AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Morocco, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau make strong starts

Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, South Africa, DR Congo, Rwanda, Mali and Guinea-Bissau have made perfect starts to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

All eight sides have won their opening two matches, while Egypt, Senegal and Algeria remain unbeaten after the second round of fixtures.

Matchday Two produced several impressive results, with Egypt and South Africa recording 5-0 victories over South Sudan and Eritrea respectively, while Guinea-Bissau stunned Nigeria 3-0.

Ghana are among the established sides already under pressure after losing their opening two matches, while several groups remain finely balanced with the qualifiers set to resume in November.

One fixture in Group B is still outstanding, with Angola and Malawi scheduled to meet on Tuesday.

Group A: Morocco maintain perfect start

Morocco continued their impressive start with a 2-0 victory over Lesotho.

Brahim Diaz opened the scoring just before half-time before Azzedine Ounahi added a second in the 82nd minute.

The Atlas Lions have six points from two matches, scoring four goals without conceding.

Gabon recovered from their opening defeat by beating Niger 2-0 to move second on three points. Niger also have three points, while Lesotho remain without a point.

Matchday Two results: Lesotho 0-2 Morocco; Gabon 2-0 Niger

Next fixtures: Morocco v Niger; Gabon v Lesotho — November

Group B: Egypt hit South Sudan for five

Egypt moved to the top of Group B with a convincing 5-0 win over South Sudan.

Mostafa Zico opened the scoring before Omar Marmoush scored twice. Ibrahim Adel and Hamza Abdelkarim completed the rout.

The Pharaohs have four points after two matches, following their opening 0-0 draw with Angola.

South Sudan remain without a point, while Malawi have three and Angola one. The two latter sides still have to play their outstanding Matchday Two fixture.

Matchday Two result: South Sudan 0-5 Egypt

Outstanding fixture: Angola v Malawi — Tuesday

Next fixtures: Angola v South Sudan; Egypt v Malawi — November

Group C: Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia leave Ghana under pressure

Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia have made perfect starts in Group C, leaving Ghana and Somalia without a point after two matches.

The Elephants needed two late goals to beat Somalia 2-0, with Yann Gboho scoring in the 89th minute before Bazoumana Touré added a second in stoppage time.

The Gambia produced one of the biggest comebacks of the round, recovering from 2-0 down to beat Ghana 4-2.

Ernest Nuamah and Felix Afena-Gyan had put Ghana in control before Muhammed Badamosi and Omar Colley levelled the game. Ebrima Colley then scored twice to complete the turnaround.

Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia have six points each, while Ghana and Somalia are yet to register a point.

Matchday Two results: Ghana 2-4 The Gambia; Somalia 0-2 Côte d’Ivoire

Next fixtures: Ghana v Somalia; Côte d’Ivoire v The Gambia — November

Group D: South Africa hit Eritrea for five

South Africa strengthened their position at the top of Group D with a 5-0 win over Eritrea in Cairo.

Relebohile Mofokeng scored twice, while Sphephelo Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh were also on target.

The result followed their 2-1 victory over Guinea in the opening round.

Guinea responded by beating co-hosts Kenya 1-0 to move onto three points.

South Africa have six points, with Guinea on three and Eritrea and Kenya on one each. Kenya are already guaranteed a place at the finals as co-hosts.

Matchday Two results: Eritrea 0-5 South Africa; Guinea 0-1 Kenya

Next fixtures: Guinea v Eritrea; South Africa v Kenya — November

Group E: DR Congo maintain perfect record

DR Congo continued their winning start by beating Zimbabwe 2-1.

The result followed a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea in their opening match.

Equatorial Guinea recovered from that defeat by beating Sierra Leone 1-0, leaving them on three points alongside Zimbabwe.

DR Congo lead the group with six points, while Sierra Leone are still without a point.

Matchday Two results: Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Sierra Leone; Zimbabwe 1-2 DR Congo

Next fixtures: DR Congo v Sierra Leone; Equatorial Guinea v Zimbabwe — November

Group F: Benin and Burkina Faso pick up first wins

Benin and Burkina Faso both recorded their first victories to leave Group F finely balanced.

Benin beat Mauritania 2-1, with Rodolfo Aloko putting them two goals ahead before Aboubakary Koïta pulled one back.

Burkina Faso claimed a 1-0 away win over Central African Republic to move level with Benin on four points.

Mauritania have three points, while Central African Republic are yet to register a point.

Matchday Two results: Central African Republic 0-1 Burkina Faso; Benin 2-1 Mauritania

Next fixtures: Benin v Central African Republic; Burkina Faso v Mauritania — November

Group G: Cameroon hold narrow lead

Cameroon remain top of Group G despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Congo.

Congo took the lead through Geltany Bantsiele before Melvin Zinga’s own goal brought Cameroon level.

Comoros claimed their first win by beating Namibia 1-0 through Benjaloud Youssouf’s 54th-minute goal.

Cameroon have four points, with Comoros and Namibia on three and Congo on one.

Matchday Two results: Comoros 1-0 Namibia; Congo 1-1 Cameroon

Next fixtures: Cameroon v Namibia; Comoros v Congo — November

Group H: Uganda move top

Co-hosts Uganda moved to the top of Group H after beating Libya 1-0.

Arnold Vula scored in first-half stoppage time to give the Cranes their first win of the campaign.

Tunisia were held to a 2-2 draw by Botswana, leaving both sides on two points.

Uganda have four points, while Libya have one. Uganda are already guaranteed a place at the finals as co-hosts.

Matchday Two results: Tunisia 2-2 Botswana; Uganda 1-0 Libya

Next fixtures: Tunisia v Libya; Uganda v Botswana — November

Group I: Algeria recover from two-goal deficit

Algeria remain unbeaten after fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Burundi.

An own goal from Farès Chaïbi and Jean Girumugisha’s strike gave Burundi a 2-0 lead inside 12 minutes.

Mohamed El Amine Belloumi pulled one back before Adil Boulbina equalised in the second half.

Zambia recovered from their opening defeat by Algeria with a 2-0 win over Togo. Albert Kangwanda opened the scoring before Eliya Mandanji added a second in stoppage time.

Algeria lead with four points, while Zambia and Togo have three each and Burundi one.

Matchday Two results: Burundi 2-2 Algeria; Zambia 2-0 Togo

Next fixtures: Algeria v Togo; Zambia v Burundi — November

Group J: Senegal and Mozambique share top spot

Senegal claimed their first win under Patrick Vieira with a 1-0 victory over Ethiopia.

Ibrahim Mbaye scored after 11 minutes following a pass from Nicolas Jackson.

Mozambique produced a more emphatic result, beating Sudan 4-1, with Witi, Chamito and Guima among the scorers.

Senegal and Mozambique both have four points, although Mozambique lead on goal difference. Sudan have three points, while Ethiopia are still searching for their first point.

Matchday Two results: Ethiopia 0-1 Senegal; Mozambique 4-1 Sudan

Next fixtures: Mozambique v Ethiopia; Senegal v Sudan — November

Group K: Rwanda and Mali stay perfect

Rwanda and Mali have both won their opening two matches in Group K.

Rwanda came from behind to beat Cape Verde 2-1, with Claude Niyomugabo equalising before Elie Iradukunda Tatou completed the comeback early in the second half.

Mali left it late against Liberia, with Ange Martial Tia scoring the only goal in the 79th minute.

Rwanda and Mali both have six points and identical goal differences, while Cape Verde and Liberia are yet to score a point.

Matchday Two results: Cape Verde 1-2 Rwanda; Liberia 0-1 Mali

Next fixtures: Cape Verde v Liberia; Mali v Rwanda — November

Group L: Guinea-Bissau stun Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau produced one of the biggest shocks of the second round by beating Nigeria 3-0 to maintain their perfect record.

Franculino opened the scoring after 15 minutes before Mama Baldé doubled the lead in the second half. Álvaro Djaló added a third in stoppage time.

In the other Group L match, Madagascar drew 1-1 with co-hosts Tanzania.

Cyprian Kachewele gave Tanzania the lead before Nicolas Fontaine equalised five minutes into the second half.

Guinea-Bissau lead the group with six points, having scored five goals without conceding. Nigeria have three points, while Tanzania and Madagascar have one each.

Tanzania are already assured of a place at the finals as co-hosts.

Matchday Two results: Guinea-Bissau 3-0 Nigeria; Madagascar 1-1 Tanzania

Next fixtures: Madagascar v Guinea-Bissau; Nigeria v Tanzania — November