AFCON 2027: Preliminary round enters its decisive phase
While the qualifiers for the AFCON 2027 are quietly moving forward, the return matches of the preliminary round start this Sunday with a suspense intact.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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This preliminary round concerns the 12 teams with the lowest rankings in the FIFA ranking, divided into six back-and-forth matches. And for some of them, everything is now played in a single match.
Sunday, March 29: between mission accomplished and uncertainty
The kick-off is given in Juba, where South Sudan hosts Djibouti. A duel with an imbalance crying out: after the 4-0 slap inflicted on the way there, among the Djiboutians who were "receiving", the South Sudanese are in pole position and just have to manage. It will take a miracle for the Djiboutians to reverse the trend.
The evening’s line-up is much more open. Lesotho and Seychelles meet in Bloemfontein after a goalback (0-0). Everything remains to be done, everything remains to be feared.
Tuesday, March 31
The same uncertainty hangs over the meeting between Mauritius and Somalia. Zero goals on the way there, no right to error on the way back. A match that could be decided on a single moment of genius — or inattention.
For their part, Burundi and Ethiopia approach their return matches in a position of strength. The Burundians, 4-0 winners in Chad, will receive with serenity in Bujumbura. The Ethiopians, on the other hand, achieved a resounding feat in the first leg by winning 3-0 away from Sao Tome and Príncipe. They have a golden opportunity to validate their qualification at home.
Finally, Eswatini will try to overthrow Eritrea, who won 2-0 in the first leg in Meknes. A difficult task, but not impossible.
Program of return matches (GMT)
Sunday, March 29
1 PM: South Sudan - Djibouti
15h: Lesotho - Seychelles
Tuesday, March 31
1 PM: Burundi - Chad
1 PM: Ethiopia - Sao Tome and Principe
14h: Eswatini - Eritrea
15h: Mauritius - Somalia
Results of the first leg matches
Eritrea 2 - 0 Eswatini, in Meknes (Morocco)
Djibouti 0 - 4 South Sudan, in Juba (South Sudan)
Seychelles 0 - 0 Lesotho, in Bloemfontein (South Africa)
Somalia 0 - 0 Mauritius, in Matola (Mozambique)
Chad 0 - 4 Burundi, in Yaoundé (Cameroon)
Sao Tome and Principe 0 - 3 Ethiopia, in El Jadida (Morocco)