Senegal to face Mozambique in Maputo after 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier switch

Senegal will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign away from home after their scheduled meeting with Mozambique was moved from Dakar to Maputo.

The Group J fixture, originally due to be played in Senegal on 25 September, will now take place at the Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto in the Mozambican capital. Kick-off remains set for 15:00 local time, which is 13:00 GMT.

The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed the change in a statement released on Wednesday evening, following an initial announcement by the Federacao Mocambicana de Futebol (FMF).

The rearrangement follows a request from the Senegalese federation, which reportedly sought to reverse the order of the two fixtures because the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium was unavailable. The request was accepted by Mozambique head coach Chiquinho Conde before receiving approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The FMF had initially said that Mozambique’s national team, the Mambas, would travel to Dakar to meet Senegal’s Lions on 25 September. Instead, Mozambique will host the opening encounter in Maputo, while Senegal will welcome their opponents during the fifth round of the qualifying schedule.

The two nations are in Group J alongside Sudan and Ethiopia. The change means Senegal will not have the benefit of home support for their first match of the campaign and must begin the qualification process with an away trip to Mozambique.

The fixture is the first of two matches scheduled for Senegal during the September international window. After facing the Mambas in Maputo, Pape Thiaw’s side are due to play Ethiopia.

Senegal’s home match against Mozambique will therefore be staged later in the qualifying programme, with the Lions now set to host the Mambas in Dakar on matchday five. The switch affects only the venue and sequence of the meetings between the two teams, while the opening fixture’s date and kick-off time remain unchanged.

The decision also confirms that Senegal’s return to competitive action in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign will take place on foreign soil. Mozambique, meanwhile, will open their Group J campaign in front of their home supporters at the Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto.

Both fixtures form part of the qualifying programme for the 2027 tournament, with Senegal and Mozambique now preparing for an opening meeting that will be played in Maputo rather than Dakar.