The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the matchups for the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The draw took place on Tuesday in Rabat, setting the stage for the opening phase of qualification for the tournament in Morocco.
Nigerian football legend Sunday Oliseh conducted the draw, which involved the 12 lowest-ranked African nations.
These teams will compete in two-legged ties, with matches scheduled to take place in March 2026.
The winners of these fixtures will progress to join the 42 higher-ranked nations already guaranteed a place in the group stage of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
CAF’s announcement establishes a clear pathway for the continent’s emerging football nations to compete on the continental stage.
For these teams, the preliminary round represents a crucial opportunity to test squads, build cohesion, and challenge themselves against peers.
The preliminary round fixtures are as follows:
- Somalia vs Mauritius
- Seychelles vs Lesotho
- Eritrea vs Eswatini
- Djibouti vs South Sudan
- Chad vs Burundi
- Sao Tome and Principe vs Ethiopia
Each pairing will contest home-and-away matches, with aggregate winners advancing to the main qualifying group stage.
The two-legged format ensures that both home advantage and away resilience play key roles in determining which nations progress.
CAF emphasized that these preliminary ties will serve as an important stage for talent exposure, giving lesser-known players the chance to showcase their abilities to a wider audience while contributing to the development of football across the continent.
As the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations approaches, these early qualifiers set the tone for competitive balance and provide emerging nations with a platform to challenge more established sides.
Fans and football stakeholders across Africa will follow these fixtures closely, anticipating the rise of new teams and potential surprises ahead of the group stage.
