AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Mauritania v Central African Republic preview

Mauritania begin their quest for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when they face Central African Republic in their opening Group F qualifier on Thursday.

The match at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco, kicks off at 16:00 GMT, with both sides looking to make a positive start in a group that also includes Burkina Faso and Benin.

The 2027 tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with the finals scheduled to take place from 19 June to 17 July 2027. The qualifying campaign features 48 teams divided into 12 groups, with the top two teams in most groups progressing to the finals.

Mauritania seeking strong start

Mauritania go into the fixture with home advantage on paper, although the match is being played in Casablanca rather than Mauritania.

The Mourabitounes have been drawn into a competitive Group F alongside Burkina Faso, Benin and Central African Republic, making a fast start particularly important as the teams look to establish themselves in the early stages of the qualification race.

Mauritania have named a 27-man squad for their opening two qualifiers against Central African Republic and Benin. The squad includes experienced internationals such as Aboubakary Koita, Mohsine Bodda, Ali Abeid and Babacar Niasse.

Koita is expected to be one of the main attacking outlets for Mauritania, with Djeidi Gassama, Papa Ndiaga Yade, Mamadou Diallo and Idrissa Thiam also providing options in attack.

Coach Amir Abdou will hope his side can translate their experience into a positive result in the opening fixture before they travel to face Benin five days later.

The Mauritanian squad contains three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and eight forwards, underlining the depth available to Abdou as he prepares for a demanding opening international window.

Central African Republic face early test

Central African Republic arrive with the opportunity to immediately challenge one of the more established teams in the group.

The Central African Republic have never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, and their opening assignment provides a chance to begin a new qualifying campaign with an important away result.

Their preparations have included the return of Alladoum Francis Kolimba, the Niger Tornadoes goalkeeper who has been recalled to the national team for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.

They will need to remain organised against a Mauritanian side that possesses experience across several areas of the pitch, while also looking for opportunities to exploit the Mourabitounes’ defensive weaknesses.

Group F race

The fixture is the first of two Group F matches to be played in the opening round.

Mauritania and Central African Republic meet on Thursday, while Burkina Faso face Benin on Friday in the other Group F fixture. The results will provide the first indication of how the four-team section may develop.

The second round of matches follows quickly, with Central African Republic scheduled to face Burkina Faso on 28 September and Benin hosting Mauritania on 29 September.

With six matches to play in the group, every point could prove important, particularly with the qualification places ultimately determined by the final group standings.

What to expect

Mauritania are likely to take the initiative given their experience and the importance of starting the campaign positively, while Central African Republic can be expected to prioritise defensive discipline before looking to threaten on the counter.

The neutral setting in Casablanca adds an unusual dimension to the contest, but both teams will know that the venue will not change the significance of the three points.

For Mauritania, victory would provide an ideal platform before their trip to face Benin.

For Central African Republic, a result would immediately put them in a strong position ahead of their next Group F assignment.

Mauritania v Central African Republic

Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026

Kick-off: 16:00 GMT

Venue: Stade Larbi Zaouli, Casablanca, Morocco