By Awambeng Fuh
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially unveiled the fixtures for the preliminary round of qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), setting the stage for the first competitive steps on the road to the continent’s flagship tournament.
Twelve nations will contest six two-legged ties, with the winners advancing to the main qualification phase, where Africa’s higher-ranked teams await.
Preliminary round fixtures
• Djibouti vs South Sudan
• Chad vs Burundi
• Somalia vs Mauritius
• Seychelles vs Lesotho
• Eritrea vs Eswatini
• São Tomé and Príncipe vs Ethiopia
For several of the teams involved, the preliminary round represents a crucial opportunity to build momentum and revive international ambitions. Ethiopia, one of the continent’s more established footballing nations, will be expected to navigate their tie against São Tomé and Príncipe, while Burundi and South Sudan will be looking to continue recent signs of progress.
Smaller nations such as Seychelles, Djibouti and São Tomé and Príncipe will see the fixtures as a chance to make a rare impact on the continental stage, with home-and-away matches offering the possibility of historic qualification breakthroughs.
CAF is expected to confirm match dates and venues in the coming weeks. The winners of these ties will progress to join the rest of Africa’s national teams in the group stage of AFCON 2027 qualification.
The Africa Cup of Nations remains one of world football’s most competitive international tournaments, with qualification often providing drama long before the finals begin.
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