Niger v Lesotho: Mena begin AFCON 2027 campaign against Likuena

Niger begin their bid to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when they face Lesotho in Group A at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday.

The match, scheduled for 15:00 GMT on 25 September, is one of the opening fixtures of the group stage, with both sides looking to make an early statement in a section that also includes Morocco and Gabon.

The 2027 finals will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027, with 24 teams set to compete at the tournament. In Group A, Niger, Lesotho, Morocco and Gabon will contest six matches for the two available qualification places.

Niger looking for strong start

Niger enter the contest with the advantage of playing what is officially their home fixture, although the match is being staged in Ghana.

The Mena have been preparing for the encounter in Accra, with head coach Nabil Neghiz working with his squad ahead of their opening assignment. Reports from the camp indicate that 18 of the 25 players called up had arrived during the early stages of preparations, with the remaining players expected to join before match day.

Neghiz has stressed discipline, determination and commitment as Niger seek to start their campaign positively.

The decision to play the fixture in Accra gives the Nigerien side an unusual home advantage, with the familiar conditions of the Ghanaian capital potentially reducing some of the logistical challenges associated with playing away from home.

Niger will also know that there is little margin for error in the opening rounds of qualification.

With Morocco and Gabon making up the rest of the group, every point could prove important in the race for the two qualification places.

Lesotho chasing historic qualification

For Lesotho, the fixture represents another opportunity to pursue what would be a landmark achievement for the national team.

The Likuena have never qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals, and coach Bob Mafoso has previously expressed belief that the current Group A draw gives his side a genuine opportunity to challenge for a place at the tournament.

Lesotho had to negotiate the preliminary round to reach the group stage, eliminating Seychelles after a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The first leg in Seychelles ended goalless before Lesotho secured a 2-1 victory in the return fixture to advance.

That competitive experience could be important as Lesotho now face three established African sides in Group A.

The team will also have to deal with the logistical complications surrounding their home matches. Lesotho are among a group of African countries currently required to play home qualifiers at neutral venues because their stadiums do not meet CAF’s requirements for international matches.

A group where every point matters

The opening round gives Niger and Lesotho an immediate chance to put pressure on the other teams in Group A.

Later on Friday, Morocco host Gabon in Rabat at 19:00 GMT, meaning the results of both matches will establish the first standings in the group.

The second round of matches comes quickly, with Gabon hosting Niger on 29 September, while Lesotho face Morocco on the same day in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

That compressed schedule makes a positive opening result particularly valuable, as teams will have little time to recover before their second fixture.

For Niger, the objective will be to take advantage of their unusual home setting in Accra and begin with three points.

For Lesotho, a positive result would provide an important foundation for their attempt to reach the AFCON finals for the first time.

What to expect

The match is likely to be shaped by how well both teams handle the pressure of an opening qualifier.

Niger will have the incentive of starting the campaign on home-like territory despite the fixture being played outside the country, while Lesotho will arrive with the confidence of having already navigated the preliminary round.

The presence of Morocco and Gabon means neither side can afford to allow the campaign to drift early.

With the first two teams in the group ultimately qualifying for the 2027 finals, Friday’s meeting in Accra offers Niger and Lesotho their first opportunity to build momentum on the road to East Africa.

Niger v Lesotho

Venue: Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana

Date: Friday, 25 September 2026

Kick-off: 15:00 GMT