact.
The six-match qualification series will be spread across three FIFA international windows:
- * September–October 2026 (Matchdays 1 & 2)
- * November 2026 (Matchdays 3 & 4)
- * March 2027 (Matchdays 5 & 6)
This staggered schedule will test squad depth, technical stability, and administrative efficiency, which are areas that have historically influenced Nigeria’s performance as much as on-field quality.
East Africa Return and Logistical Implications
The 2027 tournament will mark AFCON’s return to the East African region for the first time since the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations.
For Nigeria, this introduces a different competitive environment—altitude variations, travel logistics across three host nations, and potentially unfamiliar playing conditions.
The tri-nation hosting model also means that teams must prepare for a geographically dispersed tournament, requiring early planning in scouting, acclimatisation, and logistics—areas where Nigeria has previously faced challenges in major competitions.
CAF is banking on the momentum generated by recent tournaments such as the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, both of which recorded significant commercial growth, increased sponsorship value, and expanded global broadcast audiences.
For Nigeria, one of Africa’s most marketable football brands, this growth presents both opportunity and pressure. Strong performances by the Super Eagles not only boost national pride but also reinforce Nigeria’s commercial relevance in African football’s evolving ecosystem.
While the May 19 draw will simply allocate opponents on paper, its implications run deeper. A favourable group could ease Nigeria’s passage, but recent AFCON qualifiers have shown that traditional hierarchies are narrowing, with emerging teams increasingly competitive.
For the Super Eagles, the road to PAMOJA 2027 is not just about qualification—it is about reasserting continental dominance in an era where African football is becoming more competitive, more commercial, and more globally visible.
The journey begins with the draw, but for Nigeria, expectations will stretch far beyond simply making the trip to East Africa.
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By Kunle Solaja.
The Confederation of African Football (Confederation of African Football) has formally unveiled the competition window for the landmark Africa Cup of Nations, tagged PAMOJA 2027, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most politically and structurally significant tournaments in the competition’s history.
Scheduled to kick off on Saturday, 19 June 2027, with the final fixed for Saturday, 17 July 2027, the tournament marks only the second time the AFCON will be staged in the June–July window. The first was the expanded 24-team edition in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, a shift originally designed to align African football with the European off-season calendar and improve player availability.
A Return to June–July: Progress or Persistent Constraint?
While the timing suggests continuity with the 2019 precedent, it also underscores a deeper tension within African football governance. CAF’s confirmation that the dates required approval from the FIFA Council, following a meeting in Vancouver, raises renewed questions about the confederation’s operational autonomy.
Historically, AFCON scheduling has been vulnerable to external pressures, particularly from European clubs and leagues reluctant to release African players mid-season. The June–July calendar was initially seen as a strategic compromise. However, the necessity of FIFA ratification in 2027 signals that CAF’s flagship tournament still operates within a framework heavily influenced by global football politics.
This development may reignite debate about whether CAF is charting an independent course or increasingly aligning its decisions with FIFA’s broader international calendar priorities.
Beyond scheduling, AFCON 2027 represents a structural leap. For the first time, three nations—Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda—will jointly host the tournament.
This tri-nation model, branded “PAMOJA” (Swahili for togetherness), is more than symbolic. It reflects CAF’s attempt to decentralise hosting rights, reduce infrastructural pressure on single nations, and expand the tournament’s commercial and cultural footprint.
With a projected reach of over 400 million people across East Africa, the tournament offers significant opportunities:
- Market expansion: Opening new commercial corridors in a region historically underrepresented in hosting major football events.
- Infrastructure development: Accelerated investment in stadiums, transport, and tourism across three countries.
- Regional integration: Football as a tool for political and economic cooperation within East Africa.
Yet, the model is not without risks. Multi-country hosting introduces logistical complexities—border coordination, security harmonisation, and infrastructure parity—that CAF has not previously managed at this scale.
Waiting for Key Decisions
CAF has deferred the announcement of which cities or countries will host the opening match and final, decisions that will carry both symbolic and economic weight. These choices could influence regional balance and perceptions of equity among the co-hosts.
AFCON 2027 sits at the intersection of ambition and dependency. On one hand, it embodies innovation—a new hosting model and a reaffirmed global calendar alignment. On the other, it highlights lingering structural challenges, particularly CAF’s reliance on FIFA’s approval mechanisms.
As preparations unfold, the success of PAMOJA 2027 will likely be judged not just by the quality of football on display, but by how effectively CAF navigates these competing forces—continental aspiration versus global integration.
In many ways, AFCON 2027 will be a test of whether African football can expand its horizons without compromising its independence.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Defending champions Morocco will take the first formal step in their title defence when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the draw for the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers on May 19, 2026, two days before the 122nd anniversary of the founding of FIFA.
Fresh from their triumph at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Atlas Lions now face the challenge of sustaining continental dominance as they begin the journey toward the historic East African finals, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
As reigning champions, Morocco enter the qualifiers with a target on their back. Their recent rise, bolstered by strong World Cup performances and a deep pool of Europe-based talents, has elevated expectations both at home and across the continent.
But history suggests that defending an AFCON title is rarely straightforward. The qualifying format, which includes 48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four, leaves little margin for complacency. Only the top two teams in each group will progress, meaning even established powers must navigate a potentially tricky six-match campaign.
The qualifiers will unfold across three FIFA international windows:
- * September–October 2026 (Matchdays 1 & 2)
- * November 2026 (Matchdays 3 & 4)
- * March 2027 (Matchdays 5 & 6)
For Morocco, maintaining squad cohesion across these windows will be crucial. With players spread across Europe’s top leagues, managing fatigue, travel, and club-country balance will test the technical crew’s planning and depth.
AFCON 2027 will mark the tournament’s return to East Africa for the first time since the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations. The unique three-country hosting model introduces new logistical variables—ranging from climate and altitude differences to travel across multiple venues.
For Morocco, whose recent success has been built on tactical discipline and structured preparation, early adaptation to these conditions could prove decisive in their title defence.
CAF’s recent tournaments—including the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and Morocco 2025—have recorded unprecedented commercial success, expanding the global reach of African football.
As defending champions, Morocco stand at the centre of this growth. Their performances will not only shape the competitive narrative of AFCON 2027 but also influence the tournament’s commercial appeal and global visibility.
While the May 19 draw will determine Morocco’s immediate opponents, the broader mission is clear: retain continental supremacy in an increasingly competitive African football landscape.
For the Atlas Lions, the road to PAMOJA 2027 is not merely about securing qualification—it is about proving that their recent triumph was not a peak, but the beginning of sustained dominance.
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