AFCON 2027 (Q): Nigeria and Ghana humiliated, tops and flops of the 2nd matchday

Original public source text. It may contain French even on an English source page. This is not a reviewed English translation. Recovered images and media appear below when available.

Image unavailable.

All original articles

The second matchday of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers left bitter memories for supporters of Ghana and Nigeria, who were soundly beaten by Gambia (2-4) and Guinea-Bissau (3-0), while Patrick Vieira’s Senegal got back on track with a first victory (1-0 against Ethiopia) in these qualifiers.

A second complicated matchday for the big teams

In Accra, Ghana’s Black Stars were expected to bring a smile back to their supporters after having lost the derby to Côte d’Ivoire (2-0) in Bouaké last week. But it was not to be. Carlos Queiroz’s men were caught cold by some very sharp Scorpions from Gambia, who claimed a prestigious away victory (4-2) to make it 6/6 after two matchdays.

Ghana is last in Group C with zero points and a goal difference (-4) that could already jeopardize their qualification for the next CAN, knowing that the Black Stars were already absent in Morocco.

Nigeria also disappointed on this second matchday. After a hard-fought 2-1 win against Madagascar, the Super Eagles totally collapsed Tuesday night against Guinea-Bissau. A crushing 3-0 defeat for Eric Chelle and his men, who fall to 2nd place in Group L.

The other disappointment of this second matchday is named Algeria. The Fennecs struggled against Burundi, who quickly took a 2-0 lead within the first fifteen minutes. Though Belloumi and Adil Boulbina helped Brahim Hemdani’s men snatch a draw (2-2), it was much more a score to save face than a convincing result for Algeria, who benefited from Togo’s defeat (2-0 in Zambia) to hold onto top spot in Group I.

Egypt and Mozambique dominate

After a home draw against Angola (0-0), Egypt – even without Mohamed Salah – bounced back in style in Juba against South Sudan (5-0), with doubles from Hamza Abdelkarim and Omar Marmoush.

The other Sudan also suffered against Mozambique, who defeated them 4-1, again with a double from Chamito Alfandega. Gambia, who stunned Ghana (4-2), and Guinea-Bissau, who humiliated Nigeria (3-0), also impressed and are among the Tops for this 2nd matchday.

All the results of the 2nd matchday

Central African Republic 0-1 Burkina Faso

Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Sierra Leone

Zimbabwe 1-2 DR Congo

Tunisia 2-2 Botswana

Comoros 1-0 Namibia

Lesotho 0-2 Morocco

South Sudan 0-5 Egypt

Burundi 2-2 Algeria

Mozambique 4-1 Sudan

Ethiopia 0-1 Senegal

Madagascar 1-1 Tanzania

Ghana 2-4 Gambia

Uganda 1-0 Libya

Zambia 2-0 Togo

Cape Verde 1-2 Rwanda

Guinea-Bissau 3-0 Nigeria

Gabon 2-0 Niger

Somalia 0-2 Côte d’Ivoire

Benin 2-1 Mauritania

Congo 1-1 Cameroon

Liberia 0-1 Mali