Benin face Mauritania test as AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign gathers pace

Benin will look to continue their progress of the past 18 months when they meet Mauritania in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture on Tuesday.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 17:00 GMT on 29 September 2026, with the two sides meeting at a neutral venue.

The Guepards go into the game after drawing 1-1 with Burkina Faso. That result followed a period in which Benin narrowly missed out on qualification for the FIFA World Cup and reached the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

Their recent development has given them a stronger platform, but Mauritania represent a significant challenge as Benin continue their qualification campaign.

Mauritania began their bid to reach the Africa Cup of Nations with a convincing 3-1 victory over the Central African Republic. They also made progress during the summer, drawing with Angola before recording a narrow win against Niger.

The results suggest Mauritania are becoming competitive again, and their form could put pressure on Benin’s defence in this meeting on neutral ground.

Benin remain slight favourites, but they face a Mauritania side with growing confidence and momentum.